Strictly Business Omaha July 2019

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STRICTLYBUSINESSOMAHA.COM

OMAHA • JULY 2019

• Trade Show Preparation • Residential Remodeling & Maintenance • Supporting Nonprofits Client Spotlights • Fun-Plex Waterpark & Rides • Outlook Nebraska • Care Consultants for the Aging

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In This Issue

Honoring our community’s best in tech

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Have Your Next Company Retreat at Fun-Plex Waterpark & Rides!

Last month, our team had a BLAST at Fun-Plex Waterpark & Rides! As a company, we love hosting events for our clients and friends, but we also think it’s important to spend quality time together as a team, outside of the office. For us, this bonding excursion could not have come at a better time.

We have recently added a few new people to our team, so this outing allowed us to get to know each other a little better. As a destination for company retreats, Fun-Plex has it all—food, drinks, activities, entertainment, private cabanas—we could not have been more pleased!

Upon arrival, we were given our reserved sign and led to our private cabana. These cabanas are complete with premium patio furniture under a shaded tiki hut. Along with lawn chairs for laying out and a table and chairs for sitting around and eating, there was a nice lockable storage box that we had the option to keep some valuable items while we were away from the cabana. Our group got one of the Makana Cabana’s, which can hold parties of up to 12 people, but there are also Riverside Cabanas for smaller groups of up to six people. Reserving a cabana was the smartest thing we could have done because then we didn’t have to worry about all getting spots next to each other. It truly felt like our “own little private oasis.”

We decided that the best thing about choosing to plan a group getaway at Fun-Plex was that it caters to adults with children. There are so many activities to keep kids occupied while parents can relax with a drink in hand. From kiddie rides to family rides, one group can have a totally different experience at Fun-Plex than another group. Some adults will enjoy the bumper boats and go karts just as much as the kids do! There is even an 18-hole mini golf course within the waterpark, which is included with the entrance fee.

One really cool aspect about Fun-Plex that not everyone may realize is that there is a 21+ only section, which has Nebraska’s only swim-up bar, known as Breakers Bay! With plenty of seating in and around the pool at Breakers Bay, adults can be in the water and taking in the sun while enjoying a cold beer, frozen drink, or a bucket of margarita (which is what we went for—YUM!). Plus, Fun-Plex features their SunSets Summer Concert Series, presented by Corona. This live music series starts at 7 p.m. every Saturday in July and includes tunes from a variety of genres, all set in an soothing summer scene.

Throughout the day, our group loved going from our cabana to Breakers Bay, and mixing in fun activities like the lazy river, wave pool, and slides. We had a lot of laughs in the Motion Ocean Wave Pool as we held on tight to our tubes while some wicked waves rocked us back and forth. Near the end of the day, the Lazzzy River was calling our name. It felt good to lay back in our tubes as the river carried us along under a beautiful summer sky. However, we did jump out for a quick, thrilling ride down Typhoon Falls, a truly one-of-a-kind water slide.

After some heart racing turns and drops, we retired back to the lazy river for a little more R&R time.

We want to say thank you to the entire Fun-Plex staff for showing our team such a good time! Even though we definitely got our summer fun fix, we are excited to go back and invite some friends with us next time.

Regular Park Hours: 11 a.m. — 8 p.m. fun-plex.com | 7003 Q St., Omaha, NE 68117 | (402) 331-8436 #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JULY 2019 Strictly Business

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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

Step Three: Get Your Unique Selling Proposition Out to the Masses In previous installments of this series, we first defined the key traits of a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and why it is the essential tool for businesses to grow and survive, even in economic downturns. In “Step One,” we saw how successful brands communicate their USP to spark demand and compete on more than just price, and for “Step Two,” we explained how understanding customers, employees, and competitors is essential to defining a truly unique USP. The key takeaway so far: if your competition is doing it, then it is not unique. By conducting research, you can identify the aspect(s) that make your business different and how your offerings provide value to your customers that no one else can or currently does.

Now, for “Step Three,” we will discuss how to take what you learned about your business and competitors and integrate it.

asset-based USP is that it creates growth on three fronts instead of one: it attracts more interested clients, it converts more prospects to clients, and it creates more repeat business.

Senoff discusses the process of integration as a series of logical steps. The first step, of course, is to define and continually refine your USP based on your research. Without it, you have nothing to integrate. The second step involves getting every employee on the same page. Employees in sales should be able to communicate the USP to prospects, your company website and ads should reflect what you have learned, and you should find every opportunity to interact with customers and to hammer your message home. Some opportunities to emphasize your USP message include: invoices, business cards, bidding sessions, and sales presentations. There is a logic behind this order in that by defining the USP and ensuring your employees understand the USP, you avoid wasting time later when searching for new leads. Why would you spend resources trying to identify new customers without a prepared pitch?

“…a USP creates growth on three fronts: it attracts more interested clients, converts more prospects to clients, and it creates more repeat business.”

Michael Senoff, CEO of Hard to Find Seminars, says, “There’s nothing more fulfilling for a business owner than when you nail the USP. Their business is their passion, and the USP reminds them why they get up every morning and work their butts off all day. Having that USP will give them and their team focus, and after the integration phase, they’ll also have the thrill of watching their business grow exponentially.”

In business, there are three fundamental strategies to grow and survive: generating new leads, converting more leads into sales, and retaining customers by encouraging them to continue doing business for life. Senoff persuasively argues that the problem with many ads and marketing campaigns is they forget two of these three strategies. “All traditional marketing revolves around a business growing in just one way—the attempt to get more prospects. And businesses usually throw a ton of money into that one way too… running ads, building or improving websites, throwing together social media campaigns and pay-per-clicks.” The value of a well-defined,

By identifying your passion, why you are in business, and what makes you different, you as a business owner are able to feel more confident in your business—and this confidence becomes infectious.

Rather than relying on growth in the economy, rely on your unique, valuable characteristics so that you can sell even during economic downturns by building consumer confidence in your ability to meet a unique demand. You are selling the customer on your business as much as you are selling them on the product or service. Even if a Wal-Mart moves in next door, if you offer something unique that Wal-Mart can’t offer, then you can control your own economy.

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.

CONTENTS NEWS

4 Business 22 Personnel

26 Nonprofit 32 Health

SPOTLIGHTS

1 15 16 34

Fun-Plex Waterpark & Rides Outlook Nebraska River City Six Care Consultants for the Aging

FEATURE STORIES

33 Trade Show Preparation 35 Residential Remodeling & Maintenance 38 Supporting Nonprofits

Hannah

Katherine

Sarah

PRODUCTION TEAM: Editor Hannah E. Hundley - Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Art Director Katherine Crawford - 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.

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ABOUT THE COVER STRICTLYBUSINESSO MAHA.COM OMAHA • JULY 2019

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In ThIs Issue

• Trade Show • Residentia Preparation • Supportin l Remodeling Client Spotligg Nonprofits • Fun-Plex htS • Outlook Nebr aska • Care Consultan ts for the Agin g

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community. She has been a Women in IT Initiative task force member for UNO’s College of Information Ho Science & Technology and was comnomring our recently honored by the Women’s best inunit y’s tech Center for Advancement at the 2019 Tribute to Women luncheon.

Courtney continued: “One of the things I respect most about AIM is that it does a great job convening folks from different industries, different companies, and all around technology. It serves the community well in strengthening the fabric of technology in Omaha.”

Because the AIM Institute is a nonprofit and an unbiased actor in the tech community, a Tech Celebration award confers a measure of honor and prestige upon the individuals and organizations that receive it.

“It was really humbling to be recognized because there’s so much tech talent here in Omaha,” Courtney said. “And it meant a lot coming from AIM, as a respected organization in the community.”

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Everyone loves an awards show.

Tech Celebration is an annual awards ceremony honoring businesses, nonprofits, educators, individuals, students, and companies that significantly advance or champion technology in the Omaha area. Hosted by the innovative nonprofit the AIM Institute since 1995, the event recognizes that technology is not just the domain of software companies, startups, and digital whiz kids. Even larger, more established enterprises—a telecommunications company, for instance—need to employ technology in their daily operations.

“People forget that technology is an integral part of every business,” says Scott Rowe, vice president of tech community development for the AIM Institute. AIM Institute grows, connects, and inspires the tech talent community through career development and educational programs. Tech Celebration will take place again this fall, on November 14, thanks to the support of Cox Business, the event’s presenting sponsor.

“Tech Celebration highlights that Omaha is a community of innovators and that we can use technology in this community to do amazing things,” Rowe said.

Julie Minton, senior marketing manager for Cox Business, says the event helps unite the local tech community.

“Cox is proud of Omaha’s technology talent. Tech Celebration recognizes the hard work, creativity, and visionary thinking that flourishes here,” Minton said.

Past honorees have included emerging tech companies like Buildertrend, established enterprises, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, and educators like Guillermo Rosas of Metropolitan Community College.

Above all, Tech Celebration helps organize the local community around a shared vision of a thriving tech ecosystem, said Susan Courtney, vice president of operations, Business Process and Shared Services for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska.

“Tech Celebration helps to get folks that live in the tech world together to recognize accomplishments, get to know each other better, dialogue, and harvest ideas,” Courtney said.

In 2012, Courtney received the Tech Leader award for her work at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska and for her leadership in the wider

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BO GRATTON Gratton Warehou se Company

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JESSE MORTON Big Birge Plumbin g

2018 Tech Celebration award winners, Mike Wolf not pictured.

The 2019 Tech Celebration will be held November 14. For more details on Tech Celebration, the nomination process for honorees, and tickets to the event, please visit www.techcelebration.org.

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BUSINESS NEWS William Evanina to Deliver Keynote Address at 11th Annual Legislative Summit The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Greater Omaha Chamber, and Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry are excited to welcome William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center Office of the Director of National Intelligence, as the keynote speaker at the 11th Annual Federal Legislative Summit on Thursday, August 8. The event will take place at the Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland, NE. Doors open for the event at 8:30 a.m. with the program running until 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $99 for Chamber members / $125 for nonmembers and include lunch to be served at 11:30 a.m.

Evanina has led the National Counterintelligence and Security Center since June 2014, serving as head of Counterintelligence for the U.S. Government and as the principal CI and security advisor to the Director of National Intelligence. He has over 23 years of distinguished federal service, 20 of which came as a Special Agent with the FBI. The Federal Legislative Summit is the region’s most anticipated advocacy event of the year. It will feature an update from Nebraska’s Congressional delegation on federal issues facing Nebraskans in Washington D.C. For more information about the 11th Annual Federal Legislative Summit, visit lcoc.com, omahachamber.org, or nechamber.com.

FireGuard, Inc. Celebrates 25 Years This year marks 25 years in business for FireGuard, Inc. Owners Bob Sorensen and Lori Sorensen started the business in 1994, with the installation and servicing of fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers, and kitchen suppression systems. They are extremely proud of the family culture they have established. Bob and Lori attribute FireGuard’s many years of success to their phenomenal employees who work hard each day to provide Priceless Protection within the Omaha metro and surrounding areas.

Serving clients across the Omaha Metro and in Lincoln, FireGuard, Inc. eliminates the need to contact multiple companies by offering complete life safety solutions.

As a locally owned and operated company, FireGuard designs, sells, installs, inspects, and services all types of equipment, including fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, special hazard systems, fire extinguishers, fire door inspections, restaurant systems, exit and emergency lights, fire appliances and accessories, and more!

For more information about FireGuard, Inc., visit www.fireguardusa. com, or contact the office to wish their team a happy anniversary by calling (402) 592-1999.

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BUSINESS NEWS The Corky Canvas Reveals New Corky Boards Products, Doormats and Planters The Corky Canvas recently released brand new products for their Corky Boards classes, including custom stenciled doormats and planter boxes.

These would look adorable on a porch or patio! There are seven designs of doormats and three sizes and five designs of planter boxes to choose from. Classes are available now.

Corky Boards is Nebraska’s first “DIY” studio. With their instructors’ guidance, you and your group can make eye-catching products like sign boards, doormats, and planter boxes. You get to pick your paint colors as well. The best part is, stencils are used so you can’t mess it up. You’ll find that there are so many different ways to personalize your product.

The Corky Canvas is where you’re sure to uncork your creativity! With a glass of wine in one hand, a paintbrush in the other, and the music rock’n, it’s a great way to spend time with friends and paint your very own masterpiece. Book a class time for these new products today at www. corkyboards.com. Contact The Corky Canvas in Omaha, 3157 Farnam St., at (402) 637-4066 / omaha@corkycanvas.com with any questions.

Midwest’s First Ovation by Avamere Reservation Showroom Opens in Omaha Ovation by Avamere is now accepting reservations in Nebraska. With a focus on wellness and fitness, the new independent living, assisted living, and memory care campus is scheduled to open in late summer 2020. Those interested in learning more about this innovative concept can now see and experience Ovation at the new Reservation Showroom in the Pepperwood Village shopping plaza.

The active lifestyle village is part of the new 500-acre Heartwood Preserve master-planned community in West Omaha. The two-building campus is being developed for mature adults and their desire to stay connected to the world around them. Ovation covers 325,000 square feet and will include a full continuum of care.

A visit to the showroom includes a hands-on experience of the K4Connect system that will be available to Ovation Heartwood Preserve residents.

This innovative solution uses smart devices to control room temperatures and lights. It also allows residents to chat with friends down the hall, schedule services, order a meal, and communicate instantly with family who can also download the app.

Ovation will be the first of its kind and unique in many ways. It will allow today’s aging innovators, leaders, and civic-minded individuals to find their inspiration for life and freedom to relax, give back, travel, inspire, and tackle life with enthusiasm.

Set amid parks, walking paths, 500,000 square feet of retail space, restaurants, office space, and 2,000 housing units of various sizes and styles, Ovation’s campus will be located just northwest of the corner of South 144th Street and Pacific Street near Millard North High School.

The campus, separated by a welcoming boulevard, will feature a total of 300 units.

Ovation by Avamere Reservation Showroom at Pepperwood Village is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays; and by appointment on evenings and Sundays. For more information, contact Ovation at (402) 999-7900 / heartwoodpreserve@ ovationbyavamere.com or go online to www.ovationbyavamere.com/ locations/omaha-nebraska. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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CIP Acquires New Property Near Midtown Crossing and Blackstone District Commercial Investment Properties (CIP), a Midwestern multifamily management company continually recognized for excellence in property management and customer service, announced in February the acquisition of a 36-unit community in Omaha. Previously known as Ekard Court, CIP rebranded the community as The Helen to be the sister property of The Conrad, another award-winning community in the historic Blackstone District. The Helen will be managed by CIP through their exceptional staff at The Conrad. The Helen, located at 617 S. 31st St., is located minutes from Midtown Crossing and the Blackstone District and offers large one- and two-bedroom apartments in two different design schemes, ranging from 825-square-foot to 1,090-square-foot layouts.

Built in 2016, The Helen features stainless-steel appliances, full-size washers and dryers, hardwood-style flooring, and contemporary kitchens with high-end finishes. The Helen also offers private, assigned parking and has an elevator. To learn more, visit www.rentTheHelen.com.

Berry Law Sponsors Veteran-Focused Races The Berry Law team was proud to sponsor two veteran-focused races in June: the annual Run to St. Lo, an event hosted by the Nebraska National Guard Museum, and the Big Red Challenge. The Run to St. Lo pays homage to the 52 Nebraska National Guardsmen killed in the Battle at St. Lo, France, in World War II. The route of the race took runners past the memorials of the fallen in Seward, NE. The Big Red Challenge is a 7K obstacle course that creates an opportunity for veterans and civilians to come together and challenge themselves. Proceeds of the event go towards supporting veterans in their transition to civilian life.

Berry Law considers both of these events to be great opportunities to support a few outstanding organizations and meet some equally amazing people. The company places high value on veteran support and outreach. Attorney John S. Berry Jr. has led soldiers in deployments to Iraq and Bosnia. After receiving his commission as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, John completed Airborne School and Ranger School. In 1999, while assigned to the First Cavalry Division, he deployed to Bosnia for Operation Joint Forge. John also served as a Company Commander in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and later as a Battalion Commander in the National Guard.

Thousands of clients have trusted Berry Law with their cases and, more importantly, their futures. The firm specializes in criminal defense, military law, and personal injury and civil/administrative cases. Learn more online at www.jsberrylaw.com or call (402) 415-0062.

JULY 2019 Strictly Business 7

BUSINESS NEWS Modern Work Suites & Studios Announces Upcoming Ribbon Cutting Date

Cox Communications Offers Free Wi-Fi in June, College World Series Hotspots

Modern Work Suites & Studios is thrilled to officially celebrate its status as Omaha’s new business ecosystem with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, conducted by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, on September 12 at 4 p.m. Modern Work Suites is located at 8790 F St. Their team is committed to bringing the most value to their tenants and guests. One of the ways they accomplish this is through their monthly Networking Mixxers, held in their 60s-style “Mixx Lounge.” During this time, guests can enjoy an open bar with delicious drinks served up by Modern Work’s friendly bartender. There will not be an event held in July, but stay tuned for information about the August event. These “mixxers” bring new faces together for a great time to make connections and build relationships.

Modern Work Suites & Studios offers innovative private offices in its 50,000-square-foot space. Each floor plan delivers an ideal space for businesses and entrepreneurs in search of the right workplace to rent in Omaha.

With the belief that people should love where they work, Modern Work Suites & Studios was created to inspire, motivate, and optimize the day-to-day work experience for its tenants. Take a virtual tour online at modernworksuites.com or contact Kate Gallagher, on-site manager, at (531) 600-6901.

As Omaha kicked off summer with a jam-packed June, welcoming thousands of baseball fans for the College World Series, Cox C o m m u n i c a t i o n s o n c e a ga i n offered free Wi-Fi throughout the month. The company’s network in the metro area includes more than 550 hotspots—all of which were open to the public through July 1.

Cox also had a presence at Omaha’s signature baseball celebration—Omaha Baseball Village, located at The Matt—June 14 through 21. Fans in attendance were able to experience an innovative new virtual reality “fan face game,” relax in furniture from Nebraska Furniture Mart, cool down and charge up with device charging stations, learn about the Rebuild the Heartland fund, and stay connected via the free Wi-Fi access offered by Cox. 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. Their team is 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.

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BUSINESS NEWS First Nebraska Topgolf Location Breaks Ground on June 4 Global sports entertainment leader Topgolf officially broke ground on Nebraska’s first venue in Omaha on June 4. Construction on the new venue, located off of 102nd and Nicholas Street, has begun with a projected opening date of spring 2020. The Omaha location will have 72 video game-influenced, climate-controlled golf hitting bays.

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Organizations Commit $26 Million to Greater Omaha’s Economic Development The Greater Omaha Chamber announced on May 29 that 180 regional investors have committed $26 million of the five-year, $32-million Prosper Omaha 2.0 campaign goal to date, funds designed to accelerate regional advancement, stimulate income and GDP growth, and retain and attract talent.

The announcement followed the Chamber’s May 23 investors’ meeting, where more than 100 investors were updated on the Prosper Omaha 1.0 campaign results, an initiative that launched in 2014 and closed in 2018, produced nearly 300 landed projects, grew $4.2 billion in capital investment, and created more than 13,000 jobs thanks to $25.9 million in support from 300 investors.

Designed to propel the region into multiple “best-of-the best” categories, Prosper Omaha 2.0 will engage data-driven insights, community input, and future-planning to address goals in the following areas: Business Growth, People, and Place.

Prosper Omaha 2.0 Business Growth Goals • $3 billion in new investment • $500 million in new payroll • 10,000 new jobs • 250 new tech startups • 250 new REACH contracts, and more than $10 million in revenue, for small and emerging construction businesses • 100+ Kitchen Council community-engagement opportunities Prosper Omaha 2.0 People Goals • 100 companies engaged in diversity and inclusion initiatives through CODE pledge commitment, an initiative designed to increase opportunities and equity for underrepresented populations • 100,000 career experiences for area middle and high school students • 10,000 new, trained tech talent workers • 10,000 under-employed retrained for higher-skill, higher-wage jobs Prosper Omaha 2.0 Place Goals • $1 billion investment in urban core • Modern transit system funded and under construction • Additional inspiring and engaging public places under development Over the five-year life of the campaign, Prosper Omaha 2.0 will lead 300 economic development projects in a six-county metro characterized by strong assets, vibrant and connected downtowns throughout the region, a thriving arts community, and an elevated global standing. Learn more online at www.omahachamber.org/prosper-omaha. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

American National Bank Partners with MindSet, Focuses on Nonprofit Sector American National Bank and MindSet partner to build leadership capacity in Omaha nonprofits through scholarship opportunities and free workshops. MindSet has been selected as the leadership development partner of the Greater Omaha Chamber and Human Resource Association of the Midlands. For years, both organizations have promoted the flagship MindSet Leadership Series to their members. In 2019, MindSet has partnered with the Greater Omaha Chamber to launch a program called Propel, a leadership accelerator for front-line leaders and rising star employees. While MindSet was proven in the nonprofit sector, most of its business is done in the for-profit sector.

That will not be the case going forward.

“Thanks to the generosity of American National Bank, more nonprofit leaders will soon be able to access MindSet training,” says MindSet co-owner, Blake Hoogeveen. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to help other nonprofits learn from the insights that have led to so much growth and success at QLI over the decades.”

“We take pride in giving back to our community,” said Stephanie Gould, SVP of Talent and Organizational Development at American National Bank. “So, we are pleased to support this scholarship opportunity that will help nonprofit leaders complete MindSet training at roughly half the price. We believe this will help to build greater leadership capacity within nonprofits in our community.”

Learn more about American National Bank at www.american.bank.

JULY 2019 Strictly Business 9

BUSINESS NEWS First Nebraska Credit Union Breaks Ground for New Building in Elkhorn First Nebraska Credit Union (FNCU) held a ground breaking ceremony on June 13 for their new building at 20241 Manderson St. in Elkhorn.

The new Elkhorn location will include an Interactive Teller Machine (ITM), which will provide 24/7 service and allow you to do much more than an ATM in the drive-thru. During business hours, you will have the option to speak with an FNCU representative via video conferencing. The new building will include the latest in banking technology, including teller pods instead of traditional teller lines.

FNCU currently has five locations, three in Omaha and two in Lincoln. First Nebraska is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative. The FNCU focus is People Helping People, and their goal is to strengthen the financial well-being of their members.

FNCU is the only credit union in Nebraska to be listed in the Top 100 four years in a row by DepositAccounts.com which looks at credit unions nationwide for exceptional fiduciary responsibility.

For more information about First Nebraska Credit Union, please visit their website at firstnebraska.org. If you’d like to learn more about the new Elkhorn location, please contact Ann Loftis, president and CEO, at (402) 492-9100 / aloftis@firstnebraska.org.

Gratton Warehouse Company Creates Museum within Facility Gratton Warehouse Company is currently in the process of creating a museum within their facility, located at 11005 E Cir. The museum is filling up with antiques and treasures collected over the past 125 years, almost all of which are related to Gratton Warehouse. This includes the current owner’s first forklift dating back to 1956, a pallet jack from the 1930s, gas pumps from the 1950s used to fuel the forklifts when Gratton opened in 1894, and the original door to the first warehouse, which has been upcycled to a conference table.

Gratton Warehouse has been a family-owned business for four generations now. Great Grandfather Charles Harrison Gratton started the company after leaving the president position at Union Pacific Railroad. The following presidents and owners were George E. Gratton and Richard C. Gratton. Today, the president/owner is William E. Gratton.

Gratton Warehouse is a third-party logistics company specializing in warehousing and distribution. They have 165,000 square feet of storage with access to 100,000 square feet more for expansion.

Gratton Warehouse Company prides themselves on their customer service and operational excellence to deliver above and beyond their customers’ expectations. For more information, visit grattonwarehouse. com or contact Michael Wohlgemuth at (402) 339-0846, Ext. 101 / michaelw@grattonwarehouse.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Patricia Catering and Cocktails Implements Zero-Waste Catering Patricia Catering and Cocktails partners with Hillside Solutions, a waste hauling company focused on diverting materials from the landfill, to bring zero-waste events to the area. Along with a zero-waste office and kitchen, the company offers a venue space that can accommodate corporate and social events. The Bellevue catering company has reduced their use of plastics by substituting with the use of compostable products.

Patricia Catering and Cocktails can make any event zero-waste. From the beginning of the order to its completion, the catering company can ensure that the recyclables and compost that often ends up in a landfill is sorted out into the correct bins.

Patricia Catering and Cocktails has been in business and operating in the Metro Area since 1986. Contact Sarah Norman at info@patriciacatering. com for more information or go online to patriciacatering.com.

Veterans in Business Forum Announces Upcoming August Meeting The Veterans in Business Forum (VIBF) meets the first Friday of every month (0800-0900). Their next meeting is 2 August at the University of Nebraska–Omaha College of Business Administration, Mammel Hall – Room 215, 6708 Pine Street, Omaha, NE 68182-0048. There will be no meeting in July. The August guest speaker is Taylor Law from NBDC (Nebraska Business Development Center) and PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center). He will speak on Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) Certification. Also speaking is ADD. 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.

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.

MBA’s Annual Ribstock BBQ Festival to Feature 12 Local Vendors The 2019 Ribstock BBQ Festival on July 27 is put on by the Millard Business Community Foundation to raise money for charitable projects in the community. This year’s event will be from noon to 10 p.m. at Stinson Park, 2232 S. 64th St., and will feature 12 local BBQ vendors, music by Blue House and Eckophonic, an entertainment zone provided by Hines Glow Entertainment, a photo booth by FotoFun, and, new this year, a corn hole tournament sponsored by the Millard Business Young Professionals.

Ribstock has generated thousands of dollars for Project Wee Care and The Scholarship fund, and this year, the Millard Business Community Foundation has added the Food Bank of the Heartland as a benefitting organization. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Omaha, Food Bank for the Heartland distributes food to 600 food pantries, schools, emergency shelters, and other nonprofit partners. They are the largest food bank in Nebraska and Iowa, serving 93 counties in the two-state region.

The Millard Business Community Foundation (www.millardbcf.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation born out of the Millard Business Association. Learn more about Ribstock at www.ribstockbbq.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Check out these new businesses who have joined the Chamber!

4Cleaning Sisters Atlas Solutions Plus BerganKDV Blair Freeman-Nebraska Realty CBD American Shaman CycleBar West Omaha EventPrep Farmers Insurance - Kevin McTaggart Fidelity Investments Goosmann Law HBE LLP Holiday Inn Express & Suites Omaha Downtown Horizon Rehabilitation Center Jerry Banks Group K Watson Group Klink Chiropractic Ludacka Wealth Partners Michael Powers Agency, LLC ParkvilleMedia, LLC Pinwheel180 Pool & Associates Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction Sage Capital Society of St. Vincent DePaul Starbucks Coffee Company 222 S. 15th 8734 Pacific 12540 K St 411 N. 114th St 219 S. 72nd St

15821 14801 12245 17396

W. W. W. W.

Dodge Rd Maple Rd Center Rd Center Rd

Straxen Swartz Delicatessen, LLC The Strawhecker Group Tree Rush Adventures at Fontenelle Forest Tyson Foods Urgent Care of Papillion Venus Vein Clinic WorkHaven Studio Xcel Roofing

Greater Omaha Chamber 808 Conagra Dr., Ste. 400, Omaha, NE 68102 (402) 346-5000

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BUSINESS NEWS T.O. Haas Tire & Auto Introduces Tradesmen Support Program T.O. Haas Tire & Auto has announced that they now offer a Tradesmen Support Program for all of the trades: contractors, subcontractors, electricians, plumbers, painters, roofer, welders, landscapers, and even farmers and ranchers. When you equip your work vehicle with BFGoodrich® All Terrain T/A KO2 tires, you’ll qualify for 24-hour worksite and roadside assistance, a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and a rebate of up to $100 on a set of four tires. The 24/7/365 real time support includes flat tire changing, delivery of supplies, emergency battery service, lost key or lockouts, and towing. This program was created to equip the men and women who build our world with the tools necessary to get the job done.

T.O. Haas Tire serves communities all over Nebraska, including Omaha, Beatrice, Tecumseh, Lincoln, and more. For more information, go online to www.tohaastire.com/tradesmen.htm.

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Venus Vein Clinic to Participate in JDRF’s One Walk Event on August 24 Venus Vein Clinic will be a supporting vendor in JDRF’s One Walk event, held at TD Ameritrade Park on August 24. Dr. Kelly Schroeder will have a booth at the event in order to provide education and resources for keeping legs healthy and strong in Omaha’s diabetic community. The purpose of One Walk, hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), is to raise money to create a world without type 1 diabetes. Diabetes can lead to neuropathy, which is numbness and burning in the legs and feet. Diabetics are easily susceptible to infections in these areas, which can frequently lead to amputation.

Venus Vein Clinic is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease. It is the only practice in the Omaha area led by a board-certified vein physician who specializes in vein care exclusively. If you have any interest in participating in or donating to JDRF’s One Walk alongside Venus Vein Clinic, please visit www.jdrf.org. To contact Venus Vein Clinic, visit www.venusveinclinic.com or call (402) 922-8346.

Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch to Host Midwest Pirate Fest August 24–25 Brandi Ballan Shawn Schreiner 402.758.8717 402.758.8703 bballan@westgate.bank sschreiner@westgate.bank

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The annual Midwest Pirate Fest, complete with stranded pirate ship and Pirate’s Pub tavern, will be August 24–25 at Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch. On both Saturday and Sunday, the festival will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this time, check out the Pirate’s Port, wander around the Enchanted Forest, and find adventure in the Sea-Side Towne. Attendees can also bounce about a bit in the inflated pirate boat or feel the wind in their face on the Heave-Ho Pirate Ship Swing! There’s more to do at this year’s Midwest Pirate Fest than ever before, with multiple live stage performances, hands-on games, free make-and-take activities, daily children’s treasure hunts, and learning demonstrations for the whole family. The artisan exhibits, festival marketplace, and great carnival foods will make a well-rounded nautical adventure for everyone attending. Cost to attend is $10 for adults and $7 for children.

Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch is located just off of South 48th St. between Cornhusker and Highway 370. Follow the Facebook page (@ BellevueBerryFarm) for more information about the event and learn more about Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch online at www.bellevueberryfarm. com or call (402) 331-5500. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS DataVizion Hosts 2019 Tech Summit DataVizion, a locally owned next-generation IT Solution provider, hosted their 2019 Tech Summit on May 1 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha. The purpose of the conference was to network and learn from industry professionals and technology experts from leading companies.

The agenda included various breakout sessions and chances to interact with vendors. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to hear from special guest speakers Brenden Stai and Erich Kron.

Brenden, a former offensive guard for the Cornhuskers and professional NFL player, and the current Nebraska Director of Athletic Development, spoke about the importance of taking ownership in life to ensure a desired outcome. Kron, an IT security professional and security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, discussed real-world cyber attacks and how to avoid falling victim to one. At the conclusion of the all-day conference, attendees played casino games and enjoyed cocktails with each other.

DataVizion would like to thank the following corporate sponsors for making this event possible: Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Aruba Networks, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, LightEdge Solutions, CYBERShark, and Datto.

Proudly named one of Lincoln’s 2019 “Best Places to Work” by Woods & Aitken LLP, the Lincoln Journal Star, and the Lincoln Human Resource Management Association, DataVizion is committed to providing strategic solutions and support as businesses navigate the world of next-generation technologies. Their dedicated team of IT professionals fully manage each project from start to finish, utilize a variety of collaboration tools designed to monitor progress, and keep everyone on the same page every step of the way. DataVizion services the Lincoln, Omaha, and Des Moines areas. Learn more online at www.datavizion.com.

Midlands Place Welcomes Papillion’s First Boba Tea and Rolled Ice Cream Shop Qtea Boba Tea & Ice Cream opened its doors to the public in late April for its official grand opening. Although a number of boba tea and rolled ice cream shops have popped up in the Omaha metro area recently, Qtea will be the first for the Papillion market.

Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, is a drink that originated in Taiwan in the 80s and has rapidly grown in popularity here in the states recently. It’s essentially a tea-based drink (typically black or green tea is used) that is combined with milk and/or fruit-based syrups, then poured over the ‘bobas’ or little pearls made mostly from tapioca starch and other flavorings.

In addition to bubble teas, Qtea will also be offering rolled ice cream, another recent global phenomenon that originated in Thailand. Instead of scooping frozen ice cream from buckets, this unique style of ice cream is made fresh right in front of you using a liquid base which is poured onto a steel pan and cooled to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The ice cream is then mixed with a variety of toppings to create endless flavors. To serve, the thin layer of ice cream is rolled into cylinder shapes using a metal spatula and placed into a dish where more toppings can be added if desired.

Located at 304 Olson Dr., STE 111, Qtea Boba Tea & Ice Cream will be open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Learn more by calling (402) 208-7955 or visit the Facebook page (@ Qtea.pappillion).

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BUSINESS NEWS Center Sphere to Host Annual Charity Golf Tournament Benefitting Chariots4Hope Center Sphere will host their Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Wednesday, July 24. Check-in is from 8 to 9:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. sharp! The event will be taking place at Pacific Springs Golf Course., 16810 Harney St. The cost is $75 per player or $300 per four-person team. They ask that at least one Center Sphere member be on each four-person team. Lunch will be included. All proceeds go towards supporting Chariots4Hope, a faith-based nonprofit that works to empower low-income individuals and families to reach and maintain self-sufficiency through reliable transportation and after CARe services.

For those who don’t consider themselves much of a golfer, there will be an 18-hole mini-golf tournament on the same morning as the tournament. This fun alternative activity should only take about 30 minutes, allowing more people the flexibility to participate. Entry for the mini-golf event is $5 per player (does not include lunch).

In addition, the Center Sphere Network is happy to report that their fundraising campaign with ACCESSbank for flood victims was a success and they are excited to begin dispersing those funds to those in need.

They used a variety of methods to raise money, from a network-wide BBQ to monthly challenges with chapters.

To learn more about Center Sphere or to register for the tournament, go online to www.ccentersphereomahagolf.com. You can also contact Amy Nieman at (402) 709-1774 / Amy@centersphere.com to learn more about the tournament or Center Sphere membership in general.

Associated Staffing Showcases New Office To c e l e b r a t e A s s o c i a t e d Staffing’s new location, the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribboncutting ceremony on March 28.

Community members gathered for lunch and tours as Associated Staffing showcased their new office at 5104 L St. They are very grateful for all the support they received at this special event.

Associated Staffing was purchased in 1995 by Brian McMahon and he has developed the company into the Tri-City area’s largest employment service. The first office was in Grand Island, where the corporate office still resides today. In 2003, Associated Staffing acquired Best Temps, another staffing agency, to establish their Omaha office at 5012 L St. As the company expanded, a transition to a bigger space in Omaha was necessary. Branch manager for the Omaha office is David Franks. Associated Staffing also has offices in Hastings, Kearney, and Columbus.

Associated Staffing strives to be the leading provider of outsourcing employment solutions in the Midwest through clerical, production, and professional services. They accomplish this by becoming a proactive partner with their customers, integrating their capabilities to enhance their business processes, and providing the total experience in quality and responsiveness. Learn more at www.associated-staffing.com or call (402) 731-1466.

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BUSINESS NEWS Amazon Gives First Media Tour of Nebraska Delivery Station, Donates 10K to Lift Up Sarpy On June 10, Amazon celebrated the grand opening of its first Nebraska Delivery Station by hosting Governor Pete Ricketts and community members to attend a press conference and tour of the new facility in Omaha. This is Nebraska’s first Amazon facility and the first time that media was invited inside the facility for a tour. During the event, Amazon also donated $10,000 worth of items to Lift Up Sarpy County to support relief efforts for local families following the devastation from recent floods in Bellevue.

During the event, Amazon’s Regional Operations Director Bernard De Guillebon led guests on a tour of the facility and discussed how Delivery Stations enable Amazon Logistics to add capacity and flexibility to the company’s delivery capabilities to support the growing volume of customer orders in the region. This facility has already created 230 permanent, full-time and part-time jobs, along with powering job opportunities for hundreds of small businesses and independent contractors in the area.

Amazon’s Nebraska Delivery Station is located at 11652 S.154th St. To checkout job opportunities with Amazon, visit search. amazondelivers.jobs/job/omaha/warehouse-team-member.

McCarthy Building Companies Breaks Ground on New Omaha Office Building McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and development partner Tetrad Property Group, LLC broke ground May 8 on a new office building and warehouse that will serve as the national construction company’s new local office location. Since establishing a full-service Omaha office in 2007, McCarthy has continued to build its local presence and reputation for delivering complex, challenging projects across a wide variety of market sectors and project types. The company is currently overseeing more than $200 million in construction work throughout Nebraska.

Construction is expected to be completed by December 2019.

Situated at the intersection of 132nd Street and I Street in West Omaha, the 15,000-square-foot industrial-flex office development will include a single-story office building, warehouse, and adjacent construction yard. The new office will enable McCarthy to expand its services to clients within the company’s core markets of healthcare, education, advanced technology and manufacturing, commercial, arts and entertainment, and industrial projects.

The office will include high-tech conference facilities and flexible gathering spaces, encouraging collaborative work among employees, clients, and industry partners. The adjacent, climate-controlled warehouse will accommodate the delivery and short-term onsite storage of construction materials, as well as space for pre-assembly of building components. This flexible, multi-purpose warehouse environment will also be available to host a range of employee training sessions, client and partner appreciation events, and other community gatherings. An adjacent patio will extend the gathering space outdoors.

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.’s current local project work includes an $86-million, 57,000-square-foot Omaha VA Ambulatory Care Center (scheduled to open in 2020) and a $70-million new high school under development for Omaha Public Schools. The firm is also completing a $10-million Emergency Department renovation for Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and a $38-million cancer center and surgery addition at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. The company’s current office space is located at 14217 Dayton Cir., STE 8. Learn more online at www.mccarthy.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Signature Electric Named to ABC’s TopPerforming U.S. Contractors List Signature Electric was ranked No. 23 on the Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) 2019 Top 50 Performers with Special Designations list, which recognized ABC member contractors’ achievements in safety, quality, diversity, and project excellence. Published as a supplement to Construction Executive magazine, the lists identify the Top 150 Performers, Top 50 Performers with Special Designations, and Top 20 Performers by Region. To be eligible, Signature Electric demonstrated world-class safety performance by achieving Gold in ABC’s STEP safety management system, which makes the top-performing contractors up to 680% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average, according to the ABC 2019 Safety Performance Report. The Top Performers were ranked by size, based on the number of hours worked in 2018, as reported in their 2018 STEP applications. Get free access to the 2019 Top Performers list at abc.org/topperformers.

Signature Electric is a trusted Omaha electrician. They serve residential, commercial, industrial, government, and institutional clients in the Greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area. Learn more online at www. signatureelectric.us.

Cambria Hotels Celebrated First Property Opening in Nebraska Choice Hotels International’s upscale Cambria Hotels brand marked its arrival in Nebraska with the grand opening of the Cambria Hotel Omaha Downtown in May. The 128-room hotel at 740 N. 14th St. is one of the newest additions to Omaha’s growing NoDo district and will entice modern travelers visiting the area with captivating design, local flavors, contemporary amenities, and convenient access to popular Omaha destinations. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, which included remarks from executive director and president of the Omaha Convention Bureau, Keith Backsen; senior vice president of Upscale Brands for Choice Hotels, Janis Cannon; and co-owner of the hotel and CEO and managing partner of O’Reilly Hospitality, Tim O’Reilly, who expressed their excitement about the Cambria brand’s arrival in the city.

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests celebrated with areainspired fare and drinks from Brickway Brewery & Distillery, Empyrean Brewing Company, Nebraska Brewing Company, and Zipline Brewing Company—all local breweries that will be featured on the hotel’s permanent bar menu.

Keep up with the Cambria Hotel Omaha Downtown on Facebook (@CambriahotelsuitesOmaha) or call (402) 218-1676 to make a reservation.

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BUSINESS NEWS Better Business Bureau: Companies Can’t Silence Negative Reviews Better Business Bureau (BBB) is educating businesses on The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) warning that companies can’t silence negative reviews posted online by their customers. The FTC has recently issued administrative complaints against several businesses they say threatened consumers with legal action if they posted negative customer reviews. It discovered illegal gag clauses in contracts at five businesses across the country, including rental companies and a Massachusetts-based flooring company. The Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 prohibits companies from including any language in a contract that would prevent consumers from posting negative reviews.

BBB realizes that, if you’re a business owner, chances are you’ll probably receive a negative or neutral review at some point. Although your first reaction may be to defend your business and prove the customer wrong, it’s important to keep calm and respond in a rational and thoughtful way.

When you’re drafting your response to the customer, apologize that their expectations were not met and thank them for their feedback. Remember that apologizing does not necessarily admit fault. If it’s something you can rectify, ask to speak to them offline. Provide them with an email address or a phone number where you can be reached. Even if you don’t think they will contact you, it’s important for other people reading your reviews to know that you’ve been responsive.

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

The overall mission of BBB is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. Learn more online at bbb.org/nebraska or call (800) 649-6814.

BNI Announces New Chapters in Omaha If you are looking to form more quality business relationships, BNI ® Heartland has new chapters forming in the Omaha and Lincoln areas. Do you believe that the people who know, like, and trust you will provide enough referrals for your business?

This is a myth! Do the math: Most people know about 250 people, with about a quarter of that being close friends and family. If half of those closest to you gave you one referral a week, you would have over 30 a week.

Is this happening?

Often, the referrals from those close to us are looking for a “friends and family discount.” They don’t understand that sometimes costs don’t allow businesses to offer much of a discount or that business can’t afford to lose money hoping for “good exposure.”

To receive consistent referrals, you must establish a business relationship. One of BNI’s core values is accountability. This allows members to use the structure of BNI to help build strong business relationships. Matched with the information you provide them, your group knows who and what you’re looking for and can help you get those referrals.

BNI® Heartland is the world’s leading referral organization, with over 250,000 members in 70+ countries. Their members generate word-of-mouth business for each other through structured, resultsdriven groups around the world. In 2018 alone, BNI members generated over $15 billion (USD) in revenue for memberbusinesses. To join, email info@bniheartland.com, or learn more by visiting bniheartland.com.

SERVING THE OMAHA/LINCOLN METROPLEX From left to right: Mike Barrett, VP Mortgage Lender/Sales Manager; David Shiffermiller, EVP/Lending; Allen Chaffee, Market President, Greater Omaha; John Dittman, Chairman of the Board; Barry Lockard, President/CEO Loan Production Office, 13340 California, Omaha | 402-779-1420 | CornhuskerBank.com

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

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Rachel Carver, public relations specialist and first blind person in the United States to earn the Accreditation in Public Relations certification.

About 15,000 Omaha area residents live with severe vision loss.

By outsourcing your customer care and marketing needs to Outlook Business Solutions, you receive high quality, professional services that can help your business attract, retain, and grow your customer relationships. You also indirectly employ the blind and visually impaired, reducing the 70% unemployment rate within this population.

with talented freelance professionals in the areas of copywriting, graphic design, project management, and branding. Preference is given to skilled marketing professionals who are blind or visually impaired.

Outlook Business Solutions provides direct employment to blind and legally blind individuals.

Our sister company, Outlook Nebraska, provides the visually impaired population with technology training as well as recreational, social, and cultural activities to help them lead fulfilling lives.

Outlook Business Solutions provides marketing, customer care, and other services to businesses.

The mission is to create an inclusive and integrated environment populated with talented professionals with consideration and accommodations for those “Outlook Business Solutions focuses who are blind or low on opportunity employment, vision.

The mission is to create an inclusive creating jobs for people who have and integrated environment Customer care significant barriers to mainstream populated with talented associates are hired employment. We specifically professionals with consideration and for their aptitude in address the barrier of vision accommodations for those who are communicating and impairment. Our experience shows blind or low vision. building relationships that almost any work environment with the individuals can be adapted to accommodate and companies they contact on behalf of business employees with visual impairment.� - Rachel Carver customers.

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KELLY

Dr. Kelly Schroeder

VENUS VEIN CLINIC Meet Dr. Kelly Schroeder, a board-certified vein doctor and owner of Venus Vein Clinic.

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 opportunities every week.

Tell us a little about your business. - Venus Vein Clinic is a full-service vein clinic where men and women can come for a comfortable experience to get relief from their leg discomfort.

How did you get started in the business? - I worked for many years as an Emergency Room (ER) department doctor. I would see patients repeatedly for the same vein conditions—swelling, pain, infections, bleeding, and wounds. I would send them to specialists, trusting they would get the care they needed, but inevitably, my patients would return to the ER for recurrent complications. When I researched the problem, it was clear that there is poor understanding and follow through with regards to treatment of vein conditions in our community.

I knew I could make a difference, so I set out to complete my training for the Venous and Lymphatics specialty. I opened Venus Vein Clinic because I want to create an experience for my patients that is both caring and comfortable.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Balance. It’s difficult to find that perfect recipe for balancing life, career, and rest.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? Opening Venus Vein Clinic is more than just a small business to me. This gives me the ability to give the best care I can, in the best atmosphere I can, with the best support I can. I always felt like the clinics, hospitals, and administrations I worked for previously limited how care could be delivered. Now, I get to give my patients every benefit possible, and it is so gratifying.

Tell us a little about your family. - I’m married with two daughters and two sons. My husband is also a physician. Our children are very active and very different from one another, so we are often doing several kinds of activities on any given day. My family works hard and plays hard. We spend a lot of time together, whether it’s with our pets, being outside, or just laughing and talking.

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

- Our youngest son has had a transplant. This changed us all. My son and I now share a pair of kidneys between us. As a turning point in life, I’d say this has grown my family closer, more compassionate, and more loving. For me personally, it has been, hands down, the hardest, saddest, happiest, and greatest achievement in my life.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I enjoy new experiences. If I have a choice between two things, I will always choose the one that I’ve never chosen before.

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Strictly Business JULY 2019

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” - Henry Ford.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - If I did it all over again, I wouldn’t be anything different than the doctor I am today.

What is your favorite movie? - I don’t watch too much TV or movies, but I do love musicals. Live performances are much more my preference.

I’ll never miss a classic like Phantom of the Opera when it comes to town.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Flat Iron Café.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Phone: (402) 979-8346; Email: contact@venusveinclinic.com; Website: venusveinclinic.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JON

Jon Weiss

SHINEFORTH

PATIO NOW OPEN!

Meet, Jon Weiss the founder and principal developer of ShineForth.

Tell us a little about your business. ShineForth is a design and development company in Omaha that focuses on handcrafted websites, modern apps, premier hosting, and technology consulting. We seek to build long-term partnerships with our clients based on trust by listening, connecting on mission, and collaboratively developing solutions that help them achieve business success in a cost effective, scalable, and innovative way.

For us, the most rewarding part is the relationships that we get to build each day with our partners. At ShineForth, we work with clients all around the U.S., but we are most grateful to work with businesses in our community. Omaha is an exciting place right now with a bright future. I’m so excited to lead a business that is part of the innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business growth that is happening in Omaha.

How did you get started in the business? - It’s been a long journey, one which includes well over a dozen years in corporate life. Along the way, I was fortunate enough to work for an agency that focused on the nonprofit sector. That experience taught me a lot about running a small business, entrepreneurship, and agency life. Shortly after, based on my passion and expertise for technology, I started to explore how to launch ShineForth.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - I was leading a few teams of developers at a company several years ago.

ShineForth was only a small part-time business at that point, though it had shown potential for more. It was a really difficult decision, and leap of faith, to leave the security of a company to launch ShineForth full time, but I felt the call of purpose, and it was something I really didn’t want to have regrets about later. That first year of business was full of really big challenges, but I was blessed to have really good mentors who helped me during that season. It is partly why I feel driven to partner with others who need reliable technology partners who they can trust with their business.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- Hiring my first employee at ShineForth was a huge moment and a key chapter in the company’s growth. Alvaro Oropesa is a very talented developer, photographer, designer, foodie, and all around awesome guy. The fact that he caught the vision and was excited to join ShineForth is probably the most rewarding achievement that I could have asked for. He is such a huge asset to the company and a really fun person to be around.

Tell us a little about your family. - I’m blessed to be married to a wonderful wife, Rhonda, who has been really incredible and supportive during this journey. We have five kids and live in west Omaha.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - We Stood Upon Stars: Finding God in Lost Places by Roger Thompson. It is filled with hand-drawn maps surrounded by compelling stories of the adventure, wonder, and beauty of some amazing places. Written from the perspective of a dad who desperately seeks to imprint wonder and a sense of adventure for finding life’s best moments with his kids, this story has inspired me to be better than I am.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Pitch.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? You can find out more information about ShineForth at www.shineforth. co or by contacting me at (855) SHN-FRTH / jon@shineforth.co. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Meet Tiffany Falconer, sales and design consultant for Ambius.

Tell us a little about your business. - We offer a variety of services to improve the ambience of any space, which entails designing, installing, and maintaining live and artificial plant displays, including a variety of green walls, moss walls, live picture panels, and more. We also provide ambient scenting and designs, and we install holiday displays.

How did you get started in the business? - I wanted to change my career and work in a field that I felt more passionate about. I did some research and found Ambius. This career allows me to utilize my business, creativity, and design experience. It feels great to use plants, containers, and green walls to design a space that employees and customers are excited about. You can take a space that is filled with commercial cubicles, printers, and hard surfaces and turn the room into a warm, inviting, and lively environment with plants and containers! My customers get excited when we arrive to install their design, whether it’s new plants, containers, a live wall, scenting, or holiday displays. To see they are happy with their choice to add these items to their working environment is very rewarding!

Tell us a little about your family. - I’m married to Russell Falconer.

Together, we have three children and Daisy, our cute Havanese dog.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? Hands down, having children. It changes everything and makes you look at the world in a different light.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I love to play tennis. I play on a league, so it’s a good time to unwind and catch up with friends.

Who inspires you? - I find inspiration from many people and in different situations. I’m inspired by those who have overcome difficult obstacles in life and yet strive to make their lives and others around them better.

J.K. Rowling and Oprah Winfrey are two that definitely stand out as inspirational people.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - You are responsible for the energy that you create for yourself, and you’re responsible for the energy that you bring to others.

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

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band. It reminds me of my kids. They love to turn up the volume when it’s on.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - Sonic speed.

Can you imagine how much you could accomplish in one day?

Which talent would you most like to have? - I would love to fluently speak Spanish and Italian.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I originally thought about being a nurse. On a daily basis, nurses do so much for so many! Their work is challenging; however, it must be very rewarding as well.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - The last book I read was Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.

What is your favorite TV show? - It was Game of Thrones. Now, I watch various series on Netflix.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Riveras for Mexican food and Pitch for their pizza and truffle fries.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Phone: (402) 510-9747; Email: Tiffany.Falconer@Ambius.com; Website: www.Ambius.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BO

Bo Gratton

GRATTON WAREHOUSE COMPANY Meet William (Bo) Gratton, owner of Gratton Warehouse Company.

Tell us a little about your business. - Celebrating 125 years this year, Gratton Warehouse is a third party logistics (3PL) company headquartered here in Omaha. We store raw and finished goods to distribute around the world. Our 3PL warehouse has the capability of handling unit(s) that weigh up to 5 tons. We also offer fulfillment services and do packaging for large orders and orders as small as an individual piece internet order SKU’s, from 1 to 5,000, weighing from 1lb to 10,000lbs.

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

402.991.9200 • 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 /TheOmahaBakery • Use cutting edge technology to market, 608 S. 72nd St. • Omaha,and NE maintain properties • communicate,

How did you get started in the business? - I started school at UNL and transferred to UNO in order to help out the family business during a few down years. I actually worked at the company every summer since I was 13 because I wanted to be involved in what the “grown-ups” were doing.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Dealing with family dynamics in a company will always be hard. Only 3% of family owned businesses make it to the fourth generation, and only 20% of those businesses continue to be family owned. The same family dynamics that help a business grow can also destroy it. It’s extremely difficult to separate family from work. Imagine only going on vacation with your coworkers—that’s what it’s like!

LEGACY is new toestate the Omaha Metrofirm founded RPM LegacyRPM is a Legacy full-service real brokerage Area.

We specialize in residential to protect investments, minimize costs and maximize income.

Jean and James Duffy, Owners property management and offer buying and selling real estate E: info@realpmlegacy.com | services. @RealPMLegacy Carmela K. Karni, Broker • Manage single family homes and residences

402.905.0459 | www.RealPMLegacy.com • with up to 10 units • Help rental owners maximize revenue, VETERAN • minimize expense, and avoid costly mistakes OWNED O P E R AT E D • Provide top notch customer&service • Offer 24/7 maintenance support • Use cutting edge technology to market, • communicate, and maintain properties

Tell us a little about your family. - My wife is a brilliant woman and a data analyst at a large computer hardware company. My two sons go to UNL. The oldest is a senior who is majoring in architecture and my younger son is about to be a freshman who is going to major in engineering. I also have a daughter. I didn’t believe in the whole “110%” thing until I met my daughter—she’s such a hard worker.

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

- Honestly, I can’t say there’s one big turning point because there will always be something else that comes up that’s bigger. I thought that my biggest moment would be when my dad died early, and I had to take over the company, but then more and more things happened that changed everything. You just got to roll with the punches.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Hang out with my family! We love to go water skiing, boating, bicycling, and even scuba diving. Once my kids get old enough, I hope we’ll all go skydiving together!

1st place 14 straight years!

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

402.905.0459 | www.RealPMLegacy.com

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - In elementary school, I once took care of a baby alligator. I even brought it to school one time for show-and-tell.

Who inspires you? - My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father.

To make it this long in this industry in Omaha and still be a family-owned business is a truly an amazing feat.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - My grandfather once told me, “Don’t get rid of what got you there.”

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I would probably do something in engineering or architecture, like building cars or houses. I guess that figures, considering that’s what both my sons are in school for!

What is your favorite TV show? - Last Man Standing, only because that’s what’s on when I get home from work at around 10 p.m.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Phone: (402) 339-0846; Email: bo@grattonwarehouse.com; Website: www.grattonwarehouse.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Meet Garrett Carbonell, franchise owner of two local CBD American Shaman locations.

Tell us a little about your business. - CBD American Shaman is dedicated to bringing wellness to the world through ultra-concentrated, terpene-rich hemp oil derived from all-natural, high-quality industrial hemp. The American Shaman franchise is very supportive. My wife Jennifer and I are very proud to be the owners of two locations in Omaha. We have three employees, all of whom are knowledgeable and passionate about CBD. Quality is of the highest importance to us. Everyone we have met is so kind and talented in various ways! We believe CBD products can help people live a better life by coming closer to homeostasis.

How did you get started in the business? - Our mentor and good friend from Kansas asked me to help manage the 96th store back in 2017. I was given the opportunity to take ownership last year, and I am grateful that I did.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Figuring out how to be a professional and communicating well with people.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- We recently celebrated one year at our first location in June and opened up a second location in May. My goal as an owner has been to grow a diverse inventory of products, along with establishing consistent advertising in order to promote the products to our neighbors in Omaha.

Tell us a little about your family. - Jennifer has been such a big help to me throughout the franchising and ownership process. We have two toddlers, both girls. They like to help at the store sometimes too!

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

- When I realized material goods don’t hold importance.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Spending quality time with my family and taking the girls to do activities!

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I’m pretty skilled at most games, board or other.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Stop talking. Think before you speak.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? - I’d bend space and time.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - The ability to manifest reality.

Which talent would you most like to have? - To be able to serenade.

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

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Hooves and Paws Rescue for their flood relief efforts.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? Compendium of the Emerald Tablets by Billy Carson.

What is your favorite TV show? - The Office.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - La Casa.

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

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - Phone: (402) 932-2144; Email: garrett.carbonell@yahoo.com; Website: www.cbdomaha.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JESSE

Jesse Morton

BIG BIRGE PLUMBING Meet Jesse Morton, residential remodeling foreman at Big Birge Plumbing.

Tell us a little about your business. Big Birge Plumbing handles service plumbing calls, residential remodels, and commercial plumbing jobs in the Omaha Metro area. The owners, Brad and Lallenia Birge, are passionate about changing the negative stereotype of a plumber. Our team is highly trained and committed to doing the very best job we can for businesses and homeowners in the community. We take our roles very seriously! Big Birge has built a reputation for being professional and fair with our prices. Whether you need help with a kitchen or bathroom remodel, water heater repair, gas or water piping, or drain cleaning and clogged toilets, our team is up for the task.

How did you get started in the business? - I was working a dead end job out of high school and knew I wanted something more.

My brother-in-law knew Brad and encouraged me to give him a call about joining his plumbing company. I started that following week. I was actually Big Birge Plumbing’s first employee!

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? People tend to not trust my opinion because of my young age.

This has challenged me to really know what I’m talking about!

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- Passing the Journeyman Plumber test on my first try.

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Tell us a little about your family. - I have a three-year-old daughter named Amelia and a son on the way! His name will be Milo. We also have a few pets—a dog, cat, and some turtles.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy doing yard work and projects around the house. I’m also thankful for any time I get to spend with my family. Every now and then, I get locked into a video game.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I really love turtles.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Don’t make the same mistake twice.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “I’m a Believer”

by Smashmouth.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? - Make money come out of my fingertips whenever I wanted it.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - My sarcastic personality. It’s great, but not always acceptable for customers.

What is your favorite movie? - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

What is your favorite TV show? - Bob’s Burgers. It’s the perfect show to watch at night and unwind to.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Mouth of The South.

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

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

- Phone: (402) 575-0102; Website: www.bigbirgeplumbing.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JULY 2019 Strictly Business

23

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Roger Keaton and Karla Sextro Join Child Saving Institute Staff Roger Keaton and Karla Sextro have joined the staff at Child Saving Institute (CSI).

Keaton, hired as the agency’s chief financial officer, previously served as chief financial officer for Yellowstone Forever in Montana and led the successful merger of the Yellowstone Association and Yellowstone Park Foundation. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and international business from Union College in Lincoln. He earned his master’s degree in financial services from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN. He is a certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner. Keaton is a native of Bellevue, Nebraska, and graduated from Bellevue East High School.

PERSONNEL NEWS Nebraska Community Blood Bank Welcomes New Donor Recruiter Robin Stewart Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) is excited to welcome the newest member of their Donor Recruitment team: Robin Stewart.

Robin joins the team at NCBB’s new donor center in Omaha, located at the intersection of 120th and Pacific Streets.

Robin is building meaningful relationships with Omaha businesses and organizations. She will continue to empower the community to host blood drives and engage with NCBB’s mission of providing a safe and stable blood supply for Nebraska hospitals. Robin brings a variety of skills and talents to her position, including stellar customer service and a sincere passion for helping her fellow Nebraskans.

“I have seen firsthand how blood donations supported the life of my dear friend’s daughter, Lauren Hacker (Lolo’s Angels, Inc.), who successfully battled leukemia at Children’s Hospital in Omaha,” Robin said. “This role will allow me to encourage everyday people to be heroes to those facing some of the most challenging times of their lives.”

With Nebraska Community Blood Bank, hosting a blood drive is easy. Visit NCBB.org or email Robin at rstewart@ncbb.org for more information.

Roger Keaton

Sextro joined CSI as a therapist to meet an increasing demand for mental health services and to treat youth with addictions.

She is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and a licensed independent mental health practitioner specializing in working with teens and children. Sextro earned her Karla Sextro master’s degree in clinical counseling from Bellevue University. She completed her graduate internship with the Munroe Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center social work department. She treated children and adolescents for psychiatric disorders and worked with children on the autism spectrum.

She specializes in working with at-risk teens and particularly with behavior issues, tantrums, noncompliance, depression, anxiety, selfharm, and addiction. Appointments with Sextro may be made by calling (402) 553-6000.

The mission of CSI is “Responding to the cry of a child.” The agency is dedicated to the prevention, intervention, and healing of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment. In the face of abuse and neglect, this work can sometimes be daunting, but the rewards of success—a child’s carefree grin, a teen’s sense of value—make the journey well worth it.

Child Saving Institute has met the changing needs of metro area children for more than 127 years based on the vision that all children should have homes where hope is kindled and dreams can be achieved. Services include emergency short-term residential care for children whose families are in crisis, developmental child care for low-income working parents, Consulting services for low-income child care centers across the city, in-home services for families struggling to stay together, foster care, parenting classes, therapy services, pregnancy counseling, pediatric social work, and adoption for infants and older children. Visit childsaving.org for more information.

24 Strictly Business JULY 2019

The Set Me Free Project Welcomes New Operations Director Gina Barrett The Set Me Free Project is happy to announce that they have gained a new full-time operations director, Gina Barrett!

Born and raised in Omaha, Gina completed her associate degree in photography in 2011. She has spent countless hours documenting the outdoors and sharing her passion for conservation and nature through her photographs. In 2012, she began working in internet fraud and compliance at PayPal where she was able to investigate and unlock the intricacies of the financial side of human trafficking and other illegal activities.

Gina completed her bachelor’s of science degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016. Gina began volunteering for The Set Me Free Project in 2018 as a photographer and then transitioned into a part-time position. She is excited to now be fully invested in the organization’s mission and efforts as the operations director.

The 2018-19 school year, which marked year five for The Set Me Free Project, proved to be a promising year for the organization.

They had a great turnout at their Comedy for Change fundraiser on March 7, and they’ve already booked Comedian Jeff Allen for next year’s event! In addition, The Set Me Free Project awarded the first recipient of the Sydney Loofe Memorial Scholarship to the amazing Abigail, and they had great success during Omaha Gives!

The team at The Set Me Free Project is so appreciative of the support they constantly receive from the Lincoln and Omaha communities. To learn more, contact Stephanie Olson at (402) 521-3080 / info@setmefreeproject.net or go online to www. setmefreeproject.net. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS ENCAP Adds Kim Jones as Clinical Supervisor Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP) has recently welcomed new Clinical Supervisor Kim Jones.

Kim began her behavioral health career at ENCAP as a practicum student several years ago and could not be more excited to come back and lead the Behavioral Health Program. She is a military veteran, a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, and a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, eCPR, and the Duluth non-violence model. Her clinical experience includes working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, individuals involved in the criminal justice system, military veterans, and clients experiencing substance abuse challenges.

Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership is a community-based nonprofit organization that has been providing social and human services to people facing poverty in Douglas and Sarpy Counties since 1965. For more information about programs and services, go to www. encapnebraska.org or follow along on Facebook (@encapnebraska).

UNICO Group Recognizes 3 for Qualifying for Million Dollar Roundtable Midlands Financial, a division of UNICO Group, would like to congratulate LeaAnn M. Moore, Scot Blehm, and Chet Bennetts, who have each earned membership in the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).

LeaAnn M. Moore: Nine-year qualifier of MDRT with eight years at Top of the Table and one year at Court of the Table distinction.

Scot Blehm: Seven-year qualifier of MDRT with two years being at the Court of Table distinction.

Chet R. Bennetts, CFP®, ChFC®, CLF®: First year qualifier of MDRT and also qualified at the Court of Table distinction.

MDRT membership is attained by life insurance advisors who meet the organization’s annual production requirement and are members of their local life underwriters’ association. Round Table membership is an exclusive honor that is achieved only by a small percentage of all life insurance and financial services advisors.

A sales component was considered as part of the qualifications for these awards. These recognitions are not representative of any financial performance, advice, or returns.

Midlands Financial offers financial services, including individual investment and retirement services, succession planning, and retirement plans. UNICO Group is a full-service insurance agency headquartered in Lincoln with services ranging from telecommunications, workers’ comp, and employee benefits, to personal insurance and financial planning and human resource solutions. Learn more by calling (402) 434-7200 or visit unicogroup.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

LeaAnn M. Moore

Scot Blehm

Chet R. Bennetts

Centris Federal Credit Union Announces Management Promotions and New Hire Centris Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Edgerton, senior vice president, Corporate Operations; Brandi Vytlas, vice president, Retail Financial Services; Kasha Wilson, assistant vice president, Retail Financial Service, and the hiring of Tera Schaecher, vice president, Credit Administration for Centris’ management team.

Edgerton has worked at Centris for 22 years and is currently leading the core Steve Edgerton system conversion. He most recently led the online and mobile banking conversions as well as implemented instant issue debit cards and significant changes to Centris’ credit card program in 2016. Edgerton was the recipient of the L.A. “Tex” Gunzelman Professional Distinguished Service Award at the 2018 Nebraska Credit Union League’s annual convention. The award is the highest professional honor given to a credit union leader in Nebraska. He has been active with the Nebraska Credit Union League as a past director and current member Brandi Vytlas of the Advocacy Committee, which meets with elected state and national officials advocating for favorable credit union legislation that enhances service to credit union members.

Vytlas began her career at Centris in 2001 as a teller. Through her 17 years of service to the credit union, she has served in a variety of roles helping Centris members and employees and growing relationships.

She most recently served as AVP, Retail Financial Services. In her new role, Vytlas Kasha Wilson will manage Centris’ consumer retail banking division which includes 14 branch locations.

Wilson began her banking career as a teller at Centris in 2001. Since then, she has worked in several roles including financial sales manager for four branches including two in Council Bluffs. In her new role, Wilson will provide support to all Centris branches, including the electronic branch. Wilson is a graduate of Leadership Council Bluffs Class 28, serves as a committee member Tera Schaecher for Celebrate CB and as secretary of the board of directors for New Visions, a homeless shelter.

Schaecher has 23 years of banking experience, most recently serving as senior vice president, consumer real estate operations manager for Bank of the West. Schaecher brings a strong project and process management background to Centris and will build and maintain efficient and effective loan processes and portfolio credit analytics to her new role.

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 14 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. Go online to www.centrisfcu.org to learn more.

JULY 2019 Strictly Business 25

PERSONNEL NEWS Kyle Bucknell Joins Nebraska Community Foundation as Senior Accountant

Jennie Edmundson Foundation to Honor 4 During Spirit of Courage Celebrity Weekend

Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) is pleased to welcome Kyle Bucknell, who recently joined their team of professionals as senior accountant.

Bucknell handles general accounting for NCF investments, fees, fund statements, budget analysis, and financial reporting.

Bucknell assists NCF volunteer fund advisory committees across the state by providing services related to their account balances, endowment payouts, and financial reports.

Before joining NCF, Bucknell was senior financial analyst with Bryan Health for more than 20 years. There, he managed a wide range of accounting procedures, including fund management of Bryan Foundation. Bucknell’s experience with nonprofit organizations includes serving as accountant for Goodwill Industries in Lincoln.

Bucknell received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He says the best thing about working at NCF is the satisfaction he receives from helping people from across Nebraska to achieve great things for their communities.

Celebrating its 25th year of strengthening hometowns, Nebraska Community Foundation unleashes abundant assets, inspires charitable giving, and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska. Since 1994, NCF has reinvested $323 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.

The Jennie Edmundson Foundation is excited to honor four individuals, each who had a cancer diagnosis, during their annual Spirit of C o u ra ge C e l eb r i t y Weekend. This year’s honorees are Deb Bladt, Darcey Butts, Bobbi Calderon, and Bob Steele. The entire weekend is focused on these individuals, honoring them for their courage and fight against this deadly disease. At the Spirit of Courage Gala on Saturday, August 3, attendees will have a chance to hear their amazing stories. The gala, which will be held at the MidAmerica Center in Council Bluffs, will also feature dinner, a live and silent auction, and a wine pull.

The Spirit of Courage Celebrity Weekend kicks off the morning of August 3 with a golf tournament at the Dodge Riverside Golf Club, followed by the gala that evening. In addition, on August 4, starting at noon, there will be a No Limit Texas Hold’Em Poker Tournament. The net proceeds from the weekend will go to the Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Cancer Charitable Patient Care Fund through the Jennie Edmundson Foundation. These funds go towards helping cancer patients who face financial challenges in meeting their needs as they progress through their treatment.

For more information about the Jennie Edmundson Foundation or to register for any of the events during the Spirit of Courage Celebrity Weekend, go to www.jehfoundation.org or call (712) 396-6040.

Aretha Boex Joins MLCDC Board of Directors HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT

5

.25%

FIXED APR FOR

60 MONTHS

Reimagine the meaning of home.

T H E

W AY

B A N K I N G

S H O U L D

Boex earned her Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in management information services from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is also a Certified Global Business Professional as well as an Economic Development Finance Professional.

B E

Annual Percentage Rate (APR). New money only. This offer applies to home equity lines of credit for single-family owner-occupied homes. For a fixed rate, interest-only line of credit, if you took a $10,000 advance at 5.25% fixed APR and made only the minimum payment with no other advances, it would take 5 years to pay off the line of credit. During the 60-month term, you would make 59 estimated monthly payments ranging from $40.27 to $44.59 and one estimated final payment of $10,044.59 due at maturity. Payment examples do not include amounts for insurance and taxes. Loan fees, including an external appraisal if applicable, will be charged at the time of closing and can range between $900 and $950. Subject to Pinnacle Bank credit underwriting. Offer expires July 31, 2019.

Use the equity in your home toward: NEW VEHICLE

26

CONSOLIDATE DEBT

VACATION

Boex has spent years providing business consulting for numerous departments within NBDC. She has coordinated various documentation and data collection processes, statewide International Trade consulting services, and business assistance publications. She has also provided program training, management consulting, operational oversight, and multiple grant proposals resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars for the departments.

For more information about the Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation, contact Marta Sonia Londoño Mejía at (402) 933-4466 / info@midlandslatinocdc.org or visit midlandslatinocdc.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Strictly Business JULY 2019

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The Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (MLCDC) has named Aretha Boex to its Board of Directors. Boex will contribute to the MLCDC’s mission with her expertise and background in economic development, small business consulting, financial planning, and program management. She currently serves as the associate state director for the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC). Boex previously held positions as center director for various departments at the NBDC.

5/21/19 4:08 PM

PERSONNEL NEWS Amy Mandarich Takes on Executive Sales, Marketing Role at Concentric Corporation

No Coast Business Advisors Co-Founder Jethro Hopkins Earns CBI Designation

Concentric Corporation is expanding their service offerings to their already wide base of technology-focused clients. As a result, Amy Mandarich will be dedicating her business development and recruiting efforts in the fields of marketing, sales, and executive-level staffing.

Co-founder and owner of No Coast Business Advisors, Jethro Hopkins, recently completed all requirements necessary to become Nebraska’s only business broker to hold the elite Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation, awarded by the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA). The CBI is a prestigious designation exclusive to the IBBA that identifies an experienced and dedicated business broker. Designation requirements include completing a minimum of 68 class hours of brokerage courses; attending one IBBA Annual Conference; passing at least 10 exams, including a comprehensive CBI exam; and remaining an active IBBA Member in Good Standing.

Jethro started privately offering his expertise to business owners who came to him for consulting, until he eventually made the decision in 2015 to liquidate his other business assets and start brokering full time publicly through No Coast Business Advisors. Along with his current business partner, Jeff Dousharm, Jethro helps business owners to succeed, whether that means selling a business, finding them an investor/business partner, or helping them find the funding required to take the next step.

No Coast Business Advisors operates nationally, assisting both sellers and buyers to reach their goals. Their brokers are trained and equipped to help with valuations, the listing and promotion of a business to its target audience, the selection and presentation of businesses that fit a buyer’s criteria, the closing process, and more. For more information, visit nocoastbusinessadvisors.com. To congratulate Jethro on his achievement, call (402) 217-3252 or email jethro@ncbabroker.com.

Amy, who has been with Concentric for over a year now, is excited to continue connecting talented people with extraordinary companies in Omaha.

Concentric Corporation is bringing back the fundamentals of recruiting, which starts with the relationship. They are upgrading the approach in executive search and recruiting by being deliberate and purposeful, always taking the extra step with their audience’s best interests in mind. They uncover true motives in hiring and career advancement by having transparent and honest conversations. This allows an execution of what they like to call “connecting excellence.” Once Concentric determines the tangible skillset, culture fit, and urgency of both sides, they become the bridge between you and your future hire or career.

Learn more about Concentric Corporation online at www. concentriccorp.com. To connect with Amy, call (402) 991-8400, Ext. 104 or email amy@concentriccorp.com.

Lisa Henning Announced as New Executive Director of Nebraska Safety Council Nebraska Safety Council and WorkWell recently appointed Lisa Henning as the new executive director.

“We are thrilled that Lisa has accepted the position of executive director,” says Joanne Bartels, president of the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Safety Council. “She has an unwavering passion for wellness and safety, proven leadership, and strategic vision to lead the organization.”

Lisa has almost 30 years of experience in corporate wellness and prevention, having led WorkWell for 22 years. She has received various awards for her work throughout the years, including the Governor’s Excellence in Leadership Recognition by Governor Dave Heineman in 2012, Healthy Innovation Award Program Finalist by Center for Disease Control in 2011, and LiveHealthy Nebraska Star Award by Nebraska Sports Council in 2011. Lisa succeeds Laurie Klosterboer who served 25 years in the executive director role and 40 years with the council.

“I am excited and honored to be selected as the executive director of the Nebraska Safety Council,” says Lisa. “Our highly capable team will continue to provide excellent services to our members and the state. I would like to thank Laurie Klosterboer for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the safety and health of our citizens for 40 years.”

The Nebraska Safety Council is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Lincoln that provides education and leadership to empower people to live safe and healthy. They service the state of Nebraska and surrounding areas through trainings, services, events, and membership. To learn more, visit www.nesafetycouncil. org or call (402) 483-2511 for additional information. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JDRF Welcomes New Omaha-Council Bluffs Board Members, Executive Committee JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) researc h, announced the appointment of new Omaha-Council Bluffs Chapter Board members and Executive Committee members, and said farewell to those retiring.

New JDRF Omaha-Council Bluffs Board Members: Tracy Crowell, Union Pacific; Krysti Cunningham, Security National Bank; Maureen Graziano, Lindsay Corporation; John H. Jerkovich, Heartland Properties, Inc.; and Joe Strickland, Valmont.

Outgoing JDRF Omaha-Council Bluffs Board Members: Bryan Adamson, Joel Falk, Chris McGowan, Ralph Palmer, Jon Panzer, and Jennifer Priest.

Executive Committee: president – Leigh Cheloha, Bank of the West; vice president – Scott Mingus, FractionalExec; corporate development chair – Chad Richter, Jackson Lewis; nominating and board development chair – Mike Fischer; leadership giving chair – Kyle Robino, Flower Girl, LLC; advocacy team chair – Steve Shirmang, TD Ameritrade; and outreach chair – Gabrielle Mormino.

The Omaha-Council Bluffs JDRF Chapter was formed in 1985 and has established an impressive track record of outreach programs, fundraising, public awareness, and advocacy. Their mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications.

For more information, please visit jdrf.org, follow along on Twitter (@JDRFOmahaCB) or call (402) 397-2873.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Heartland Hope Mission Helps Flood Victims Regardless of Income Heartland Hope Mission continues to help families affected by this spring’s flooding. Although, in most cases, the floodwaters have receded, the need has not. The community continues to feel the devastating effects. Many families were displaced and even those with resources face all the extra expenses that relocation requires.

At Heartland Hope, families can receive food, clothing, toys, hygiene items, formula, diapers, household items, and referrals as they work to rebuild their lives. Those most impacted could need assistance for the next one to three years.

The pantry is open three times a week on Tuesdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 1:30 to 4 p.m.; and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at 2021 U St. in South Omaha. The Millard location at 5321 S. 139th Plaza is open twice a month, every second Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and the last Wednesday of the month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Because this is a crisis, income is not a factor.

At Heartland Hope Mission’s food pantries, working poor families choose a week’s supply of nutritious groceries. Clients also receive clothing, hygiene items, diapers, and assistance with SNAP (food stamp) applications and navigational services. Last year, over 45,000 people received pantries.

All services are provided locally. Visit HeartlandHopeMission.org or call (402) 733-1904 for more information.

Best Care EAP Designs Service Package for Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Best Care EAP has recently designed a comprehensive service package specifically for member organizations of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM). As of July 1, NAM members, regardless of size or location, have access to a cost-effective option for an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Services offered through Best Care EAP include confidential counseling, well-being/leadership training opportunities, and educational materials. Organization participation will help drive volume-based pricing, making the EAP more affordable to all members.

NAM is the only membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits in the Midlands. By connecting organizations with information, education, advocacy, and collaboration, they help organizations focus their energy on the people and communities they serve. Members of NAM have access to a variety of member-only benefits.

Best Care EAP is dedicated to helping employees and staff members focus on their jobs when problems in their personal lives get overwhelming. From on-site training to individual counseling, Best Care EAP provides a wide variety of wellness and online services that will boost productivity and morale.

Contact Best Care EAP or the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (www.nonprofitam.org) to learn more about the NAM Member EAP. Best Care EAP can be reached by phone at (402) 354-8000 / (800) 801-4182 or by email at eap@bestcareeap.org. More information can also be found online at www.bestcareeap.org.

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Friendship Program to Participate in GIVE65 Friendship Program, Inc. is participating in GIVE65. During this online event, the agency is raising funds for their Adult Day Services program to assist in purchasing at least one new mini-bus to transport participants. The 65-hour event runs from July 9 at 7 a.m. to July 11 at midnight.

Their theme is “Oh The Places We Will Go” with a goal of $5,000 raised in 65 hours.

Friendship Program provides transportation to and from their programs as well as appointments in order to increase access to much needed services for seniors. To donate, go to www.give65.org/friendshipprogram.

Friendship Program, Inc. is the largest Adult Day Service program in Nebraska. For 40 years, the program has served adults aged 55+ and provided excellent quality aging services including transportation, health services, social services, and nutrition. Services are based on the belief that each individual can maximize his or her ability to live independently within the community. Service provision includes education and activities in the areas of physical fitness, nutrition, spirituality, mental health, socialization, recreation and leisure, and safety. The day program offers opportunities to socialize and engage in a variety of activities designed to appeal to a broad range of interests and abilities. To learn more, visit www. friendshipprogram.com or contact Kate Young, executive director, at (402) 393-6911.

Midlands Community Foundation Raises Over $46K at 2019 Golf Tournament Midlands Community Foundation (MCF) raised more than $46,000 at its 2019 golf tournament at Platteview Golf Club on May 20.

The tournament was sold out with 148 golfers participating.

At this year’s tournament, donations were awarded to Papillion-LaVista Community Theatre (Kids Music Clinic), Monarc h Band Boosters Association (student performances at senior centers), Conestoga Representatives of the nonprofit Elementary School (equipment for organizations who benefited outdoor classroom), and the Summer from the proceeds of the MCF 2019 Golf Tournament.

Reading Programs at libraries in Sarpy County (Bellevue, Gretna, LaVista, Papillion and Springfield) and Cass County (Elmwood, Louisville, Plattsmouth and Weeping Water).

“We are pleased to provide funding to these nonprofit organizations to assist them with their activities for children, particularly with the nine summer reading programs at the libraries in the communities we serve in Sarpy and Cass counties,” said Tonee Gay, executive director.

The mission of Midlands Community Foundation is to benefit the diverse needs of the Sarpy and Cass county communities by providing financial support, involvement, and service. Over the last 30 years, the Foundation has served as a leader by helping to identify community needs and partnering with corporate and individual donors to make the most of their charitable dollars.

The Foundation has a strong commitment toward prevention and education in the areas of health, art, culture, community, education, economic development, and human services. Learn more online at www.MidlandsCommunity.org or call (402) 991-8027. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS Angels Among Us Announces 2019 Artists & Angels Gala Angels Among Us will host their Artists & Angels Gala on Friday, September 20, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at A View on State.

This year’s event, presented in partnership with the David Spence Cancer Foundation, is themed around art.

Angels Among Us has invited nationallyknown artist Jeffrey Owen Hanson (www. jeffhansonart.com) to attend and auction off a piece of his work. Visually impaired since childhood from Neurofibromatosis, Jeff’s acrylic-on-canvas work creates an unmistakable signature style. He first began painting while undergoing chemotherapy at age 12. Despite his limited vision, Jeff continues to create brilliant artwork—a sight for sore eyes, he calls it. In addition to Jeffrey Owen Hanson’s incredible work, the evening will feature over 65 silent and live auction items.

Angels Among Us is a Nebraska nonprofit that provides financial and emotional support to families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. Any family living in or being treated in Nebraska is eligible to apply for financial support. In 2018, Angels Among Us provided financial support to 99 families, giving over $355,000.

Registration for Angels Among Us’ Artists & Angels Gala can be found online at www.MyAngelsAmongUs.org, along with a list of various sponsorship levels and opportunities. Contact Alyssa Theilen, director of community relations and development, at (402) 934-0999 / alyssa@ myangelsamongus.org with any questions.

Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Presents Nebraska Nonprofit Conference The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) will bring together more than 200 thought leaders, nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers for a day of learning and networking at the second annual Nebraska Nonprofit Conference. The event will take place on Wednesday, August 7 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Full-day conference access tickets are $55 for NAM members and $165 for nonmembers.

Attendees will enjoy interactive and inspiring breakout sessions, designed to benefit non-profit learners of any experience level. The conference will provide actionable takeaways on fundraising events, tax law changes, human resources, marketing, board management, volunteer recruitment, and more. New this year is a pre-conference session on August 6, featuring a deep dive into building a fundraising culture in any nonprofit organization!

NAM has been recognized as the State Association for Nebraska by the National Council of Nonprofits, the nation’s largest network of nonprofits.

NAM works to strengthen the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa.

The Nebraska Nonprofit Conference is sponsored by Nonprofit Association of the Midlands in partnership with Grand Island Community Foundation, Kearney Area Community Foundation, Peter Kiewit Foundation and Harry A. Koch Company. For more information or register for the conference, visit www.nonprofitam.org or email Hannah Young at Hannah@nonprofitam.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

CEDARS Receives National Reaccreditation CEDARS has again achieved national accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA).

The locally-based child caring organization has been nationally accredited since 1995. COA accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of CEDARS’ performance as a communitybased nonprofit serving youth and their families. This accreditation demonstrates CEDARS’ accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.

For over 70 years, CEDARS has been on a mission to help children and youth achieve safety, stability, and enduring family relationships. This year, CEDARS will deliver services to over 2,000 children and their families. For more information or to find out how you can help, call (402) 434-5437 or visit www.cedarskids.org.

Heroes for the Homeless Golf Tournament to Benefit Stephen Center Presented by American National Bank, the Heroes for the Homeless golf tournament on August 19 will benefit Stephen Center. The 18-hole, four-man scramble will take place at Shadow Ridge Country Club with check in opening at 10:30 a.m. and a shotgun start of 11:30 a.m. The cost to register a foursome is $800, and individual golfers can sign up for $200, both of which are tax deductible.

Sponsorship opportunities that are still available include Hole Sponsors for $1,000.

All proceeds will go towards clients staying in the Stephen Center’s Pettigrew Emergency Homeless Shelter. To download the sponsorship benefits and registration form, go to www.stephencenter.org/events.

Stephen Center is a sober campus of resources for those battling mental health and addiction issues. Contact Michael J. Murphy at (402) 7155441 / michael.murphy@stephencenter.org with questions.

HETRA to Offer 12-Week Horse Academy HETRA will be hosting a Horse Academy 101 for individuals with minimal horse experience who want to increase their knowledge level. This 12-week class will meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 until 8:30 p.m. from July 2 to September 17.

Participants must be at least 14 years of age. The course cost is $120 for HETRA volunteers and $240 for the public.

The course will consist of approximately 20 minutes of hands-on activity with the horses and an additional 30 minutes of classroom activities. The point of the course to improve understanding of horse behavior and communication, basic horse anatomy, haltering, grooming and tacking, and beginner handling skills. You can also earn a grooming or tacking certification during the course.

There will also be a more advanced class offered, Horse Academy 102.

This course is for individuals who already know basic horse handling skills and want to learn about lunging, round penning, and other advanced horse techniques. This class will be held Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. beginning July 3 and going until September 18.

For more detailed information about Horse Academy and how to register, visit www.hetra.org. Call (402) 359-8830 with questions.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Workers’ Compensation Association Donates $40K to Kids’ Chance of Nebraska

The Fair Deal Golf Open 2019 to Benefit Youth at Omaha Home for Boys

On April 17, the Workers’ Compensation Association of Nebraska (WCAN) made an incredible donation of $40,000 to Kids’ Chance o f N eb r a s k a i n o r d e r to provide financial aid for students applying to colleges who have lost or had parents seriously injured in a workrelated accident. The check was presented to the organization during seminar/luncheon held at Anthony’s Steakhouse. The two organizations collaborated on their missions, which allowed both nonprofits to achieve above and beyond what they could have done alone. The funds WCAN donated will go directly to children so that they can pursue higher education, reach their goals, and fulfill their dreams for the future.

The Fair Deal Golf Open 2019, a charity tournament in honor of Edward Young, is slated for Monday, July 22 at Oak Hills Country Club. Proceeds from the fourperson scramble tournament will benefit the youth, young adults, and families served by Omaha Home for Boys.

The Fair Deal Open, sponsored by Gregg Young Automotive Group, is an annual event in memory of Edward Young. Mr. Young’s association with Omaha Home for Boys dates back to the 1950s when he and his two brothers lived at the Home. Mr. Young was actively involved with the Home for many years and his legacy lives on through The Fair Deal Open where proceeds are donated to Omaha Home for Boys. Golf lessons will also be provided to current Omaha Home for Boys’ youth on the day of the tournament.

Registration for The Fair Deal Golf Open 2019 includes golf, lunch, raffle and an awards reception with a filet dinner following the tournament.

Those interested in golfing can register online at TheFairDealOpen.com or contact Carrie Dayton at (402) 278-2703 / fairdeal@carriedayton. com. A number of business and individual sponsorship opportunities are also available as well.

Through programs focusing on education, housing, employment, basic life skills, and mental and behavioral health, Omaha Home for Boys helps youth and young adults transition from a state of crisis to one of safety and growth. Learn more online at OmahaHomeforBoys.org.

WCAN works to educate, network, and provide insight into legislation changes to workers’ compensation professionals. They provide outstanding educational opportunities to the workers’ compensation industry.

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska is a nonprofit organization that raises funds in order to provide educational opportunities to the children of Nebraska workers who have been severely or fatally injured in an employment related incident. They are always looking for donors to make sure that they can help as many children as possible. If you or your business would like to help, please visit their website at kidschanceofne.org or call at (402) 573-2175.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands Celebrates 60 Years with Back to School Picnic Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands (BBBS) will host a back to school picnic to celebrate their organization’s 60 year anniversary in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area!

The event will take place on Saturday, August 10 at 11 a.m.

BBBS will not only have current Bigs and Littles in attendance, but will also have alumni and donors there celebrating the remarkable milestone serving those in our community.

A Big Brother, Big Sister, or Big Couple provides youth with a sense of safety and security, emotional support, and social skill promotion. With a Big by their side, more Littles are discovering who they are and what they can achieve in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters is working to clear the path for our youth’s biggest possible futures.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to serve youth who need mentors the most and looks forward to continuing their 60th anniversary celebration throughout 2019. The agency hopes to continue defending the potential of youth for 60 more years to come!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands works hard to protect and guide the children who need it most. If being involved in this process interests you at all, please contact Lauren Mohatt at (402) 905-3331 or by email at lmohatt@bbbsomaha.org for more information about how you can make a difference in a child’s life.

You can also visit the BBBS website at bbbsomaha.org.

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Fun Shoot, Dinner, and Auction to Benefit Out Beside You On August 10, there will be a fun shoot, prime rib dinner, and auction, benefiting Out Beside You (OBY) and The Blair Youth Sports Foundation.

The event will be held at Pheasant Bonanza Hunt Club & Kennel, 3097 County Road O, in Tekamah. The fun shoot will last from 1 to 5 p.m., featuring trap, skeet, sporting clays, etc.

A happy hour will be offered at the clubhouse immediately after the shoot until dinner at 6 p.m. A silent and live auction will follow with items such as guns, gear, vacations, and more. The cost of admission is $200 per person, which does not include firearms, ammunition, or drinks.

One hundred percent of proceeds going to OBY will support a project being organized in memory Matthew “Matty Lu” Lucero, the late friend, teammate, and fellow Recon Marine of Dustin Davis, president of OBY. Matty Lu was laid to rest on July 1 in the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.

“Men traveled across the country to put this man in the earth,” said Davis.

“During our time there, we talked about Matty Lu and the others we’ve lost. Before parting ways, we discussed how to further make veteranto-veteran support real and effective during our transition back into civilian life.”

Matty Lu’s family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, folks would make tax deductible donations to OBY in order to assist transitioning military members.

Out Beside You raises money (mostly privately) to bring veterans and their families to the Midwest for hunting, farming, and fishing. The purpose of this is to offer a private and relaxed setting where transitioning veteran families can have fun doing something purposeful and offer an environment that lends itself to some good old fashioned story telling. To support this effort, go to outbesideyou.org or contact (402) 680-1922 / outbesideyou@gmail.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS Grief’s Journey Provides Grief Facilitator Training in August

2nd Annual Golf Scramble to Benefit Dreamweaver Foundation

On August 2–4, Grief ’s Jour ney will offer Grief Facilitator Training for anyone who wants professional education to better support grieving families. This training is a prerequisite for anyone looking to become a Grief’s Journey facilitator, but it is also geared toward mental health professionals, school personnel, and anyone who is interested in making a difference in the lives of grieving children, teens, and families. The cost of the training is $300 for those who will not lead a Grief’s Journey group and $75 for Grief’s Journey leaders and students. Enter code “FACTRNG” at checkout to receive the discount if applicable.

On July 19, Esprit Whispering Ridge and Kindred at Home are teaming up to host the 2nd Annual Golf Scramble at Pacific Springs Golf Club to benefit the Dreamweaver Foundation.

It will be a four person scramble, and the event will also include prizes, dinner, and more for all involved. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon. The entry fee is $75 per golfer. Sponsoring a hole costs $100 and includes a sign on the tee box and recognition in event materials. Entry and payment are requested before July 7 to Esprit Whispering Ridge, Attention: Golf, 17555 Emmet St., Omaha, NE 68116.

Grief’s Journey has been a welcoming, safe place for grieving children, teens, and adults to find hope since 2001. As the region’s cornerstone for grief support, Grief’s Journey provides free peer support programs, training, education, and consultation throughout Nebraska and Iowa. By completing the 20-hour comprehensive training, you can become a grief facilitator with Grief’s Journey to help them provide free access to comprehensive grief-focused, trauma-informed care and resources.

Enroll for the Grief Facilitator Training by visiting Grief’s Journey’s website at www.griefsjourney.org. To find out more about Grief’s Journey or the training, please contact Valerie Height, program director, at (402) 502-2773 / vheight@griefsjourney.org.

Open Door Mission Partners with SummitMedia for Virtual Food Drive Open Door Mission’s Summer of Hope includes a virtual food drive with SummitMedia, which kicked off on June 3. Through August 30, Open Door Mission is asking that people help out by buying food items on their WishList and online registries through Amazon, Target, and Wal-Mart. The most needed foods are canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruit, pasta, cereal, and boxed meals. The whole drive is online, so you can help out with just a few clicks from the comfort of your couch.

“We have seen an increase in people needing our food and services and that has gone up since school is out,” says Candace Gregory, president/CEO of Open Door Mission. “We know how busy the summer is for people, so we are excited about our Hunger Heroes Virtual Food Drive because it literally just takes a few minutes for people to buy food online but it will make a big impact for our neediest neighbors.”

The Dreamweaver Foundation works to fulfill lifelong dreams of terminally ill seniors in need. By inspiring good memories despite the effects of a life-threatening illness, the Dreamweaver Foundation enhances the emotional, social, and spiritual health of seniors and their loved ones, too. The Dreamweaver Foundation is committed to honoring older generations in their final days, making their life-long dreams come true through incredible experiences they will never forget.

For more information about the Dreamweaver Foundation or the upcoming event, feel free to visit their website at www. dreamweaver.org or contact Mallory at (402) 932-7300.

Metro Area Youth Foundation Presents Summer Bash for Childhood Cancer On August 24, the Metro Area Youth Foundation Inc. (MAYF) will hold their 13th annual Summer Bash for Childhood Cancer. Please join them for an evening of live and silent auctions, music, and delicious food to support families with children affected by cancer. The event will take place at Embassy Suites LaVista from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Summer Bash is sponsored by the Omaha Metro Area and Southwest Iowa Optimist Clubs. Tickets are $25–$125.

This year’s Summer Bash Ambassador is Brady, a 7th grader at Wilson Middle School. He was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor when he was nine months old and has been in and out of chemotherapy ever since. The rare type of tumor that Brady suffers from has resulted in total vision loss in his left eye and significant loss in his right. The 2019 Honorary Chairs are Dawn and Sid Dinsdale. They have personally been very active in the Omaha area for many years serving on boards and supporting nonprofit efforts.

Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission that is dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Every day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 917 shelter beds to homeless men, women, and children. They also serve over 3,500 meals to people in need daily. They attempt to break the cycle of poverty by providing preventative assistance to more than 1,000 people living in poverty.

All the money raised at the event will benefit kids with cancer and their families, the Pediatric Oncology Units at the Nebraska Medical Center and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, and Camp Quality Heartland and Camp CoHoLo, two area camps for kids affected by cancer. In the first 11 years, the Summer Bash for Childhood Cancer raised over a half a million dollars for individuals and families fighting cancer in the Omaha area. In 2019, MAYF hopes to achieve even greater success with the help of organizations in the community.

Should you have any further inquiries about the Hunger Heroes Virtual Food Drive or Open Door Mission, visit their website at www. opendoormission.org or contact Kristen Dineen at (402) 829-1538 / kdineen@opendoormission.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Metro Area Youth Foundation is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to allow families to focus on the children, not the money they owe. For more information, visit www.SummerBashforCCC.org or contact (402) 734-0270.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Community Health Charities of Nebraska Changes Name Back to CHAD

Project Harmony Presents National Be Someone Day July 21

Effective July 1, Community Health Charities of Nebraska has changed its name back to its original name, CHAD (Combined Health Agencies Drive).

On Sunday, July 21, Project Harmony’s National Be Someone Day challenges the community to take 10 seconds to make a difference in the life of a child.

Project Harmony founded National Be Someone Day to help end child abuse and bring communities together through education and awareness. Ways to observe National Be Someone Day include: (1) Drop off a donation at Project Harmony on July 21, between 1 and 3 p.m. (2) Take the pledge on National Be Someone Day (www.

ProjectBeSomeone.org). (3) Use #BeSomeoneDay on social media.

“This opportunity lets us revert back to being a totally local and unique entity in the state and the country,” said Michelle Grossman, president and CEO. “Many of our donors, volunteers and community partners remember us as CHAD, so we are excited to move forward with a name from our past and let our future as an organization reflect all the great work and history the CHAD name encompasses.”

Since 1972, the organization has raised funds for Nebraska’s premier health charities, distributing more than $56 million since its inception to its local members to make sure all Nebraskans affected by health issues have access to the resources and support they need. CHAD began operating as Community Health Charities of Nebraska in 2005.

As CHAD, the organization will continue to fundraise for its existing member charities in workplace giving campaigns across the state, raising dollars to support its members’ missions. In Lancaster, Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties, the organization has contracts with United Way, but it operates independently in Greater Nebraska. Learn more online at www.chadnebraska.org or call (402) 614-8500 (Omaha) / (402) 475-2770 (Lincoln).

Omaha Home for Boys Creates WorkforceReady Youth Finding and maintaining employment is one of the most common and most significant hurdles that the young adults at Omaha Home for Boys face. In fact, one third of the young men and women that seek the guidance of Omaha Home for Boys have never been employed. That’s why the Home has made workforce readiness a top priority when it comes to preparing youth for a stable future.

Omaha Home for Boys helps more than 300 young men and women through their numerous courses which assist clients in finding sustainable employment. The Home offers classes on resume writing, professionalism, long-term career planning, interviewing, time management, and budgeting.

“Our goal is to not only to help youth find a job that pays enough and has enough hours to meet their financial needs, but also one that is accessible from public transportation as many of our young people do not own their own car,” said Keenan Page, independent living employment manager at Omaha Home for Boys.

The Home’s workforce readiness training is a proven formula for success. Over 90% of the young adults in the Home’s residential care and transitional living programs are stably employed.

Please visit the Omaha Home for Boys’ website at omahahomeforboys. org or call their main campus at (402) 457-4663 for more information.

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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.

MICAH House Presents Stuff-The-Truck to Feed Homeless Local Hy-Vee locations are partnering with MICAH House to help feed homeless children, families, and women in the community during their StuffThe-Truck, August 12–18. Customers will have the chance to donate food items during the week. Each day, MICAH House provides three meals and one snack to the dozens of individuals seeking help and services when they have nowhere else to turn. In total, MICAH House served more than 26,000 meals to families and women in need last year. A majority of the food served is donated by generous community members and businesses.

Visit MICAH House’s Facebook page (@themicahhouse) for more details, and look for the Hy-Vee truck at the front of each store to make a donation—every bit helps! Learn more online at www. themicahhouse.org or contact Ashley Flater at (712) 323-4416 / aflater@themicahhouse.org.

La Vista Community Foundation to Hold 9th Annual Golf Classic on August 9 The La Vista Community Foundation (LVCF) will host its 10th annual Golf Classic at Tara Hills Golf Course in Papillion on Friday, August 9. Registration/check-in begins at 10:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 11:45 a.m.

Proceeds for the tournament will help support the foundation’s mission to improve the quality of life where people live, work and play in La Vista. The foundation provides grants to support local nonprofit agencies serving the needs of La Vista in the areas of education, senior care, public safety, arts, education and other philanthropic works.

The 2019 La Vista Community Foundation Golf Classic, presented by D.A. Davidson Companies, still has sponsorship opportunities available.

The $90 registration fee or $500 corporate sponsorship includes golf, cart, dinner immediately following the tournament, flag prizes and raffle items. To register or for more information, please contact Jill Lukes at (402) 960-9625 / info@lavistacommunityfoundation.com.

Registration is also available online at lavistacommunityfoundation. com/golf-tournament.html. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS The Rose House Moves Into New Office The Rose House, Inc, founded by TaRae Peoples as an organization that empowers single mothers and their children, has officially moved into an office space at 8611 Blondo St. This is an exciting achievement for TaRae as she celebrates the continued growth of her organization and its impact in the community. As a woman who knows what it is like to be a single mother, TaRae relates to the struggle and insecurities that single motherhood brings, but knows there is a way through it. The Rose House was created to assist in the life transformations of these families, providing basic life skills and employment training, temporary housing, and mental health support, as well as self-empowerment tools.

In addition, The Rose House will have a firework stand through July 4 at 14444 W. Center Rd. in the Family Fare Supermarket parking lot.

Through efforts like this and the A Big Hat Brunch they hosted in May, TaRae and her support team are excited to generate more opportunities for people to support their mission, and having an office space will do just that.

The Rose House, Inc invites you to stop by their new location anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, go online to www.therosehouseinc.org or contact The Rose House at (402) 431-2366 / info@TheRoseHouseInc.org. Stay connected on Facebook (@TheRoseHouseInc) as well!

Ronald McDonald House Charities Hosts Grand Opening Families traveling to Omaha in search of pediatric medical care will no longer have to worry about where they’ll stay during their child’s treatment. With the completion of a $10.3-million expansion, Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha (RMHC) will be able to accommodate 40 families every single night, doubling their capacity and allowing them to incorporate new programming from collaborative partners to better serve the families in need. RMHC hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 9, welcoming many of their donors to celebrate the opening of the expanded facility. Among the speakers during the program were Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Dr. David F. Mercer, M.D., Ph.D. of Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Stefanie Christensen of the CL Werner Foundation, RMHC Executive Director Lindsey Rai Kortan, and Angels Among Us (AAU) Executive Director Susie Nelson. AAU is another nonprofit that offers financial assistance to families battling pediatric cancer, and they have now moved their offices into the RMHC facility.

The expansion project doubled the size of the House, adding approximately 20,000 square feet of space, including 20 more guest rooms, which will eliminate a waiting list that forced RMHC to turn families away roughly 1,600 times over a two-year span. In addition to the guest rooms, RMHC incorporated several new support spaces, including one that has never been seen in any other Ronald McDonald House: an in-House treatment center to be independently operated by RMHC’s medical partners. The House also has a salon, volunteer room, glass-encased toy room, contemplation room, and many other areas strategically designed to create a comprehensive healing community capable of serving the entire family. That includes bringing in partners like AAU, Completely KIDS, WhyArts, and others to provide programs for every individual who walks in the doors.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is located at 620 S. 38th Ave. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call (402) 346-9377 or visit www.RMHCOmaha.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Heartland Family Service to Host Comedy Night, Participates in GIVE65 Heartland Family Service will be hosting their annual “Stand Up For Kids!” Comedy Night, benefitting the Jefferson House. The event will take place Friday, August 16 at the Fremont Golf Club. Jokes will start rolling at 6 p.m. Individual tickets are $60 and a table for eight is $800.

This year’s Comedy Night theme is “Going Above & Beyond,” and features dinner, silent and live auctions, and comedic entertainment. Business casual attire is suggested. All proceeds will help the Jefferson House continue to put smiles on the faces of vulnerable children and teens. The Jefferson House is a service provided by Heartland Family Service that acts as a residential shelter and group home for children who have been removed from their homes due to alleged neglect or abuse. Group home services benefit youth ages 12 to 18.

In addition, Heartland Family Service will participate in GIVE65 for the first time this year. GIVE65 is an online (Give65.org/hfsgenerationscenter) giving event to support senior citizens across the United States. The donation period runs from July 9 to 11. Heartland Family Service’s goal is $10,000, all of which will benefit their Generations Community Center.

For more information on how to support Heartland Family Service, visit heartlandfamilyservice.org. Questions about tickets or sponsorship for Comedy Night can be directed to Events@HeartlandFamilyService.org or (402) 552-7424.

Parkinson’s Nebraska Targets Underserved Communities at Delay the Disease Training Parkinson’s Nebraska is excited to welcome 55 awarded professionals from across the state to the Delay the Disease training in Grand Island on July 18 and 19. These 55 awardees were chosen out of 73 applications because of their intention to use the knowledge and tools from the training to implement 20 new Parkinson’s exercises, or improve an existing class, and provide services to underserved communities throughout Nebraska by October 1.

As a result of this training there will be: • 55 Nebraska professionals trained in designing and implements a community-based Parkinson’s-specific exercise program.

• 20 new Parkinson›s-specific exercise classes in 18 different cities across the state.

• 13 of these will serve rural or under-served communities.

• Five classes that will incorporate the knowledge and tools from the training to improve an existing exercise class.

• Four of these classes are in rural or under-served communities.

• Four current Delay the Disease classes that will be able to add additional class offerings and have qualified substitutes.

• Two of these classes are in rural or under-served communities.

The immense impact this training will have on the Nebraska community is made possible through a partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation.

The Foundation awarded Parkinson’s Nebraska a community grant to provide the training costs, lodging, mileage stipend, and meals for 40 attendees. Because of the grant, Parkinson’s Nebraska was able to fund an additional 16 attendees and increase the number of new classes expected to begin. For the full listing of awardees and locations, visit the website.

Parkinson’s Nebraska’s mission is to be the primary resource for educational and support services for those whose lives have been touched

by Parkinson’s disease. To learn more, go to parkinsonsnebraska.org.

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402-933-4632 NAMI Omaha Announces Upcoming Mental Health Meeting Information Call for an appointment today!

NAMI Omaha’s next Mental Health NAMI Affiliate meeting will be held on Thursday, August 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

This meeting is free and open to the public. Crisis Response Teams and CIT Services will speak. 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 nonprofit 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, go to namiomaha.org or call (402) 345-8101 / (877) 463-6264. For helpful articles on mental illness, follow on Facebook (@NAMIOmaha).

American Heart Association Prepares for Go Red For Women this September Help the American Hear t Association raise awareness and funds for cardiovascular disease and stroke on September 24 at Omaha Go Red For Women, locally sponsored by Methodist Health System, along with media sponsors 3 News Now and Star 104.5. The event, chaired by Ellen Wright, will be held at the Embassy Suites in La Vista. The Expo begins at 4:30 p.m. with an electronic silent auction, health fair, and educational hot topic sessions. The night will continue with a plated dinner, a live auction, a survivor runway show, and an inspiring survivor story. Proceeds benefit the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association.

One in three women’s deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease or stroke each year. In the past five years, the American Heart Association has funded over $4.1 million in Nebraska on 28 studies. However, last year the American Heart Association had to turn down 15 meritorious studies in Nebraska alone because they lacked the $2.5 million needed to fund them.

The Go Red For Women Expo is a part of the American Heart Association’s national movement, sponsored by CVS Health, to end heart disease and stroke in women. Individual tickets and tables are available now at www.heart.org/OmahaGoRed. Event sponsorship opportunities are also available. Call (402) 810-6870 with any questions.

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HEALTH NEWS American Lung Association Partners with OrthoNebraska for Corporate Cup Training On June 21, the American Lung Association in Nebraska, in partnership with OrthoNebraska, announced the continuation of the Corporate Cup Training Crew, an integrated training plan for the Fight For Air Corporate Cup. Set for September 8, the Fight For Air Corporate Cup is a 10K and two-mile run/walk that benefits the Lung Association in Nebraska. Almost 90% of the proceeds of the event will help fund local support of education, research, and advocacy in finding a cure for lung disease.

This is the second year of the Corporate Cup Training Crew, which includes a training plan, running clinics, access to orthopaedic specialists, and more. The program is designed to help novice runners train for a 10k run, but also to help competitive runners improve their stride.

Corporate Cup participants who elect to fundraise $150 or more are eligible to register as a member of the Corporate Cup Training Crew.

Each participant gets: a personalized 10K training plan; weekly insights from the experts at OrthoNebraska on topics such as injury prevention, proper stretching, nutrition, etc.; the opportunity to visit the monthly OrthoNebraska Scheels Clinics and talk with the Optimum Stride therapists; the opportunity to communicate any questions or concerns via e-mail with the Optimum Stride team; and the opportunity to schedule a drop-in for a quick Q&A with the therapists at OrthoNebraska.

For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit Lung.org.

CBD American Shaman Opens 2nd Location in West Omaha, Participates in July Events Garrett and Jennifer Carbonell are celebrating the grand opening of their second CBD American Shaman location.

The grand opening for the new location at 2891 S. 168 St. in west Omaha took place on May 18. The Carbonell’s also celebrated one year of ownership in June for their first CBD American Shaman location at 4721 S. 96th St. To add to the excitement, Garrett and Jennifer just became members of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout his ownership, Garrett’s goal has been to grow a more stable and diverse inventory. He is also determined to increase advertising consistency. He’s proud to say he has seen success in both efforts. CBD American Shaman is dedicated to bringing wellness to the world through the benefits of CBD oil. It is legal in all 50 states and is 100% organic, gluten-free and has no heavy metals or insecticides. CBD is known to support and bring relief to the body and mind by relieving stress, maintaining focus, pain management, and more.

In the spirit of community fun, Garrett and Jennifer are opening up their back area of the store for pop-ups and small events. On July 13, they will be hosting a kid-friendly painting party with local artists. CBD American Shaman will also be at various events throughout the summer, including Pick-a-Pooch July 20 and 21 at the Ralston Arena and Benson Days on July 28. Check out their Facebook page (@cbdamericanshamanomaha) to keep up with their events.

Learn more about CBD American Shaman online at www.cbdomaha.org or contact Jennifer Carbonell at (402) 885-8727 / mrs.cbd@mail.com for further questions. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Trade shows are a great opportunity for marketing and business growth.

They’re a fantastic networking event that encourages face-to-face interaction; however, learning how to best utilize the opportunity can be tricky. Fortunately, there are a variety of companies dedicated to making your company stand out. We spoke to some local experts to give you a special insight of how you and your company can truly benefit from participating in a trade show.

Signage at a trade show is crucial! In the hectic crowds, a clean, engaging display will attract customers to fight through the crowd to see what your company is all about. First, we spoke to Stephanie Wheeler, communications specialist at FASTSIGNS® of Omaha. FASTSIGNS specializes in creating unique and memorable signs and banners to boost business’s visibility.

“One, know your budget ahead of time and your signage priorities,” Stephanie advised.

“Ask yourself if you will need a backdrop Stephanie Wheeler ® FASTSIGNS of Omaha display, table throw, table top display, banners, swag items, etc. There are endless possibilities for a tradeshow display. Second, if possible, take pictures and measurements so you have a layout of the space you will be working with and where you are located in the venue. Third, know the demographic of the guests attending the event. Lastly, people tend to forget the small details and rush to plan their event. Give yourself a good month before the event so that you have plenty of time to successfully plan out what you need.”

Trade shows are a time to make a good first impression. You don’t want to look stressed or over-worked when you’re representing your brand. One way to keep stress down is by using technology to make your job easier. We spoke to founder and principal developer of ShineForth, Jon Weiss, for information about the latest trade show technology.

“Mobile apps are a powerful tool for marketers and trade show organizers,” Jon informed us. “With the right app, you can quickly capture feedback from attendees, Jon Weiss provide trade show information, engage ShineForth conversations and social media sharing, as well as capture leads. Mobile apps create the possibility of enhancing conversations during and after the trade show. It’s a must have technology asset if you are planning an event.”

ShineForth is a software developing company that dedicates itself in knowing you, your brand, culture, and mission. They can help make your trade show flow smoothly while connecting you to as many customers as possible.

“An asset for trade show organizers is a website dedicated to the trade show,” added Jon. “The website should provide information about the event, where to register, how to arrive, where to stay, the agenda for the event, and serve as an access point for downloading session presentations or connecting with organizers. The website for the event is a complimentary piece to the app, working hand-in-hand to enhance information sharing and attendee engagement before, during, and after the event. At ShineForth, we can help you design a website or mobile app experience that raises the bar on engagement and creates excitement for your event through powerful story-telling, visual design, and ease of use.”

In closing, do your research and reach out to professionals here in Omaha who can help you optimize your trade show experience! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Care Consultants for the Aging — Omaha ElderCare Resource Handbook Omaha’s All-Inclusive Listing of Services, Programs, and Other Resources Available for the Aging!

Business Listing Does your company need to be listed in the ElderCare Resource Handbook? Has your company moved or changed contact information? Please provide Care Consultants with your new or changed business information and they will get that updated on their website as soon as possible and in the next edition of the Handbook.

They ask that you have been in business a minimum of 12 months before being placed.

Care Consultants for the Aging refers qualified, screened, independent contractor CNA-level caregivers who provide in-home care to the elderly in addition to connecting them with a wide variety of services in and around the community.

Care Consultants for the Aging produces the ElderCare Resource Handbook for the Omaha and Lincoln communities. The Handbook was originated in 1991 and has been updated every two years since. The current edition was updated in September of 2018 and will be current through 2020.

By understanding the services, resources and options which are available locally, Care Consultants hopes seniors and their families can make informed decisions which have the potential to enhance their quality of life and independence.

The Handbook includes information about: • Government • Medical Support Services • Living Options • Senior Resources • Financial • Therapies • Elder Moving • End of Life Services • Legal • Home Health Care • Transportation If you or anyone you know is in their retirement years, this is a must have for them! Many end users have called this the “Bible” of the elder care industry in Omaha. Make sure to stop by the Care Consultants office today and get your own copy, or you can order online and have it delivered to your door.

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Need An Electrician?

Residential remodeling & Maintenance There’s nothing like the feeling you get when that squeaky cabinet finally glides smoothly closed, the bathroom tile feels smooth under your feet for the first time, or that ugly, chipped door is finally replaced. It’s a unique experience to re-fall in love with your house after dealing with its imperfections for so long.

However, since completing those in-your-face projects feel so good, we may forget to maintain the little things that make life feasible. No one gushes over a brand new electrical panel, but the inner workings of your house need to be remodeled sometimes too! Maintaining the nitty-gritty aspects of a home should be just as important as the decorative decisions.

When planning a remodel, it’s important to know that you will be able to finance your projects all the way until completion. If you can’t pay for your remodeling project out of pocket, we recommend speaking with your bank about taking out a home equity loan or line of credit. Home equity loans and lines give you the freedom to do everything from remodeling your kitchen or expanding your living space to consolidating your bills, but pay close attention to interest rates. At American National Bank, they offer fixed-rate home equity loans, which means low interest and affordable, predictable monthly payments. On the other hand, a home equity line of credit might make more sense for your situation.

With American National Bank’s line of credit process, you can draw on available funds from your line of credit, just in case you need them. If you don’t use it, you don’t owe anything. You can go online to American National Bank’s website right now and fill out an inquiry form to find out what loan method fits your financial situation.

One large section of home remodels that often gets overlooked is the electrical aspects. Electrical failures or malfunctions were the second leading cause of U.S. home fires in 2012–2016, and electrical distribution and lighting equipment was the third leading form of equipment involved in these fires (Report: NFPA’s Electrical Fires, 2019). Regular maintenance can help protect your home from devastating fires since eventually the wire insulation inside of electrical parts char and corrode.

Chris Langer, owner of Langer Electric, noted that second- or third-hand homeowners especially need to make sure everything gets done correctly in terms of wiring and electrical panels. “A common issue we see is that old electricians installed large breakers on too small wiring, which causes the wire to heat up way more than it should.” Chris said.

“When this happens, it’s a serious safety issue.

It’s important to make sure that all your wiring and panels are solid so that serious issues don’t arise.”

Chris Langer As a safety precaution, Langer Electric Langer Electric recently added a special service called Panel Inspection. “It was important to me to make sure that the service was affordable in order to keep the most amount of people safe,” Chris explained. “It’s crucial that people have access to affordable fire safety measures in their home. A lot of people have bad electrical panels in their homes and don’t realize the risk associated with old electrical methods.” #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Another aspect of remodeling that Chris helps out with is lighting fixtures.

“LED lights are, in my opinion, a necessity in houses!” exclaimed Chris.

“They cut down your energy consumption by over 80% and add so much more light compared to incandescent lighting.”

Another behind the scenes component of your home’s structure is its plumbing. Unless your pipe bursts, you probably don’t really think about replacing or checking the plumbing mechanisms of your home. In reality, little issues that people tend to overlook in their water systems can lead to big problems later on.

To divulge more on this topic, we spoke to Lallenia Birge with Big Birge Plumbing.

“What we see a majority of the time is that people put off replacing or fixing small parts of their plumbing system, and then it wreaks havoc on the whole system.” Lallenia shared. “Or, sometimes people try to fix things themselves, usually in an attempt to save some money, even though they have zero experience working with plumbing systems. They usually make the problem worse by doing this and end up spending more money than they would Lallenia Birge have if they had just called in professionals to Big Birge Plumbing deal with the issue.”

Billions of dollars go towards fixing property damages each year as a direct result of water damage. In fact, between 2013 and 2017, water damage and freezing accounted for the second most frequently filed insurance claim in the United States (Source: ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® business). Knowing that, it’s eye-opening to learn that 93% of water damage is preventable. Most of the time, water damage occurs because of frozen or leaking pipes or other plumbing issues.

Another plumbing aspect that can be easily overlooked is septic tank maintenance. If a septic tank is not properly taken care of, there can be a lot of damage done. If proper maintenance is not utilized, the damage could cost between $5,000 and $20,000 to fix! Waste could escape the unit and pool on the ground. Not only would you have to deal with fixing your tank and the disgusting smell in the event of this happening, but you’d also have to face some not-so-happy neighbors as well.

Luckily, there are maintenance services through companies like Midland Pumping Service who will help prevent any issues from occurring. They do the work, so you don’t have to get your hands dirty.

Aimee Hoffman, office manager at Midland Pumping Service, let us know what homes with septic tanks should expect if they plan to remodel. “If you are remodeling your home, specifically with intentions to add square footage, you must consider whether or not the size of your current septic tank will accommodate a larger home, especially if more bathrooms are being added.” Aimee instructed. “Added space equals potential for a larger number of people to occupy the home, which has a direct affect on the demand put on Aimee Hoffman the system. Contractors, including state-licensed Midland Pumping Service septic installers, as well as county officials and permit providers, can all assist in determining the required tank size.”

Septic tank owners should have their tanks routinely pumped every 3–5 years. If you’re due, call Midland Pumping Service!

Not only can a remodeling project affect the pipes and wires in a home, it can also completely change the quality of air. There is more air pollution inside of businesses and homes than outside because of the lack of ventilations. A little dust may not seem like a big deal to some, but dust acts as a magnet to bacteria, viruses, and dust mites that all are known to cause allergy attacks. The air in your home could be triggering allergy or asthma attacks because of the state of your heating and cooling systems.

Vents with large amounts of dust and dirt in them can actually cause indoor air pollution in homes. Even though many people already have #PrintProudDigitalSmart

7/13/2018 8:04:35 AM

standard air filters installed, these mechanisms only collect 8–10% of dust circulating throughout your home.

We asked Gunnar Guenette with Getzschman Heating for advice on how to deal with dust in the home. Here’s his answer: “A great way to get dust out of your home is to have us come install either one of our Air Scrubber Plus Air Cleaners into your systems filter or to get a UV germicide lamp that we could help you pick out and install. Most people don’t understand that cleaner air isn’t just good for your health but for your bills too. Cleaner systems are proven to run better, which would mean the energy needed to run it would be reduced. This all Gunnar Guenette equals a lower energy bill.”

Getzschman Heating While air purifiers may seem like an “extra” or something that’s not necessary, they can greatly improve the health of your home and your quality of life.

Once you’ve planned out your perfect remodel plan, checking the key considerations off your list, make sure that you execute it right, and that means being careful and cautious. Theft is very common during home remodels because contractors might leave out expensive materials— materials that you’ve purchased for your house! This is why home security is an important factor to consider when planning a big change in your home.

One way to stay safe while trying to make your dream house a reality is to use reliable contractors. This may seem like a no brainer, but it can be easy to just hire the first one who promises you exactly what you asked for and claims to understand your ‘vision’. It’s exciting and some people tend to get carried away. Always ask your contractors for a set of references and contact them to make sure there were no previous incidents.

Another way to keep your house safe is by updating your security system.

Installing cameras inside and outside of your home can deter any shady activity. There are also motion sensor lights that activate with movement.

Burglars will feel exposed when a bright light is suddenly flashed on them and will most likely leave. If you don’t have motion activated lights, simply keeping your outside lights on at night will deter potential thieves.

If you tell contractors any information about how to get into your home, you should change it immediately, like a key location or garage code.

A recent phenomena happening is outside criminals stealing contracting supplies. In one case, an elderly couple’s newly installed HVAC was stolen and then the replacement was as well. It’s becoming more and more common for people to take preventative measures when they know expensive equipment is vulnerable on their property.

One preventative method is hiring security guards to be on your property while expensive materials are there. We spoke to Spenser Ware, owner of AnyWare Security to learn more.

“It may seem extreme, but it’s becoming more and more common for people to hire us for residential home remodels,” Spenser told us.

“We make sure that your materials are secure at all times. We’ve done these types of jobs during workdays or weekends, when the clients can’t be home to monitor themselves. People Spenser Ware who hire us normally work in areas where AnyWare Security remodel theft has happened before.”

Whatever method you use, make sure your home is safe before, during, and after the remodel process. It can be scary letting strangers into your home, but there are definitely measures you can take to remain as safe as possible. The same applies for the clean up process. Once the contractors leave, you can either pull up your sleeves and clean the disaster zone yourself, or you can hire a professional cleaning crew.

It’s imperative that the remodel zone gets cleaned right away. There could be sawdust, nails, broken glass, wire, and other dangerous debris #PrintProudDigitalSmart

in or around your home. Some of these materials cannot just be left in that week’s trash pickup. Drywall, wood, paint, and other materials require special pick up.

If the seemingly never ending amount of dust and smell of construction feel like too much, there are actually services to do the clean up for you. 360 Clean is a local, professional cleaning agency that regularly cleans up after contractors in interior remodels. Allisyn Meadows, manager of 360 Clean, offered to tell us more.

“Our service is for anyone who needs help cleaning up after a resident, or even commercial, remodel.” Allisyn stated. “It is actually safer to have professionals complete Allisyn Meadows this task. We’ve done it so many times before, 360 Clean so we’re less likely to step on a nail than the average person! With our experience and equipment, we can get the job done quickly and efficiently. We also have the means to dispose of construction wastes while most people don’t.”

However you decide to clean, it’s an important step of the remodeling process. Unfortunately, it also happens to be the least fun step. The good feeling you’ll get when your project is complete will offset the tedious odds and ends, though. There is nothing like feeling safe and comfortable in a home that fits your the personality and needs of your family.

As houses age and trends change, the demand for residential remodeling services continue to grow. Just remember, before you give your home a facelift, make sure you’ve considered its bones—electric, plumbing, septic, air quality, etc.—and don’t forget about all the awesome professionals we have here in Omaha who are eager to help you every step of the way!

Celebrate your independence from household cleaning!

Two Rooms Cleaned for FREE!

Our gift cards make a great anytime gift for your family and friends.

360CleanCompany.com 360 Clean, LLC

402.460.0883

BBB A+ rating | Member of COCL | Strictly Business

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Supporting

Nonprofits Nonprofit corporations play a vital role in maintaining the Good Life in Nebraska. Charitable organizations and their board members, along with countless volunteers and donors, provide essential services all across our state. As businesspeople, we are invested in those efforts because it allows us to build our businesses as well as raise our families, cultivate friendships, and lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Here in the Greater Omaha area, you’ll find many people working together to care for one another, to give a hand up to those in need for the greater good, to protect our environment, and to make our city the best place to live and work it can possibly be. In a community that understands the importance of giving back and places a lot of value in it, you’ll also find it to be a big part of corporate culture here in small and large businesses alike. Supporting our local nonprofit organizations is something that we can all do to give back.

Monetary donations aren’t the only way you can give back, though. There are a variety of ways to donate to the valuable work that our nonprofits are doing day in and day out, all year long. This may be a donation of items or hosting a donation drive, volunteering, sponsorships, participating in special events, helping to raise awareness, and so on.

Our local nonprofits are the source of initiatives that are focused solely on helping to make an impact on the lives of those who live in our community—to make our tiny part of the world a better place for all.

Oftentimes their reach extends beyond that to make an impact at the state, national, and/or global level. These organizations also create jobs in our community, allowing many people to fulfill their greater purpose by doing what they love while touching lives and truly making a difference.

An excellent example of the power of philanthropy at the local level just happened a couple months ago. For the seventh year, the Omaha community came together for Omaha Gives! on May 22 and showed their support in a big way. With almost 50,000 donations to about a thousand different nonprofit organizations, the total raised came in at $6.7 million.

At Strictly Business, the focus of our work has always been supporting the growth and prosperity of our local business community. That being said, we feel strongly about supporting our local nonprofit organizations too.

That is why we’ve put this feature together, highlight some of the amazing local organizations. We encourage our readers to flag the names, logos, and missions of the nonprofits in this feature, and to keep them in mind when considering ways to give to back

Founded in 1989, BLUEBARN Theatre (bluebarn.org) is dedicated to theatre’s most important tradition: to provoke thought, emotion, action, and change. BLUEBARN has established itself as Omaha’s only professional regional contemporary theatre company.

Each year BLUEBARN produces five plays in a season that runs from September through June. Come join BLUEBARN Theatre for Season 31, featuring bold new creations and theatrical events as diverse and surprising as the world we live in. They remain committed, now more than ever, to cheerily subversive experiences that connect us all to our shared humanity.

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There are over 38,000 people in Nebraska experiencing infer tility. Conceive Nebraska is an Omaha-based nonprofit whose mission is to come alongside and support individuals and couples facing fertility challenges by increasing and improving educational resources.

Our goal is to raise awareness in our community by changing the conversation surrounding infertility through support groups and events. Infertility affects women and men equally. Chances are you know someone who has had difficulty conceiving. Please have them visit our website at conceivenebraska.org and read our blog or follow us on Instagram and Facebook (@ConceiveNebraska)! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from two of our nation’s top killers, heart disease (No. 1) and stroke (No. 5). Powered by millions of volunteers nationwide, the Association’s goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of Americans by 20 percent by 2020, while reducing deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20 percent. Currently, one person dies every 40 seconds from heart disease and stroke.

Through events right here in Omaha like the Omaha-Council Bluffs Heart Walk, Go Red for Women Expo and Heart & Stroke Ball, that startling statistic can change.

For more information, visit www.heart.org/omaha.

The Rose House is an organization for single mothers and their children. The nonprofit, founded by TaRae Peoples, launched its efforts in Omaha within the last year. As a woman who was a single mother, TaRae 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.

The Rose House recently moved into a new office at 8611 Blondo St., which is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, visit the website at www. therosehouseinc.org or go on Facebook (@TheRoseHouseInc).

To contact TaRae, call (402) 431-2366 or email info@ TheRoseHouseInc.org.

Our mission is to empower and equip unemployed and under educated men and women through character development, vocational training and work experience.

The CROSS TRAINING CENTER exemplifies the message, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a life time.”

Our students are youth and adults who are unemployed because of challenging backgrounds and circumstances. They have experienced setbacks in life due to incarceration, homelessness, generational poverty and other challenging conditions.

We provide vocational training and hands-on work experience so they gain skills and knowledge to overcome the barriers of employment.

They are able to acquire a job on a career path and break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.

Our students receive real work experience while providing valuable services to the community in the following areas: Electronics Recycling • Computer Refurbishing and Repair • Computer and Electronics Retail Store • Appliance Sales • Automotive Maintenance and Repair Services • Banquet Facility Cross Training Center’s mission is to provide Solutions to Poverty through Work. Our work experience program not only helps our students succeed but also keeps our environment safe and clean. Learn more at www.crosstc.com Contact Brenda Banks at (402) 590-2100, via email at brenda@crosstc.com, or visit www.crosstc.com for more information. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

For over 20 years, Domesti-PUPS (www.domesti-pups.org) has been supporting people in our local, regional and national communities through the assistance of animals.

From therapy dogs in the classroom motivating children to excel in their learning environment to pet therapy visitations in nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living centers, DomestiPUPS pet therapy teams bring a bit of brightness through their furry encounters. Our service dog teams provide increased independence when paired with a disabled partner. These highly-skilled canines can turn on lights, provide balance and mobility, retrieve dropped items, bring a bottle of water from a refrigerator, respond to medical emergencies such as responding to a seizure or alerting to a diabetic high or low, and open doors both literally and figuratively. Some even provide life-saving measures for their disabled partners.

CEDARS has been a vital part of the community for over 70 years.

What started as a grassroots effort to help kids in crisis has grown into a dynamic and dedicated team of over 200 professionals and a network of loving foster parents serving over 2,400 kids and families each year.

Thanks to community support, CEDARS is there for children and youth who are unable to live at home, for families in need of resources, support and education, and for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

CEDARS is accredited through the Council on Accreditation and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, is a United Way partner, a four star charity with Charity Navigator, a top-rated charity with the American Institute of Philanthropy, and a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity.

Today, CEDARS will serve nearly 800 children and youth.

To learn more, call (402) 434-KIDS (5437) or visit cedarskids.org.

Youth Emergency Services (YES) is the only nonprofit in Omaha with the sole mission to help homeless and nearly homeless in our community. Last year, YES provided support and services to a record number of 3,682 youth in the Omaha metro. YES also provided 9,818 meals to homeless and near-homeless youth throughout Street Outreach Center.

Many of these youth have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused, making it unsafe for them to return home. Without YES, these vulnerable young people cannot succeed independently.

YES offers a full continuum of care to ensure all youth receive the support they need, no matter their situation. This includes a Street Outreach Center, Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Program and Maternity Home. Throughout these programs, we offer case management, job readiness classes, group activities, support for the LGBTQ+ community, and specialized services for trafficked victims. To ensure youth are successful once they leave our care, youth in YES’ programs are required to set short and long term goals, be enrolled in school, have a job, or both; and do community service. For more information about YES’ programs, please visit www.yesomaha.org.

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Angels Among Us provides financial assistance to families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. Any family living in or being treated in Nebraska is eligible to apply.

Once approved, families are provided with $500 a month for 18 months to help them stay financially stable during treatment. Funds are paid directly to the creditor, which ensures that funds are used for their intended purpose.

Assistance League® of Omaha is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit service organization whose members identify, develop, implement and fund ongoing philanthropic programs to serve specific needs of children and adults in the Greater Omaha area. They receive no public funding. Donations and grants are needed. Signature programs include:

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, a family’s life as they know it comes to an abrupt halt. Unfortunately, their monthly expenses do not. Since 2006, Angels Among Us has assisted nearly 420 families with $1.7 million in support.

• Operation School Bell® clothes children for school • Operation Recovery supports women recovering from chemical addiction • Assault Survivor Kits® supplies clothing and hygiene items to assault survivors • Operation Teen Parent encourages teen parents to complete their education • Operation Bear Hug provides stuffed bears for children in crisis situations • Operation Literacy presents books to children and adults • ACT/PSAT Review sessions.

Assistance League of Omaha has received Platinum rating from GuideStar, Best Practices status from the NonProfit Association of the Midlands and is a Top-Rated GreatNonProfits NonProfit.

Will you join us as we fight to keep families stable? Gifts of any amount are welcome and encouraged. There is strength in numbers.

There is also hope, help, and monetary relief.

For more information, contact Angels Among Us at (402) 934-0999 or visit our website at www.myangelsamongus.org.

Friendship Program, Inc. is a communitybased non-profit agency dedicated to providing quality services for adults with aging and/or mental health needs in Omaha and surrounding areas. The agency provides three distinct programs: Adult Day, Day Rehabilitation, and Community Support Services. In addition, the agency offers Social Services, Health Services, Peer Support Services, Transportation, and Agency Support Services as part of wraparound care. All services are based on the belief that each individual can maximize his or her ability to live independently within the community. Furthermore, the services promote health and wellness including education and activities in areas such as physical fitness, nutrition, mental health, socialization, recreation, and safety. The name of the agency, “Friendship,” was chosen by participants in 1979 and perfectly describes the programs which offer care, compassion, and companionship to adults. For more than 39 years the agency has served the Omaha community providing care from the heart.

For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust.

People today are overwhelmed with choices – and often unsure about where to find verified, unbiased information. There are more than 32 million businesses in North America alone, and hundreds of thousands of sites around the world where people shop online. Thousands of free and subscription websites offer a range of information, including reviews, reports, directories, listings, and gripe sites. Where can you go to find trusted information?

In 2018, people turned to BBB more than 173 million times for BBB Business Profiles on nearly 5.4 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free on BBB.org. Nearly 400,000 BBB Accredited Businesses support BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust, and their dues and contributions allow BBB to offer its information and services to consumers at no charge.

BBB offers its services by creating a community of trustworthy businesses through accreditation, setting standards for trust, encouraging and supporting ethical business practices, celebrating community role models and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior.

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Assistance League of Omaha’s signature fund raising event is Christmas Caravan to be held in November.

MICAH House, a homeless shelter in Council Bluffs, has provided safety and security to children, families, and women for more than 30 years.

Located on the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus, MICAH House serves hundreds of homeless individuals each year – and more than half are children. Our focus is to keep families together, while reducing the amount of trauma children experience during a difficult time in their lives. The BUDDY program provides an opportunity for MICAH House children to play, learn, and grow. In January 2019, MICAH House expanded services to include a 26-bed women’s shelter and health care clinic. The shelter offers a therapeutic healing environment and includes a full-time therapist on-site. The three-exam room clinic will allow MICAH House clients and community members access to medical and dental services five days a week. For more information, please visit www.themicahhouse.org.

CHAD (Combined Health Agencies Drive) is a local, donor-designation driven organization that has been raising funds for Nebraska’s premier health charities since 1972. Through workplace partnerships, we promote charitable giving, employee engagement and wellness and connect people with health causes they care about.

Formerly Community Health Charities of Nebraska, we work with United Way of the Midlands through a contractual agreement. Donors who give so generously every year ensure our 21 member charities are funded on a consistent basis, and 100% of donor-designated dollars go directly to full-member charities. Valuable donations help Nebraskans in need by providing care and support for those affected by a health diagnosis; funding education and prevention programs in our communities; and supporting advocacy and medical research.

Omaha Office: 212 S. 74th St., Suite 205 | (402) 614-8500 | www. chadnebraska.org | Social media: @CHADNebraska #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Since 1938, Inclusive Communities has served the Heartland in the areas of youth; community and workplace human relations; and leadership programming to achieve our mission of confronting prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination. Inclusive Communities programming includes IncluCity, Omaha Table Talk, LeadDIVERSITY, and customized business training. IncluCity is a leadership program for high school students, designed to empower youth to create respectful and just communities. Omaha Table Talk provides informal, facilitated gatherings of people throughout our community, engaging in conversations about diversity and inclusion over a meal. LeadDIVERSITY, launched in 2019, is a year-long program designed to build a network of leaders dedicated to creating localized solutions to diversity and inclusion. Our Custom Business Solutions provide workshops focused on building leadership skills and respectful, inclusive behaviors using activities and presentations aimed at building empathy; examining biases and prejudices; and increasing the knowledge, language and dialogue skills to forge meaningful intergroup relationships.

For more information visit us at www.inclusive-communities.org or contact Cammy at cammy@inclusive-communities.org.

The mission of Omaha Home for Boys is to support and strengthen youth, young adults and families through services that inspire and equip them to lead independent, productive lives. The Home’s clients are empowered to transition from a state of crisis to one of safety and growth through five core programs: residential care, transitional living, independent living, supportive housing and clinical services.

The individuals who seek the guidance of Omaha Home for Boys come from a myriad of troubled backgrounds, but thanks to supporters like you, they find brighter futures through the Home’s programs focusing on education, employment, housing and behavioral and mental health. For more information about Omaha Home for Boys or to invest in the futures of the youth served, please visit our website at OmahaHomeForBoys.org.

Nebraska Community Foundation is celebrating 25 years of building stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska. Through a growing grassroots network of volunteers who hail from every corner or the state, we unleash abundant local assets, inspire charitable giving, and connect ambitious people who believe in the future of their hometown.

Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska Community Foundation provides financial management, strategic development, donor education and training in partnership with 1,500 volunteers serving 257 communities.

In the last five years, 41,776 contributions were made.

Since 1994, Nebraska Community Foundation has reinvested $323 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.

The mission of Release is to affect atrisk youth and their families with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

They do this through foster care, group homes, mentoring, and juvenile detention outreach. Almost all of Release’s “youthonly” work starts with the 950+ youth who are incarcerated every year in Douglas County. In addition, Release’s largest branch is their Community Based Initiatives, through which they work with families in their homes to educate and improve family circumstances for the ultimate goal of preventing family separation. Release is a member of the National Family Preservation Network, and all of their workers are trained specifically in the area of cultural competency and crisis intervention management.

Many children and families in our community are living through constant crises and trauma, and are only able to focus on survival.

Release is all about helping these at-risk youth and families to become…SAFE, TOGETHER, HEALTHY, and FREE! Learn more about Release at www.releaseinc.org or contact (402) 455-0808 / info@releaseministries.org.

Rejuvenating Women is a faith-based, nonprofit organization providing hope and restoration to victims and survivors of human trafficking. Rejuvenating Women’s vision is to empower survivors to lead healthy and independent lives, free from slavery. Our two-year, residential therapeutic program (the Restored Wings Program) is free-of-charge to survivors and includes: • Individual complex trauma and addiction therapy • Group therapy (specific to human trafficking survivors) • Community equine therapy, life-skills classes (nutrition, budgeting, etc.), GED classes, tattoo branding removal, legal services, and fitness • Staff coordination and attendance at all medical, dental, psychiatric and vision appointments • Mentorship with a loving and trauma-informed mentor • Staff coordination to acquire resident’s birth certificates, ID’s, and other state-required documentation as needed.

• Weekly social outings where residents experience “normal” life doing activities such as shopping, going to the zoo, going to a movie or baseball game, etc. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Incorporated in 2002, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) started with the goal of helping nonprofits help their communities. CEO Anne Hindery has led the organization since 2008. “We serve and strengthen more than 600 nonprofits of all sizes and missions in Nebraska and western Iowa. By connecting organizations with information, education, advocacy and collaboration, we help our members representing health and human services, the arts, education and other areas make an impact in the communities they serve,” Hindery said.

NAM’s signature Guidelines and Principles Program provides legal compliance and best practices information in 12 major areas of nonprofit management: communication, evaluation, financial management, fundraising, governance, human resources, information technology, planning, public policy and advocacy, strategic alliances, transparency and accountability, and volunteer management.

The National Council of Nonprofits, the nation’s largest network of nonprofits, recognizes NAM as the state association for Nebraska.

Learn more about NAM at www.nonprofitam.org.

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Located in South Omaha, Stephen Center is a sober campus of resources for those battling mental health and addiction issues.

The clients we serve are the homeless, addicted, and those in poverty. Our mission is to partner with the community, families, and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction, and poverty.

Founded in 1984, we are celebrating 35 years of services and cannot do it without our amazing group of volunteers.

Volunteers make an impact on the lives of clients we serve every day. Activities ranging from direct client contact to helping behind the scenes ensure that Stephen Center provides the best possible experience. For more information, please visit stephencenter.org or follow us on Facebook (@StephenCenterOmaha).

We a r Ye l l ow N eb r a s k a provides service, support, and community for Nebraska’s cancer survivors. Our purpose from the very beginning was to bring people passionate about cycling together to celebrate life and fight cancer. Well, we’ve grown that purpose and since launching our free transportation program in late 2012. We have spent more than $130,000 dollars in providing more than 8,000 cab rides to cancer patients in need.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone needed to get energy from food. T1D strikes children and adults suddenly and is unrelated to diet or exercise. JDRF is the leading global organization funding T1D research. We’re accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. You can help make a difference by participating, volunteering or fundraising.

Events: • JDRF One Walk – 8/24/2019 • Vala’s Pumpkin Patch JDRF Event – 10/6/2019 • JDRF Promise Gala – 2/22/2020 • JDRF TypeOneNation Summit – 4/25/2020 Programs: • Advocacy – Advocate for government support of research and new therapies.

• Give Back at School – School education & fundraising opportunities.

• Outreach – Resources for individuals and families.

• Empower1 – Connecting the adolescent T1D community.

• Ride – Destination cycling experience for all fitness levels.

• YLC – Young professionals raising awareness and funds for T1D.

Wear Yellow Nebraska reaches Omaha, Fremont, and Lincoln. Help Us Grow! Learn more at WearYellowNebraska.org.

The Wear Yellow Cab Ride program, Powered by Lyft is our primary initiative and funded by our signature event, the Wear Yellow Ride, Run & Walk. Transportation to and from treatment is essential because patients are often unable to drive themselves, which also leaves them vulnerable to medical lapses. Even if patients do have family and friends who can help, they aren’t always available and sometimes they just don’t want to ask for one more thing.

For more than 140 years, Heartland Family Service has been the area leader in helping individuals, children, and families create their paths to a better tomorrow. In 2018, Heartland Family Service connected with more than 54,000 individuals and families through direct services, education, and outreach. With over 50 programs, we are able to craft an integrated, multi-service approach to guide clients toward safety, well-being, and, ultimately, self-sufficiency.

When life improves for one of us, life improves for all of us.

To support our mission of strengthening individuals and families in our community through education, counseling, and support services.

Visit HeartlandFamilyService.org, or contact Chief Development Officer Marzia Shields at (402) 552-7443 or MShields@ HeartlandFamilyService.org.

Learn more at Jdrf.org/Omaha or call (402) 397-2873.

When businesses, faith-based organizations, government, and individuals come together to improve the lives of families, the results are astounding. Lift Up Sarpy fosters that collaboration and encourages grass roots, person-to-person assistance and volunteering.

Lift Up Sarpy County, Inc. brings these entities together in our community to serve people in need in Sarpy County, offers opportunities for cooperation, provides operational services, and encourages all to get involved.

When you donate to Lift Up Sarpy County, you’re helping foster powerful collaboration that truly helps families in our community get out of crisis and into a place of sustainability.

Specifically, we identify needs and opportunities that impact the long-term success of people in Sarpy County; support, connect and energize organizations and funders through regular communication and collaboration, and build sustainability by managing resources, developing new partnerships, and sharing work.

Please learn more and donate at LiftUpSarpyCounty.org.

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Vo l u n t e e r s s e r ve fo r a variety of reasons, but those interested in skills-based service are looking to (a) gain career-related experience, (b) develop personally or professionally, and (c) enhance skills and competencies. ThriVinci maximizes the volunteering experience by offering committed skills-based volunteers an exciting, meaningful service opportunity.

Our volunteers, who are trained in lean six sigma philosophy, use management expertise to provide support to transitioning agencies as they implement strategies to maximize efforts. Additionally, our skills-based volunteers can be matched with opportunities to serve on nonprofit governing boards. ThriVinci is a volunteer-led initiative that is made possible by utilizing lean project management best practices.

Because skills-based volunteers are 27% more likely to land a job than those who don’t volunteer, we support workforce development through our projects and professional development training.

Are you an individual interested in getting involved? Is your company looking to become more socially responsible? We offer individuals’ and businesses a chance to sponsor a ThriVinci project and or provide their employees’ professional development by facilitating a skillsbased volunteer project that will further develop employee talents while enhancing a nonprofit’s capacity and extending the reach of their valuable missions. Contact us today at info@thrivinici.org or visit us on our website at thrivinici.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The Rose Theater is committed to enriching the lives of children and families through live theater and arts education. With live performances of plays and musicals specifically for children and a wide range of classes designed to inspire budding performing artists, a lifelong love of theater starts at The Rose.

The Rose is one of the largest and most accomplished children’s theaters in the nation. In 2016, American Theatre magazine named The Rose one of the top 20 children’s theaters in the country. The theater presents a variety of family-friendly productions on its main stage each year. The Rose’s First Stage series features plays specifically for very young children in a smaller, shush-free, sensory-friendly environment. In addition, students from age two to 18 can participate in performing arts classes such as creative drama, dance, musical theater, acting, voice, and more.

For more information, visit www.rosetheater.org or call (402) 345-4849.

Founded in 1989, Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy’s (www.

HETRA.org) mission is to improve the quality of life both physically and emotionally of adults and children of all ability levels through equine assisted activities. Therapeutic Riding, Therapy Services, Carriage Driving, Life Skills, Veterans, and Equine Facilitated Learning programs are at the heart of HETRA’s services. The organization employs Occupational, Mental Health, and Physical Therapists, 16 PATH Int’l Certified Riding Instructors, and is the only Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International Accredited (PATH) facility in Nebraska.

Today, as a result of 28 years of dedication and commitment, HETRA serves over 125 participants weekly with the help of over 200 dedicated volunteers who donate over 18,000 hours annually.

HETRA offers year-round programming, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, a herd of over 20 horses, and is situated on 25 beautiful acres in Gretna, NE. Learn more at www.HETRA.org.

Help save lives. Donate blood.

“I’ve never been asked.”

That’s the number one reason why people don’t donate blood. Today, the Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB.org) is asking you to donate blood to help save lives. Every 2 seconds someone needs blood. The rarest blood type is the one that’s not available when a patient is in need. That need is constant. Nebraska Community Blood Bank has been connecting people who need life-saving blood with generous volunteer donors for 50 years. We provide life-saving blood to healthcare facilities throughout southeast Nebraska. Be part of our life-saving mission by becoming a blood donor with Nebraska Community Blood Bank today.

Visit NCBB.org to learn more about hosting a blood drive or to sign up to donate blood at a donor center or blood drive near you. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter (@NCBBOmaha).

The mission of the Veterans in Business Forum (VIBF) 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.

With Best Care EAP as a business partner, you can provide support to help employees focus on their jobs when problems in their personal lives get overwhelming. Best Care EAP provides a wide variety of wellness and online services that will boost your employees’ productivity and morale.

All of our services can be tailored to meet the individual needs of your company.

Flexible training formats—Our training programs are available online and in person. Your employees have access to pre-recorded webinars 24 hours a day. We can also tailor training to your company and deliver it on site or online.

Counseling for a wide variety of issues, concerns, and stressors—Our licensed counselors provide one-on-one, couple, and family counseling close to your work or home.

Professional help coping with a critical situation—For over 40 years, we have provided immediate support for our members during times of crisis. Whether caused by an unexpected injury or death, crime, or environmental impact, Best Care EAP is available to you and your employees with immediate support following a critical incident.

If you are interested in learning more about Best Care EAP or have questions about our services, visit www.bestcareeap.org or call (402) 354-8000 / (800) 801-4182. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Contact us to learn more: Michel Thornhill, (402) 932-7243, info@ littlemountainwebdesign.com. Mailing Address: VIBF c/o Little Mountain Web Design, P.O. Box 461235, Papillion, NE.

The VIBF meets the first Friday of every month (0800-0900) and ser ves the Omaha area (www.omahanebraska.com/ VeteransinBusinessForumOmahaNetworking).

Speakers may be from VIBF members, business groups, veteran groups, NBDC, PTAC, SBA, SCORE, or private sector and government agencies on a wide range of topics. VIBF encourages collaboration through networking. Each month, members can bring up issues and concerns to discuss with the group to get recommendations to help come up with effective solutions.

Help the Omaha Police Foundation (OPF; www.OmahaPoliceFoundation.org) Support Our Local Officers! We work to promote and strengthen the Omaha Police Department (OPD) by providing financial support and creating community partnerships to ensure it has highly qualified officers who have the training, equipment and technology needed to prevent crime, save lives and make Omaha a safer community.

Since 1999, the OPF has sponsored and hosted the annual Officer of the Year Awards Luncheon to recognize exceptional effort and to honor acts of heroism. The OPF is currently raising funds to purchase 600 Body Worn Cameras to equip each and every officer in the Department’s Uniform Patrol Bureau. 100% of all donations go directly to the project of your choice. If you would like to learn more or to support the work of the Omaha Police Foundation, please visit www.OmahaPoliceFoundation.org or contact OPF Administrator Elizabeth Balazs at (402) 345-5401, ext. 102.

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Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission founded in 1954 committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. 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 homeless preventive measures to more than 1,000 people living in poverty.

You probably know that when a worker is injured on the job, workers’ compensation pays the medical expenses and lost wages. What you may not know is that workers’ compensation does not take into account the costs of post-secondary education for children of the injured worker. Often families who have suffered such a tragedy are forced to care for the injured individual and do not have the funding to send their children to college.

Visit www.opendoormission.org or call (402) 422-1111 to see how you can make a difference in our community.

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska’s (KCNE) mission is to provide scholarships to children whose parents have suffered a workplace injury or death.

We want to raise awareness of our mission. KCNE wants to do what we say: Give the kids a chance.

Our mission is simple: For more than 60 years we have provided education and leadership to empower people to live safe and healthy. The Nebraska Safety Council’s comprehensive programs, training courses, events, and services are designed to improve employee care at a desk, on the production floor, behind the wheel, and off the job (www. nesafetycouncil.org). Our unique Worker 360° approach provides integrated risk management to improve overall worker quality of life and positively impact an organization’s bottom line.

Eligible students and families are encouraged to go to www. kidschanceofne.org for information, no matter the age of the children.

We are a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. If you are interested in making a donation, go to www.kidschanceofne.org/make-a-donation.

Providing leadership and resources for a safe and healthy workplace and community, Nebraska Safety Council – (402) 483-2511 / nesafetycouncil.org.

Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP; www. encapnebraska.org) is a nonprofit community based organization that has been providing social and human services to people facing poverty since 1965. Last ENCAP provided 21,590 to 6,557 people living in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. ENCAP is a member of a national network of over 1,000 Community Action Agencies dedicated to providing programming that meets community needs, that responds to the voices of the low-income community, and that demonstrates continuous quality improvement. ENCAP’s service areas include: Emergency rent and utility assistance, community response, emergency food assistance, transportation, and mental health and substance abuse counseling. For more information, please visit: www.encapnebraska.org.

Veterans are the only people who know what veterans need.

Out Beside You (OBY) is an organization led by retired Recon Marine Dustin Davis that raises money (mostly privately) to bring veterans and their families to the Midwest for hunting, farming, and fishing.

The purpose of this is to offer a private and relaxed setting where transitioning veterans and their families can have fun doing something purposeful. It’s an extraordinary bonus if there are stories told round the bonfire or dinner table of combat— sharing and listening to these stories have a way of encouraging transitioning veterans to move forward and keep kicking butt in life. Raising a family in the military or the rigors of transitioning into civilian-hood. If OBY can’t get a military family here, OBY will go to them.

OBY feels that privacy is paramount so they don’t typically use social media and they never take pictures of the veterans and families that they are serving. OBY plans to publish inspiring stories on their website from veteran families they have touched.

Out Beside You has no employees, only volunteers, and 100% of all donations directly support transitioning veterans. Learn more at outbesideyou.org or contact (402) 680-1922 / outbesideyou@ gmail.com.

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Child Saving Institute (CSI; childsaving.org) focuses on the prevention, intervention, and healing of childhood trauma, neglect, and abuse. Since its beginning more than 127 years ago, Child Saving Institute’s primary focus has always been children’s safety and well-being.

As an innovative leader in children’s services, our programs include an emergency shelter for youth in crisis, quality early childhood education, consultation services for low-income child care centers, foster care, foster parent training, therapy, pregnancy counseling, in-home services for struggling families, pediatric social services in low income medical clinics, independent living skills education for youth aging out of the foster care system, free parenting workshops, and older child adoption. The agency also operates the Triage Center at Project Harmony, providing a comfortable environment, food, and fresh clothing to children who have been abruptly removed from their homes in crisis.

CSI’s programming is diverse, but so are the needs of today’s children and youth. With your support and the support of others like you, CSI serves nearly 2,800 kids and families each year and touches thousands more, improving the lives of children in our community — and helping them discover the joy of childhood that every child should experience.

For more information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, visit childsaving.org, or call (402) 553-6000. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Our members include organizations throughout Nebraska and surrounding areas, across a variety of industries. There is no onesize-fits-all option; each company’s safety and wellbeing program is customized for their needs and size.

Demonstrate your commitment to employee safety and health by becoming a member of the Nebraska Safety Council. You will receive access to training, guidance, and resources to establish or enhance your safety and wellness programs and policies.

Mission: “To improve the quality of life by caring for the body and mind.”

Jennie Edmundson Foundation is the fundraising arm of Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital. By engaging philanthropic leaders, we are able to help make certain that the equipment, facilities, programs, services and educational initiatives at MJE continue to meet community needs.

The JE Foundation relies on donations and grants from our community.

These funds go to help our Charitable Patient Care Fund, Breast Health Center, Medi-Bus Transportation and Scholarship Funds, to name a few.

Generous contributions provide education, care, and services to many who may not otherwise have access to healthcare services. Individual or Planned gifts, Memorials or becoming an event or corporate sponsor are also a few ways to help.

Becoming a MJE Teen or Adult Volunteer gives you the opportunity to be involved in many facets of volunteerism. What a wonderful way to meet new people; develop new skills, interests and be rewarded through the experiences of helping patients, family members, and hospital staff.

To find out more about the JE Foundation and how you can get involved, call (712) 396-6040 or visit our website at www.jehfoundation.org.

Established in 1972, Santa Monica (www.santamonicahouse.org) has been providing long-term residential services to thousands of chemically-dependent women, partnering with them on their journey to recovery. The program relies on the disciplines of the twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous® while incorporating mental health and trauma treatment along with life skills. Santa Monica provides food, shelter, rehabilitative counseling, job acquisition guidance, and re-socialization training. Santa Monica provides a Halfway House program, followed by a ¾ way house program and transitional apartment living. This approach to step-down levels of care for the women, provide a more holistic continuum of care. These services will give the women more support as they transition back into the community. Donations are always valued at Santa Monica and the women benefit from toiletries, clothing, and paper products.

Visit our new website at www.santamonicahouse.org for more information about the agency, what the future holds, and how to help.

Grief’s Journey (www.griefsjourney.org) (formerly Ted E. Bear Hollow) exists so that no one has to walk their grief journey alone.

Since 2001, the agency has provided a free and welcoming safe place for grieving children, teens, and adults to offer each other hope and support. Research indicates that unresolved grief correlates to issues such as poor school and work performance and emotional and behavioral concerns, whereas healthy coping leads to long-term successes for children, families, and communities. Carefully measured outcomes indicate that the programs of Grief’s Journey effectively move participants to health and resilience. As the region’s cornerstone for grief support, Grief’s Journey provides free peer support groups, family days, and camps as well as professional training, education, and consultation throughout Nebraska and Iowa.

The agency relies on charitable contributions, special event income, and volunteerism to support its free programs. Together, hope grows.

For more information about Grief’s Journey, please visit www. griefsjourney.org or call (402) 502-2773. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Together, we can end child abuse. Project Harmony is boldly focused on ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect in our community. We have reimagined how communities can come together by leveraging resources to respond to, treat and ultimately prevent child abuse.

Project Harmony restores courage, facilitates healing and empowers each of us to be someone in the life of a child. Take the pledge to be someone in the life of a child today at ProjectBeSomeone.org.

To find out more about Project Harmony, visit www.projectharmony. com or call (402) 595-1326.

K i d s C a n ! C o m m u n i t y C e n t e r ’s (KidsCanOmaha.org) mission is to educate, engage, and inspire children through early childhood care and out-of-school experiences. Kids Can! serves children 18 months to 13 years old. We offer a variety of programs including early childhood education, before- and after-school programs, summer and non-school day programs, tutoring, and mentoring. Kids Can! utilizes the Creative Curriculum and Handwriting Without Tears activities for our youngest students with the goal of ensuring all students are prepared to enter Kindergarten. School-age children participate in the STEMsmart Academy which focuses on science, technology, engineering, math, strength, music, art, reading, and tutoring supporting well-rounded children.

Founded in 1908 as Social Settlement Association of Omaha, Kids Can! has a long history of making a meaningful impact in the community. Kids Can! is located on 49th and Q Streets in Omaha.

For more information about Kids Can! Community Center, visit KidsCanOmaha.org, call (402) 731-6988, or email jgillman@ kidscanomaha.org.

Midlands Latino Comm unity Development Corporation (MLCDC; www.midlandslatinocdc. org) provides low-income new immigrants individuals 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.

The top programs the organization provides are Business Development, Childcare creation, Micro-lending and Financial Capability programs. We have been serving the community for about 11 years with these programs.

Since 2009, we have been provided ongoing education to more than 5,217 clients, 325 small business have been launched, 128 microloans have been awarded, and 1,260 new jobs have been created and maintained in the Omaha metro area.

MLCDC educates and offers one-on-one coaching to low-tomoderate-income new immigrants seeking to build assets through affordable homeownership and build a plan to improve their financial capability through personalized financial coaching, financial literacy and the responsible access to financial products.

For more information, visit www.midlandslatinocdc.org.

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The Daily House Respite B&B is a respite bed and breakfast for individuals with intellectual disabilities. As a compliment sister company to Daily Yaymaker, LLC, an event and travel consulting business for individuals with unique needs, The Daily House Respite B&B looks forward to opening a lodging facility for differently-abled individuals and their families in and around the Omaha area.

The vision of The Daily House Respite B&B is to also provide jobs to people with disabilities, such as a cook, barista, security guard, or a landscape manager at the bed and breakfast! All of these things are possible once The Daily House Respite B&B is up and running. Right now, the nonprofit is looking for volunteer board members and fundraising champions to help them turn their vision into a reality. Please contact Dawna at (402) 206-3092 / dailyyaymakerne@gmail.com if you would be interested in helping to organize and solicit on behalf of The Daily House B&B. Visit the Facebook page (@thedailyhouse) or go online to www.dailyyaymaker.com to learn more.

NAMI Omaha is a nonprofit 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.

One of our most successful and free educational programs is FAMILY TO FAMILY [F2F]. It is a 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. The course offers a wide variety of information including: current information about mental illnesses, medications, current research, gaining empathy, learning problem solving, listening and communication techniques, acquiring strategies for handling crises and relapse, focusing on the caregiver, guidance on locating appropriate supports and services and information on advocacy initiatives.

For information, go to www.namiomaha.org or call (402) 345-8101 / (877) 463-6264. For helpful articles on mental illness follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NAMIOmaha.

At the Heartland Hope Mission 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. But, we are more than a pantry.

Clients also receive clothing, hygiene items, diapers, and access to a Client Service Specialist, who assists with SNAP (food stamp) applications and navigational services. Our Jobs Paths Program provides access to current job postings and onsite interviews with employers. Clients can also participate in financial classes, nutrition education, and a community garden. Our goals are to provide programming and wraparound services to prevent families from becoming homeless and to help people achieve or rebuild self-sufficiency.

Pantry Hours: South Omaha (2021 U Street): Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Thursdays 1:30-4:00 p.m. | Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Millard Pantry (5321 S. 139th Plaza): 2nd Saturdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Last Wednesday 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Find out more: HeartlandHopeMission.org | (402) 733-1904

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MENTOR Nebraska, formerly Midlands Mentoring Partnership, is focused on improving the number and quality of mentoring programs available for Nebraska’s youth.

For more than 20 years, MENTOR Nebraska has led the mentoring movement to ensure youth and mentors have access to high-quality mentoring experiences. MENTOR Nebraska does this by raising awareness, standards, and numbers around mentoring. In addition, MENTOR Nebraska provides training, support, technical assistance, and background checks to mentoring programs throughout the state.

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. For that to happen, we need caring adults like you to volunteer your time. Please help us make a difference in someone’s life. Visit MENTORNebraska.org to learn how you can become a mentor.

The Set Me Free Project is a nonprofit organization whose focus is to combat sex trafficking.

Our mission is to bring prevention education to youth and families to stop trafficking before it starts.

Our curricula packages are informative, interactive, and flexible – reaching students from 3rd-12th grades, educators, parents, industryspecific professionals, and community members.

The Set Me Free Project is unique, because we not only bring awareness, we bring education. Our educators empower each audience member to protect themselves and others from traffickers. We show students how and why they are at risk, and we teach them ways to protect themselves.

We teach the adults involved in the lives of youth to better guide and protect them. Every presentation we give is based on the foundation of each individual’s intrinsic value and worth.

Together, with our collaborators and supporters, we stop human trafficking before it starts.

Did you know...Midlands Community Foundation (MCF) helps donors achieve their philanthropic goals and “Invest in the Power of Community.”

MCF plays an integral part in the community by serving Sarpy and Cass counties in the area of health care, arts, culture, community, economic development, education and human services. For example, MCF: • Helps provide shelter for the homeless and stocks shelves at the local food banks • Underwrites scholarships for college-bound students • Maintains and supports local libraries • Provides funding for health fairs • Updates parks and recreational areas • Treats school children to educational field trips • Supports and assists in disaster relief for victims affected by Mother Nature In addition, MCF manages 135 charitable funds that serve an array of needs. This past year, more than $1.3 million has been distributed into the community through these charitable funds, MCF grants, and discretionary gifts.

To learn more, visit www.midlandscommunity.org or call (402) 991-8027. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Big Brothers Big Sisters 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. Big Brothers Big Sisters is working to clear the path for our youth’s biggest possible futures.

To learn more about how to become a Big, make a donation or find other ways to get involved, go to bbbsomaha.org or follow us on social media.

Dreamweaver Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fulfilling lifelong dreams for terminally ill seniors in need. We strive to enrich the quality of life and are committed to honoring our most cherished generation in their final days. Making the impossible dream, possible.

We serve seniors who are at or below the federal poverty guidelines in the Greater Omaha Area, Lincoln, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. The granting of a Dream is a simple act, and yet the outcomes are profound. Dreams give the gift of hope.

Dreamweaver Foundation is celebrating six years of making dreams come true for terminally ill seniors by hosting our first Boots & Buckets fundraising event, presented by Pinnacle Bank. The casual event will be held Thursday, September 19, 2019 at A View on State in Omaha.

For more information about our event or Dreamweaver, visit our website at dreamweaver.org or email us at info@dreamweaver.org.

For almost twenty years The La Vista Community Foundation (LVCF) has been helping make our growing community a GREAT place to Live, Work and Play.

The word community is the key, and it is what makes things happen in La Vista, Nebraska. We have been a leader in funding activities through collaboration and cooperation of our citizens, businesses, civil representatives, and community sponsors.

LVCF facilitates Community Impact Grants each fall. We have supported and shared success with many area charities, education programs, human service organizations and civic/recreation activities. Yearly contributions support our efforts, and several donor-advised funds are also used to support our grant program. We have been able to give back over $300,000 to the La Vista Community since our early years.

We promote a fun and engaging LVCF Golf Classic fundraiser each summer, and we work to raise dollars from the proceeds at a local fireworks tent each year. And importantly, our organization has chosen to lead the metro area in honoring our U.S. Veterans with our annual “Salute to Veterans” Dinner event, each November at the Embassy Suites – La Vista Conference Center. This event is no charge for veterans who attend.

We look forward to helping La Vista grow! Our goal is solid: to identify need, involve people, and engage support.

For more information about LVCF, or to support our mission with a donation or a donor-advised contribution, please contact Jill Lukes, executive director, at (402) 960-9625. You can also email us at info@LaVistaCommunityFoundation.com. Our website is www.

LaVistaCommunityFoundation.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

At Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha (RMHC), we focus on keeping things as ordinary, unperturbed and boring as possible. Why? The families we serve are regular folks facing unfamiliar situations as their kids have been diagnosed with medical issues that are sometimes rare, sometimes chronic and sometimes both. And they’re often hundreds of miles from home. Obviously, the last thing they need is more stress, which is why we work extra-hard to make sure their new normal is as normal as can be.

In other words, at RMHC we take extraordinary measures to create ordinary times.

With 40 rooms and more than 14,600 lodging nights annually, normalcy is established by providing all of the basic essentials of a home such as warm beds, family rooms and meals. We also provide educational and artistic programs for all members of the family. Additionally, the environment includes a built in support system where families are able to connect with each other forming an interdependent network of resources and collaboration. RMHC is so much more than a House, consider us the made-to-order, one-of-a-kind, double Home with everything. Ronald McDonald House Charities is located at 620 S. 38th Ave. For more information, please call (402) 346-9377 or visit www.RMHCOmaha.org.

Goodwill Industries, Inc., Serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, has been a leader in helping people fulfill their dreams through work since 1933. We train and employ people with disabilities and others who may be at a competitive disadvantage in the job market, such as at-risk youth.

Many people know Goodwill as a place to donate used clothing or household items.

However, did you know that Goodwill is also a place where thousands of formerly unemployed or underemployed individuals have been given the opportunity to earn a living and the chance to succeed in life?

Goodwill offers a variety of employment programs and job opportunities for individuals with barriers to self-sufficiency. These programs include AbilityOne, Employment Solutions, Community Service, Work Experience, and YouthBuild AmeriCorps.

For more information about Goodwill’s mission programs call (402) 3414609, email info@goodwillomaha.org, or visit www.goodwillomaha.org.

The Metro Area Youth Foundation (MAYF) was formed in 2006 by a group of Omaha area Optimist Club members who wanted to do more for families and children experiencing cancer. This all-volunteer group recognized that many organizations have been formed to help fight cancer, but there were not many resources available to the families who were in the middle of the fight. The goal is to allow the families to focus on the children, not the money they owe by providing a short-term financial bridge. Many of these families were already struggling financially; a cancer diagnosis can often mean that only one parent can continue to work, adding to the burden. MAYF has been able to provide over 500 families a chance to keep the water and power on, rent to stay in their apartment, a mortgage payment to keep their home and a chance to keep life as stable and normal as possible. For more information about how you can get involved or donate to MAYF’s Childhood Cancer Campaign, visit SummerBashforCCC.org or please call (402) 740-5158 or email SummerBash@cox.net.

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Parkinson’s Nebraska is the primary source of education, suppor t, and ser vices for those whose lives are affected by Parkinson’s Disease in Nebraska. Our goal is to create a community of patients, caregivers, and resources so that the journey of Parkinson’s is A Journey Shared.

We serve the Parkinson’s community right here in Nebraska.

Since 2016, we have sponsored over 1,500 specialized exercise classes, supported the community through support groups and programming grants, provided educational opportunities to patients, caregivers, and professionals, and connected families with important resources. We are state-based, passionate, and proud that all funds stay in Nebraska to benefit our Parkinson’s community.

At Parkinson’s Nebraska, we strive to identify and meet the everchanging needs of the Parkinson’s community. We recognize a lack of Parkinson’s resources in Nebraska’s rural and underserved communities and are working hard to meet that need. In July 2019, we hosted a Delay the Disease training in Grand Island, NE to train health and medical professionals how to design and implement a community-based Parkinson’s exercise class. As a result of the training, 20 new classes began across Nebraska, with 13 serving rural or underserved communities. We look forward to continuing to build relationships with the Parkinson’s community and grow a network of resources through the state. Learn more online at www.parkinsonsnebraska.org or call (402) 715-4707.

Outlook Nebraska helps anyone with vision loss find the resources they need, learn how to use technology to stay independent, find out about employment opportunities and stay active through recreation and cultural activities. From teaching them to use technology to helping them enjoy a theater performance with audio description to being their eyes when biking – we strive to enhance the lives of our blind neighbors.

Through our enrichment programs, the visually impaired participate in cultural and recreational activities they otherwise could not enjoy.

Our employment opportunities improve their self-sufficiency. Outlook Nebraska is the largest employer of the blind in Nebraska, through production of janitorial paper products and our business support center, Outlook Business Solutions.

The Need: • 15,000 people in metro area have vision loss that interferes with daily activities. This will more than double because of the prevalence of diabetes and our aging population • More people in our region experience vision loss than homelessness, and most vision loss cannot be corrected.

• 1 in 4 of us is at risk of severe vision loss today.

Giving Opportunities: • Be a Vision Monthly Partner with a $20/month automatic donation.

Choose this option at outlookne.org/support.

• Make a cash donation at outlookne.org/support or mail a check to Outlook Nebraska.

• Sponsor an event such as our June Tee It Up Fore Sight golf tournament.

• Plan a future donation through our Legacy Fund.

Help those with vision loss in our community live life to the fullest with a donation. Visit outlookne.org to learn more.

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MVP4Life is a nonprofit group that teaches life skills through the game of baseball. One program of MVP4Life is The Corn Belt Collegiate Summer Baseball League. From the College World Series to TD Ameritrade’s Home Run Derby, college baseball is at its finest in Omaha and this league is no exception. College players from all over the country come to develop their game. MVP4Life utilizes these players to mentor the youth of our community. What better role model than a college athlete and his quest to play in the MLB? The league relies on families in Omaha to open their home and become host families to these players.

The league has grown to be the premier college developmental league in the Midwest and plans to expand the league are set for the 2020 season. This will bring a greater need for sponsors and host families. Please help! For more information and schedules, visit www.

CornBeltLeague.com / www.MVP4Life.org.

The American Lung Association is the leading organization dedicated to saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and researc h. Our non-profit organization provides support and education for those living with asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and fighting threats to lung health such as tobacco, air pollution and more.

The American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Corporate Cup is a 10K and 2 Mile run/walk and a piece of Omaha history! Celebrating its 39th year on September 8, more than 5,000 participants are expected to join their friends, family, co-workers at the starting line of this marquee event. More than 25,000 individuals have participated in the last five years alone, raising $1.5 million in support of the mission of the American Lung Association. This year, you can join the challenge and raise money to help provide life-saving lung health research, patient education and public policy efforts. The routes may vary in their distances, but each offers an opportunity for teams and individuals to challenge themselves. Every step you take moves us forward in our fight for healthy lungs and clean air. Lung HelpLine: 1-800-LUNGUSA | Website: Lung.org

Don’t Miss Out! This is an excellent opportunity for your nonprofit to gain exposure amongst our readers, as well as for our readers to familiarize themselves with the needs of the various organizations and the valuable work that is going on in our community.

If you are a local nonprofit organization that is interested in participating in the next Supporting Nonprofits feature in Strictly Business Magazine, please call (402) 466-3330 or email Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com today! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Help Building Occupants Stay Alert, Refreshed & Learn More!

Honeywell products increase comfort, energy efficiency, and improve indoor air quality.

Call us today to learn more about how Engineered Controls can help improve your building environment.

1-866-395-0186 | www.EngineeredControls.com

#PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Omaha’s Ovation is Here N O W A C C E P T I N G R E S E R VA T I O N S Nebraska deserves an Ovation. Opening in mid-2020, Ovation by Avamere is an active lifestyle village where people will live, thrive, invent, volunteer and innovate. Ovation features exclusive wellness and fitness programs, concierge services, multiple gourmet restaurants, innovative technology and everything you need to enjoy life to its fullest.

Ovation is your reward for a life well-lived.

Reservation Showroom Pepperwood Village 573 North 155th Plaza, Suite 573 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 52 Strictly Business JULY 2019

Independent | Assisted | Memory Care 402-999-7900 | ovationbyavamere.com heartwoodpreserve@ovationbyavamere.com #PrintProudDigitalSmart