Strictly Business Lincoln - February 2021 by Strictly Business - Lincoln & Omaha, Nebraska

STRICTLY-BUSINESS.COM

LINCOLN • FEBRUARY 2021 TM

FROM THE GROUND UP.

CHRISTINA MELGOZA

DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOT SALES

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CONNOR CARSTENS

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5 Elements Massage & Spa

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VICTOR ZWEERINK

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• LINCOLN BUSINESSES & THEIR PETS • RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP • WEDDING PLANNING • BUILDING MAINTENANCE • SENIOR LIVING CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS • LINCOLN FIRST REALTY • WYUKA FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY • ENGINEERED CONTROLS • PRO-TINT

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issues that 2020 threw at us.

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Print Marketing for the Win in 2021

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

Naive are those who think print is dead. Quite TV interrupting your favorite show. Not to say those methods aren't the opposite is true, really. Especially with the effective, but we are psychological people. If we relate annoyance pandemic pushing even more marketers online, or intrusiveness to a brand, that is going to affect our purchasing resulting in a high volume of information given decisions. Whereas with print, your audience is viewing your content to customers at the digital level, print will set on their own terms. you apart. Printed content will be seen more as it's not scrolled past or deleted as we Print is Engaging. Consumers (and yes, even millennials) continue so often do in the digital world. According to retain a higher level of interest in printed materials. Studies to a blog published by Colortech Creative continue to show that students read digital formats faster—but Solutions, "print advertising also provides a at a cost. They ended up absorbing fewer details, which suggests broader customer experience—this allows students are much better off reading print. Investing in print for a deeper level of engagement than that advertising increases the chance that your message will be read, of digital materials. Printed pieces can be taken with you and are understood, and better yet, not diluted by off-topic comments or other advertising in the sidebar. tangible where digital formats are fleeting. For example, if a potential customer has a brochure “Especially with the pandemic Let's say you're a business and there's no one on in their hand [or a magazine!] they can see the your team who is good at writing. Not only that, beauty and color of the ad, but they can also pushing even more marketers there just isn't enough time to put together branded online, resulting in a high feel the texture and smell the ink, experiencing content for your business while actually running something that’s separated from the digital realm." volume of information given to and operating your business. That is exactly what The article positions branded content as one of Strictly Business exists for. We are a marketing the top marketing trends for 2021. This is content customers at the digital level, partner like no other to local businesses in Lincoln. print will set you apart.” that has been specifically created with your brand Why? Our small-but-mighty team works with vision in mind—it tells your story in a way that is every single one of our clients, really getting to meaningful to the reader. know each one so that we can best tell their story and convey their If you're not convinced that print has its place in marketing in the mission, values, and expertise to the community. Our writers—Diane, digital age, let me highlight some of my favorite qualities of print. Hannah, and Tegan—are very talented. They can take anyone's jumbled thoughts and turn it into a well-written article that flows I hope you see the value in these characteristics as well. and resonates with the reader—and they can do it in minutes. All Print is Credible. Sadly, there is a lot of distrust around information the press release, story, and spotlight writing we do for our clients is we find online. It's hard to know if what we're absorbing has been free with their advertising campaign. We also know how important fabricated to accomplish a certain agenda or exaggerated for the it is to supplement a physical print presence with an online presence, sake of becoming "clickbait". However, when you read an article so we publish all that rich, original content online on our website in Strictly Business, or any other publication with integrity, you know and backlink to our client's site. In addition, Strictly Business offers what you're reading is true because it's been responsibly sourced a social media add-on package to take our client's even further. and approved by the person or business the article is about. If you're interested in learn more about working with our amazing team to share your story and grow your business, reach out to me! Print is Polite. What I mean by this is that people who read content Let Strictly Business help you lock in your status as THE EXPERT in a magazine or newspaper are doing so voluntarily. It's not in your industry, utilizing print, the internet, and social media. being shoved in their face like a pop-up ad or a commercial on Find out how by contacting Paige at (402) 466-3330.

CONTENTS NEWS 4 Business 27 Personnel

35 Nonprofit 47 Health

ASK THE EXPERT 19 ComPro Insurance

SPOTLIGHTS 50 Lincoln First Realty

COLUMNS 20 Star City Six

FEATURE STORIES 58 Lincoln Businesses & Their Pets

Strictly Business Magazine

52 Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery 54 Engineered Controls 56 Pro-Tint

61 63 67 71 4

Responsible Pet Ownership Wedding Planning Building Maintenance Senior Living Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

51 53 55 57

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

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

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ABOUT THE COVER

FROM THE GROUND UP.

LINCOLN • FEBRUARY 2021 TM

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Tegan

StrictlyBusinessMagazine

FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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Email: Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Online: www.Strictly-Business.com/subscribe-strictly-business @sbmaglincoln

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

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TO REQUEST A FREE SUBSCRIPTION FOR YOUR BUSINESS...

www.Strictly-Business.com #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Diane

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For more information on Krueger Development neighborhoods, contact Christina at cmelgoza@ kr uegerdevelpment.com or (402) 423-7377.

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KruegerDevelopment.com | 402.423.7377 PRODUCTION TEAM: Editor/Operations Hannah Hundley – Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Writer Diane Gumaer – Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Art Director Dillon Crawford – Design@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Writer/Social Strategist Tegan Colton – Tegan@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com SALES TEAM: President/Sales Paige Zutavern – Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Publisher/Founder/Accounting Shayne Zutavern – SZutavern@Yahoo.com

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CHRISTINA MELGOZA

DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOT SALES

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When March of 2020 rolled around, it was unclear how the building industry would be affected. Over the next few months lot sales declined, building materials tripled in price or halted production all together, and construction really slowed down. Thankfully, here in the Midwest the overall economy fairs better than most and continued to do so through the pandemic. Krueger Development continued developing lots in the Woodlands at Yankee Hill, anticipating the demand to return before the end of the year.

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“Taking raw land and getting it to a point ready for homebuilding takes months, sometimes years. You have to anticipate what the next year's demand for lots is going to look like and what kind of capital you can put towards those projects, while running the rest of the business. It’s a constant balancing act of supply and demand. Being ‘sold out’ sounds great, but that also lets you know you left too much opportunity on the table,” said Christina.

Christina markets Krueger Development lots to builders or individuals. If you haven’t found the perfect builder but still want to secure the perfect location, you can buy a lot now and build later. In addition to the Woodlands at Yankee Hill, FROM THE Krueger Development also has GROUND UP. a premier neighborhood just northwest of South 98th Street and Highway 2 within walking distance of a pond and will soon have another development just southeast of 84th and Yankee Hill with gorgeous walkout lots to Jensen Park. N00°18'42"E 109.13'

Over the last five years, Christina Melgoza has sold over 300 residential lots in the Woodlands at Yankee Hill. As the director of residential development and lot sales for Krueger Development, Christina not only sells the lots but is responsible for the installation of all the infrastructure: water, sewer, paving, etc. She must anticipate the demand for inventory months in advance to start the development process.

“If you are looking to build, now is a great time. Interest rates are still at a historic low. If you own a home currently, it’s a sellers’ market and a great time to cash in. Existing home inventory is super low. Building allows you the ability to build what you want, how you want, and know that it’s new to you with no hidden ‘do it yourself’ fixes about to fall apart the minute you move in,” said Christina.

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Southeast Lincoln has been a hot spot for residential builders for years. It continues to be a great area of growth for the City. According to the Residential Land Inventory Report published annually by the City of Lincoln Planning Department, the southeast corner of 70th and Yankee Hill continues to be one of the highest density areas of Lincoln for new single-family construction permits. Krueger Development’s Woodlands at Yankee Hill neighborhood is precisely at that corner.

By the fall season, lot sales began to pick up again. Despite all the new obstacles 2020 brought on, the building community pulled itself up by the bootstraps and kept going. The demand for single family housing in Lincoln, especially southeast Lincoln, continued. With the close of fourth quarter, Christina sold 70 lots in the Woodlands at Yankee Hill with an additional 38 under contract for closings in 2021, her second-best year since 2016.

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Despite the craziness and uncertainty of 2020, one thing was for certain: the need and want for residential housing in southeast Lincoln continued, and even skyrocketed the last quarter of the year.

BUSINESS NEWS LUXX Events Adds New Boxwood Wall Backdrop to Decorations Inventory

PRG of Woods Bros Realty Reports Over $46M in Local Real Estate Transactions in 2020

LUXX Events, LLC has added a new boxwood wall backdrop to their decorations inventory. The 4 foot x 7 foot faux foliage backdrop can be used vertically or horizontally and can be decorated with pops of color from orchids, ferns, or bougainvillea branches. It’s a perfect visual for spring- and summer-themed events. The new piece will be added to LUXX Events’ impressive roster of decorations which includes vases, candelabras, wedding arches, lanterns, rugs, tables, chairs, props, and more! The new backdrop—along with other decorative pieces—can be rented for a fee for your upcoming event. Along with décor rentals, LUXX also offers custom installation of décor, lighting, and fabricated design elements to curate an unforgettable, unique statement at any party or conference. LUXX’s team of dedicated design professionals offers three standard rate packages for event planning: Design, Production, and Installation (Full Planning); Direction and Design (Partial Planning); Supervision (Month Of or Day Of); and affordable, hourly consulting service. Each package can also be customized to meet your specific needs. Discounts are available for trade professionals and rental customers. LUXX Events, LLC is an event planning, rental, and design firm that has created or overseen intricate event projects for clients throughout Lincoln and Omaha since 2018. From small, corporate, or private events to large, elaborate conferences and festivals, LUXX leaves no detail to fate. To learn more, call Owner Gretchen Arroyo at (402) 416-0951 or visit luxxeventsllc.com.

Professional Realty Group (PRG) of Woods Bros Realty reported $46.7 million in local real estate transactions in 2020, helping hundreds of Lincoln home owners sell their properties and find their dream homes during the pandemic. The PRG team, headed by Ben and Andrea Bleicher, in total assisted 64 sellers and 108 buyers in Lincoln and surrounding areas. PRG assisted local buyers with getting the properties that best fit their wants for the best price and helped sellers get the highest dollar amount possible, doing everything necessary to adequately market their home. Ben Bleicher and his team markets a wide array of homes to fit anyone’s needs, preferences, and budgets and encourages anyone looking to buy or sell a home in Lincoln to reach out for questions. Professional Realty Group of Woods Bros Realty is a team of experienced real estate professionals who came together in 2018 to help clients buy and sell residential and commercial properties in Lincoln and surrounding areas. They also help buy and sell industrial, land development, and new construction properties. To learn more, call (402) 419-6309 or visit prg-ne.com.

RBC Wealth Management welcomes the Ernst/Stark Group Strengthening your financial securitySM Let’s connect today. Call 402-465-3823 or visit www.ernststarkgroup.com

Investment and insurance products offered through RBC Wealth Management are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency, are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank or any bank affiliate, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

DataVizion Differentiates Business Units to Better Support Customers In order to better serve customers, DataVizion officially announced the launch of two new divisions, Mid-Market & Enterprise and Small & Mid-Sized Business. Entering its 20th year of business operations, this milestone is a major move for DataVizion on its mission to provide leading-edge technology solutions and support across the Midwest. “This unit focus will drive clarity around what we do really well; secure [network] connectivity experiences for Mid-Market & Enterprise and secured managed technology service for Small & Mid-Sized businesses,” says Kelly Schrad, CEO of DataVizion. “The combination of these two business units will provide endless opportunities to our team which will give our customers continuity in engagement.” This news comes in the wake of many recent initiatives and accomplishments of the company, including: • Promoting Kerry F. Corcoran to director, Small & Mid-Sized Business • Promoting Dan Werner to director, Mid-Market & Enterprise • Becoming an Inc. 5000 company after a record-breaking year in sales “This is another step in the right direction to bring more focus and clarity of our mission and quality service to our clients. The division into the business units provides our employees with more specialized service to our customers,” noted Corcoran. Werner added, “As companies everywhere enter into 2021 with new ways of doing business, technology continues to move at an alarming pace with growing demand. Expect to see DataVizion prepared to support these new market needs with individualized solutions.” DataVizion is a leading provider of custom IT solutions for businesses throughout the Midwest. Proficient in the full range of business technology solutions from small business to enterprise, DataVizion provides a better connection through enhanced speed, flexibility, and productivity in a secure environment. Backed by superior support and customer service, these proven solutions give their customers a competitive advantage to grow and thrive. IT, the way it should be. To learn more about these business units, visit www.datavizion.com to catch all the latest updates. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS McKinney’s Receives Support After Break-In, Community Refills Walls with Dollar Bills

CCA Home Care Takes Ad Reservations for 2021 Lincoln Eldercare Resource Handbook

McKinney’s Irish Pub has received tremendous community support after losing thousands of dollars and years’ worth of memories during a break-in last month that resulted in the loss of many signed dollar bills that famously lined their walls. Community members and neighboring bars flooded en masse to show support and shower the beloved Lincoln pub with new signed dollar bills to help them reline the walls. In just five days after the robbery, the pub had already had $500 in singles donated. Notably, JJ Hooligans and Kinkaider Brewing Co., both just down the street from McKinney's in the Haymarket, did their part to respond to this heartless act. JJ's held a Dollar Drive, encouraging people to sharpie a note onto a dollar bill and send it to McKinney’s or drop it at their bar. In addition, Kinkaider dropped off 100 one-dollar bills in hopes of rebuilding the atmosphere. There were even people from out of state mailing dollar bills to the pub! McKinney’s Co-owner Nate Stewart noted that, while many of the bills stolen signified cherished memories of community members, customers, and employees that can never be replaced, it's amazing to see this generous response from the community.

CCA Home Care, formerly Care Consultants for the Aging, is taking reservations for advertising in their 2021 Lincoln ElderCare Resource Handbook, often referenced as “the bible” in the senior-care industry. Don’t miss your opportunity to get your business highlighted in front of referral sources and families needing your services. Print and media options are available, and CCA Home Care is accepting ad reservations through February 28 to secure placement in this important publication. The Lincoln ElderCare Resource Handbook is in its 12th edition, offering an inventory of senior-care resources to professionals, caregivers, families, and seniors to help them navigate the challenges in the industry. The handbook is an all-inclusive listing of services, programs, and other resources available for the aging in the area. That includes government, medical support, living options, financial, legal, therapy, elder moving, home-health care, transportation, and end-of-life services. Topics run the full gamut, from medical care to food and nutrition, companionship, pharmacy services, respiratory and physical therapy, respite care, emergency response systems, relocation consultants, financial assistance, food pantries, and cemetery and funeral-home resources. Upon completion in June, it will be available online at no cost. CCA Home Care provides the elderly and their adult children with support in their home, in the form of companionship, running errands, providing care, giving medications, and the like. For more information about the Lincoln ElderCare Resource Handbook or to make your ad reservation, visit lincolnhandbook.com or contact Blake Thomas at (402) 200-8731 / info@lincolnhandbook.com.

McKinney’s Irish Pub has been serving craft beers, whiskey, and delicious bar food in Lincoln’s Haymarket since 2013. To learn more, call them at (402) 477-0021 or visit mckinneyspublincoln. com. Follow them on Facebook (@mckinneyspublincoln) or Instagram (@mckinneysirishpub) to keep up with their latest beer and menu selection.

Schwarz Paper Company of Lincoln to Join Eakes Office Solutions Eakes Office Solutions is excited to announce Schwarz Paper Company in Lincoln will be joining the Eakes Office Solutions team. Schwarz has been locally owned and operated since 1899, serving the office, locker, and janitorial supplies needs of businesses in Lincoln and Pictured (L-R): Paul McKinney, Julie throughout the state. Jones, Knox Jones, Mark Miller. “ We a r e t h a n k f u l t o everyone that helped us grow over the years. We are excited to join Eakes Office Solutions, and to be able to expand our products and services to all of our loyal customers,” said Knox Jones, president of Schwarz Paper Company. Knox will be joining Eakes along with Andy Riddle and Pat Jones as janitorial specialists. “Knox, Pat, Andy, and the rest of the team from Schwarz have a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience in the janitorial products industry. Working together, we believe we can provide an even higher level of service to our customers throughout Nebraska,” said Mark Miller, president and CEO of Eakes. The Schwarz Paper Company employees will join Eakes at their office at 110 N 35th St. in Lincoln. Eakes Office Solution offers a full line of cleaning equipment including auto scrubbers, floor machines, burnishers, extractors, and vacuums, and is an authorized service dealer for cleaning equipment throughout their market. In addition to janitorial equipment, Eakes also offers professional-level cleaners and chemicals, and can provide businesses with dispensers for towels, tissues, soap, and hand sanitizer. To learn more, visit www.eakes.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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BUSINESS NEWS BBB Recognizes 2020 Community Heroes with $600 Donation to Lincoln Food Bank The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently recognized six 2020 Community Hero organizations from Lincoln—Better Living Counseling, Bridge to Better Living, Complete Hearing, Tabitha, TELCOR, and Tillotson Enterprises—with a $100 donation in each company’s honor to the Lincoln Food Bank. The Community Heroes were BBB’s Accredited Businesses that submitted videos or recorded verbal descriptions explaining how they persevered during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 while still going above and beyond to support their employees, customers, and communities. The stories are ones of tenacity and ability to pivot to overcome adversity while navigating the rough waters of the pandemic. You can watch the powerful videos at bbb.org/nebraska. “2020 was a very difficult year for everyone,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hergarty. “We are pleased to recognize those businesses, both large and small, from across our service area that take the time and effort to tell us what they have done—not only to survive, repurpose, and innovate, but to also help others during these trying times. They are BBB’s 2020 Community Heroes!” The Better Business Bureau has been serving local communities since 1936. The overall mission of the organization is to be a leader in advancing marketplace trust. For more information, visit bbb.org/ nebraska or call (800) 649-6814.

WISB Hosts Monthly Meeting February 10 Featuring Sen. Brewer at Venue and Zoom The next Women in Sales & Business (WISB) monthly meeting is on tap for Wednesday, February 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meeting will be hosted at Venue Restaurant & Lounge in the Lancaster/Nebraska room, 4111 Pioneer Woods Dr., STE 100, as well as being available via Zoom for members who cannot or prefer not to attend in person. Following the regular WISB business portion of the meeting will be a presentation from Senator Tom Brewer. Guests are welcome and current members are encouraged to attend with a guest. The cost to attend in-person is $16 for members with lunch, $10 without lunch, and FREE for first-time guests. All women attending should be prepared to make a brief introduction of themselves and their business. Please register on the Women in Sales & Business Facebook page (@wisblincoln). Women in Sales & Business began meeting in 1987 to offer businesswomen in Lincoln the opportunity to network within an all-female setting. Today, their goal is to encourage and develop creative leadership in women. They are dedicated to promoting their growth through accumulation and sharing of knowledge and are always looking for new members to join our group! For more information, visit wisblincoln.org or contact Membership Chair Joy Damian at joymdamian@gmail.com or (402) 730-6191.

Maly Marketing Honored with Nebraska's Friend of Tourism Award for 2020

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N eb ra s k a To u r i s m i n d u s t r y members were honored during the virtual 2020 Nebraska Tourism Industry Awards celebration on October 22, and Lincoln-based Maly Marketing was honored with the Friend of Tourism Award. Maly Marketing is a trusted partner of many tourism entities across the state and when the devastating impacts of COVID-19 started to show, they stepped up. They created a weekly support session called “Overcoming the Coronavirus Together” to help individuals, organizations, and small businesses who were struggling navigate hard times. Maly Marketing also recently started a video series called “What’s Up Nebraska,” that highlights communities across the state, focusing on safe, socially distanced activities for tourists. On top of that, Maly is currently selling their Nebraska swag to raise money for the Food Bank of Lincoln’s Backpack Program. Their shirts are especially popular, and with tons of requests for orders, they figured they'd use the proceeds to do some good. "Thank you to all of the tourism entities across The Good Life that have opened their arms and minds to a group of misfits based out of Lincoln," said Steve Maly, owner of Maly Marketing. "In 2021, we plan to step up our game even more to become the only twotime winner of this award."

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

Maly Marketing is a full-service marketing agency. Creative problem solving is their specialty. Since most of their clients aren’t dealing with massive budgets, they’ve found that it helps to look for solutions that are straightforward and inexpensive to implement. To learn more about their "Best work. No bullshit." motto and check out some of their previous work, including what they've done for Nebraska Tourism, visit malymarketing.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS Greenfield’s Offers Sweetheart of a Deal with 20% Off Catered Brunch in February Greenfield’s is offering 20% off of catered brunches throughout the month of February. This means employers can show their teams how much they are appreciated and be the sweetheart of the office all month long! With breakfast being the most important meal of the day, Greenfield’s has stepped up breakfast and brunch catering options to deliver tasty delights to business meetings, events, or just to say “Thank you” to your employees. They offer up a mouthwatering selection, but one that’s sure to be a new office favorite is Greenfield’s Strawberry Biscuit French Toast (pictured). It starts with their jumbo biscuits, dipped in house-made French toast mix, fried to a golden brown, and topped with maple syrup and house-made honey butter, then covered in a strawberry sauce and whipped cream. You can also try their almost-famous Smokey Nashville Chicken and Biscuit Sandwich, which features a flakey jumbo biscuit, crispy chicken tenders, sausage gravy, and a fried egg drizzled with chipotle hollandaise and Nashville maple sauce—plus many other options, like cinnamon-roll pancakes, biscuit pot pie, and Huevos quesadillas. Greenfield’s catering is available for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. To view their full menu or keep up with the latest specials, visit greenfieldscafe.com, call (402) 420-3232, or follow them on Facebook (@GreenfieldsCafe). They are open daily for dine-in, takeout, curbside, and delivery, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and are open for private-event reservations after 2 p.m.

Feb 12, 2021 7 pm

Home Care Partners Celebrates Three Years of Providing Quality Senior Care in Lincoln

WE STRIVE FOR PERFECTION FOR ALL YOUR VEHICLES PERFORMANCE NEEDS.

Home Care Partners is excited to be celebrating three years of business in Lincoln. Karla Frese and Andrew Carlson founded Home Care Partners in 2018 to provide home-care services to the Lincoln community and, in that time, have experienced exponential growth, attributing much of their success to their Culture of Caring. In 2020, they hired 48 new team members who truly represent this culture.

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“There is nothing more rewarding than leading a team that chooses to make a difference,” Karla said. “They each model our Culture of Caring by providing service and value to others and, in doing so, experiencing great joy together with our clients. Families continue to give us great feedback about how their loved one is shining after their care-partner visits. They feel happy, healthy, safe, and loved.” Andrew said each year of business has presented new challenges, as the senior-care industry evolves, but they have adapted to provide the same quality care throughout: “2020 was a scary and lonely time, but we stayed positive and cared for seniors while keeping them safe and active,” he said. “We helped people manage their chronic conditions to reduce rehospitalizations, and we have supported families through the hospice journey in their homes with their families by their sides.” Home Care Partners of Nebraska delivers an affordable and comparable alternative to independent and assisted-living options, and additional support when needed for those already in a senior community. For more information, visit homecarepartnersofnebraska. com or call (402) 780-1211. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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Call 877-445-9462 or visit kineticbusiness.com/Lincoln to get connected to whatever comes next. Kinetic Business by Windstream: Limited-time offer. Offer available for new customers only. Subject to availability and all applicable terms and conditions. Promotional price requires a 24-month commitment. After promotional period, standard rates apply. Promoted prices include Fiber Internet with up to speeds based on speed qualification and dynamic IP. One Month Free: Qualifying new Kinetic Business Internet customers will receive a one-month credit to offset service charges for Kinetic broadband and broadband/voice bundle, fiber broadband and fiber broadband bundle, and dedicated internet over fiber broadband facilities. Customer will be responsible for all applicable equipment charges, taxes, surcharges and fees (excluding DAF). Contract may apply for Kinetic Business fiber broadband and dedicated internet over fiber services and Kinetic Business will waive the standard $200.00 Installation Fees. Business Class Internet: Windstream cannot guarantee speeds or uninterrupted, error-free service. Speed availability, capabilities and provisioning vary depending on network and terrain conditions, Internet, website, or network congestion, and customer geographical location. Windstream makes no representations related to download or upload speeds. Windstream assumes no responsibility or liability for interruption of services or service performance differences actual and advertised performance. In select areas, includes Internet transport, Internet access, and unlimited incoming calls. Outbound calls, except for toll free and 911, will be charged at 10 cents/minute. Operator Service and 411 will be charged at tariffed rates. No features or long-distance carrier rates allowed. Kinetic Business Internet Speed: Monthly fees may apply. For speeds over 25 Mbps, services are provisioned in a range including a minimum and maximum speed. Windstream will provision customer’s location for the fastest speed available within the available range at the time of order but cannot guarantee speed or uninterrupted, error-free service. Equipment: Up to $10 equipment fee may apply. Windstream-provided modems will be capable of in-business wireless networking, but devices supported by in-business wireless networking connections may experience speeds not equal to advertised speeds or the speed referenced in your High Speed Internet plan. With wireless networking, actual throughput speed may be impacted by several factors including interference from other equipment or devices at the location, distance from the modem, modem location, number and types of devices connected, physical obstructions, and time of day. To obtain advertised speed, connecting a device directly to the modem to provide a wired connection is recommended. Modem equipment must be returned upon termination, and if not, Windstream reserves the right to charge for the modem or a $100 fee. OfficeSuite UC: Requires 24-month contract. OfficeSuite UC requires 25 Mbps or greater internet connection. Always On: Limited-time offer. Windstream Internet connection required. Subject to wireless coverage availability and the Terms and Conditions and Acceptable Use Policy at www.windstream.com/Terms-and-Conditions/; if you have a written agreement with Windstream, those terms will control. Taxes, fees and other charges, equipment rentals, and one-time installation fee of $150 may apply. Requires 24-month commitment. Early termination fees apply. Windstream cannot guarantee speeds or uninterrupted, error-free service. Speed availability, actual performance, and provisioning may vary depending on customer location, terrain, Internet and network conditions, website traffic, and quality of customer equipment. This product does not support Static IPs while in 4G Failover mode. Windstream equipment required. Equipment must be returned upon termination, and if not, Windstream reserves the right to charge for unreturned equipment. Raydiant: Raydiant is an unaffiliated third party service provider of Windstream; to the fullest extent allowed by law, Windstream disclaims any and all liability for any services provided by Raydiant, regardless of whether the services are ordered through Windstream or directly with Raydiant. Please visit https://www.raydiant.com/terms-of-service/ to view the terms and conditions applicable to this service. © 2020 Windstream Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Kinetic and Windstream are registered service marks or trademarks of Windstream Services, LLC and/or its affiliates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

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BUSINESS NEWS Arnie’s Pet Food Store Delivers Simple Tips to Help You Leash Train Your Dog If your dog pulls on the leash when you’re out on a walk, listen up, because Arnie’s Pet Food Store Owner Dave Titterington has some simple tips to teach your canine companion to walk on a loose leash. In fact, he said, it’s relatively easy to do if you use the proper tools and techniques. Start by selecting a training collar. The three most popular are the Martindale slip collar, the pinch collar, and the simple choke-chain collar, which is what Dave uses. These collars are for training purposes or daily walks only; slip or pinch collars should never be used as your dog’s daily collar. Next, select a leash, usually 5 to 6 feet to allow your dog to go off trail to do their duty or sniff at an interesting odor. Avoid using a retractable leash.

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With your dog in a sitting position, hold the leash with just enough slack to keep your dog next to you. If your dog begins to pull as you start to walk, stop while giving the shortened leash a quick, firm snap, instructing your dog to sit. This quick snap will engage and quickly release the slip collar, sending the message that it’s not okay to pull. Repeat this procedure as needed; it may work in just two or three attempts, but it might take longer. Just be consistent, work with your dog, and treat them for following commands. It is well worth the time and effort, as it makes strolling through the neighborhood or going to public places more enjoyable for both of you! Arnie’s Pet Food Store is located in the Alamo Plaza at 56th and Highway 2. For more information, visit arniespetfoods.com or call (402) 904-3573.

Lights, Camera, Save! Teen Video Contest Underway at Lincoln Federal Savings Bank Lincoln Federal Savings Bank is accepting submissions for its Lights, Camera, Save! video contest. The contest, organized by the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation, is a national competition that encourages teens to use video to communicate the value of sound money management and inspire their peers to become lifelong savers. “Lights, Camera, Save! gives students an opportunity to harness their creativity, learn about using money wisely, and communicate those lessons with their peers,” said Marketing Coordinator Alyssa Rhoades. “A strong financial education is critical to a successful future, and we are thrilled to participate in a contest that reinforces that message.” To participate, students (ages 13–18) must create a video, 30 seconds or less, on using money wisely and submit a link to the video, along with a completed entry form, to Alyssa (arhoades@lincolnfed.com) by March 1, 2021. The contest is open to filmmakers of all experience levels. Lincoln Federal Savings Bank will host the first round of judging and select a winter to compete on the national level for several cash prizes, including $5,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third and fourth places. For the first time in Lights, Camera, Save! history, national contestants will go head-tohead in a bracket-style tournament on ABA’s Instagram page (@ americanbankersassociation). Additionally, Lincoln Federal Savings Bank will take the top three videos submitted locally and award $500 for first place and $100 each for second and third. The bank also will give each participant who chooses to open a checking or savings account a $10 opening deposit. To learn more about Lights, Camera, Save!, visit lightscamerasave. com. For more information about Lincoln Federal Savings Bank, go to lincolnfed.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

BUSINESS NEWS FNBO Customers, Public Help Raise Nearly Yield Champions Promotes Pro Ag 1 $113,000 to Share Joy through United Way Training Program to Grow Ag Profits During the month of December 2020, First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) raised $112,910 in donations to United Way affiliates across its geographic footprint on behalf of its customers. The initiative encouraged individuals throughout the communities that FNBO serves to Share Joy by donating to their United Way affiliates via an FNBO Share Joy donation microsite. As part of the campaign, FNBO matched 50 cents of every dollar donated, with a total match of $28,468. FNBO selected United Way as its Share Joy community partner because the nonprofit’s affiliates have been leading much of the work to combat the impact of COVID-19 by providing support to organizations addressing basic needs such as housing stability, food security, and other financial support. The bank’s contributions to Share Joy were made in partnership with its Business Customer segment and the Wealth Management division, as well as its Mortgage Banking division, which contacted its customers for support. The Share Joy microsite allowed contributors to designate their contributions to United Way affiliates in their communities. First National Bank of Omaha is a subsidiary of First National Bank of Nebraska. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas. For more information, visit fnbo.com and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@fnbo).

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

Yield Champions is promoting their Pro Ag 1 Training Program to help agricultural operations and businesses grow profits and enhance their crop yields. Through the program, agindustry experts from throughout the country will help producers understand soil science and basic microbiology and chemistry that can help take their farming operations to the next level. They’ll learn how to diagnose soil nutrient requirements, decrease costs, and increase yields. Following are the training program dates and locations for February and March: • February 10-11 – Wichita, KS • February 15-16 – Lincoln, NE • February 18-19 – Ankeny, IA • March 15-16 – Omaha, NE Yield Champions has had the privilege of working with some of the best crop producers in America for more than 40 years. They’ve been able to bring them information, resources, and creative and innovative concepts that have helped them go well over their previous levels of production, while reducing their input costs on both a per-bushel and per-acre basis. Their mission is to equip agricultural producers understand the challenges of the changing production industry. Their team of agricultural professionals can provide producers with online resources to help them explore all they have to offer and advise them about how to access their training program and products. For more information or to register for the Pro Ag 1 Training Program, visit yieldchampions.com or intensifymycrop.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Center Sphere Launches New Online Member Platform to Put Network in Members’ Hands Center Sphere is excited to announce their new online membership platform, the Member HUB, which launched in January. This new tech initiative is a big one for the company and puts The Network literally in the palm of members’ hands with their coinciding app as well. “This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time now,” said Center Sphere President Erin Pearson. “We’ve heard the requests from our members over the last few years, and the HUB was built entirely with them in mind and their needs.” Not only does the HUB allow access to all Center Sphere members nationwide, it allows them to track referrals, closed business, professional connections, gives access to local and nationwide events, and much, much more. “The HUB is undoubtedly the biggest initiative our organization has put forth in the last few years,” Pearson said, “and to be able to deliver a product to our members like this, a product that can assist them and their business so much, well it just underlines our mission and why we do what we do.” Center Sphere is an established network of business professionals whose mission is to share referrals, ideas, and resources through genuine relationships. The Lincoln Network is currently made up of nearly 50 chapters and has access to members nationwide. For more information about Center Sphere or to inquire about attending a complimentary meeting or event, visit www.CenterSphere.com or connect with Lincoln Area Director Cheryl Hansen at CherylHansen@ CenterSphere.com or (402) 499-2009.

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ALLO Expands Fiber Internet, TV, Phone to Fremont Businesses, Residents, Government ALLO Communications, a Nelnet Company, recently announced the expansion of fiber service to Fremont, giving local businesses, residents, and government entities access to internet, television, and phone solutions over an all-fiber network. Construction and hiring of the ALLO team began in January, with the initial construction area including the City of Fremont and Village of Inglewood. Adjacent lake communities and other developments will be considered for construction in 2022. “As a new member of the Fremont community, ALLO believes in being local, hiring local, and giving back to local organizations and nonprofits in meaningful ways,” said ALLO President Brad Moline. “Whether working in a local business, learning in a local school, or working and learning from home, ALLO will make Fremont an even more outstanding community to live, work, play, and thrive.” With the eventual 20 employees in Fremont, ALLO expects to expand its world-class service to team across Nebraska and Colorado to nearly 600. The City of Fremont is enthusiastic about the expansion, too. “We are thrilled that ALLO chose Fremont,” said Mayor Joey Spellerberg. “Their plan to build out a communitywide fiber optic will …benefit businesses and residences with greater choices for internet and entertainment. I welcome ALLO and look forward to working with them as we grow Fremont together.” Founded in Imperial in 2003, ALLO specializes in providing world-class communications services by creating gigabit communities. For more information about ALLO and the construction process in the expansion area, visit Allofiber.com/Fremont. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

OakElectricCompany.com ∙ 402-440-5969 Commercial ∙ Residential ∙ Industrial FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

BUSINESS NEWS

Bob Nohavec Plumbing

35th Annual Chocolate Lovers Fantasy to be Held Virtually on February 12

Service Remodeling New Construction Water Heaters Water Softeners 3400 S 6th St. | 402-420-1552

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

The 35th Annual Chocolate Lovers Fantasy is set Friday, February 12, at 7 pm. Just in time for Valentine’s Day! This year, the Historic Haymarket District is excited to be partnering with The Mill Coffee & Tea to present chocolate and wine tasting packages featuring local chocolatiers, bakeries, and restauranteurs. The packages will be delivered to up to 300 guests who will safely enjoy the event in the comfort of their own homes. Emcees, chefs, and wine experts will take the guests on a chocolate and wine tour during this interactive live Zoom event. A silent auction will also be part of the program. Not only is this event fun and yummy, but it is also a fundraising event to raise money for the Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation (LHDC). The Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation, a nonprofit board, is committed to continuing the economic development, revitalization, preservation, and growth of Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket District. LHDC provides community events such as the Haymarket Farmers’ Market and promotes educational tools like the Haymarket Walking Tour and Historic Building Plaques. To learn more and reserve your spot at this year’s virtual Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy, go to www.lincolnhaymarket.org.

Leadership Harbor Launches Transformation Tables to Inspire Community Conversations With a lack of trust, respect, and leadership running rampant in our world today, Leadership Harbor LLC is launc hing Transformation Ta b l e s , a t n o c o s t , t o bring community members together and facilitate honest conversations that draw people together and achieve change. Values-based and outcomes-driven, the discussions aim to develop, inspire, and equip leaders in eight streams of cultural influence for transformational impact—business, government, education, the church, family, media, the arts, and sports. Transformation Tables are a process that John Maxwell has used all over the world to reform leadership and effect change by discovering a common objective; developing a transformation agenda, designing an effective program, and deploying their initiatives. Leadership Harbor’s launch of Transformation Tables locally parallels the worldwide release of Maxwell’s just-released book, Change Your World. Leadership Harbor is looking for people in the Lincoln area who are interested in joining the conversation to help the community build trust. The process will include a longterm total of 36 sessions, with “tables” beginning in February and March as one-hour online sessions each week for six weeks. Leadership Harbor will facilitate—not coach—the free sessions to draw people together. If you can help make Lincoln a better place, why not join the conversation? Leadership Harbor LLC offers leadership, coaching, training, and speaking support and, again, is offering these Transformation Tables at no cost, simply to help bring the community together. If you’re interested in taking a seat at a Transformation Table, contact Kris Peterson at (402) 580-0947 or kris@leadershipharbor.com. Learn more online at leadershipharbor.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS HBE Merges with Marvin E. Jewell & Co. to Enhance CPA Firm’s Services HBE LLP, a leading Nebraska advisory and accounting firm, is pleased to announce a merger with the Lincoln firm of Marvin E. Jewell & Co., P.C. (MEJ) effective January 1. This combination, representing a partnership between two premier CPA firms with shared values, will provide enhanced services for clients and growth opportunities for team members. Founded in 1963, MEJ has served individuals and businesses for nearly 60 years. Now operating as one firm, MEJ and HBE will deliver a broader range of services, using the latest technology platforms, to an expanded client base throughout Nebraska and Iowa. MEF Owner Carmen Standley has joined HBE as a partner with the firm. She and the former MEJ team members will continue serving clients from their existing office, at 8215 Northwoods Dr., STE 300, in Lincoln. HBE is a leading provider of professional accounting and consulting services throughout Nebraska. Operating from multiple office locations in Lincoln, Norfolk, and Omaha, the firm offers a complete range of financial management services for businesses, not-for-profit and governmental organizations, niche industries, and individuals. These services include specialized advisory, tax, audit, data analytics, outsourced accounting and CFO solutions, personal financial planning, and wealth management. For more information, please visit www.hbecpa.com.

DOT Impact Study Indicates Lincoln Airport Delivers $1.3B per Year to Local Economy Results of a recent Department o f Tra n s p o r t a t i o n ( D OT ) Aeronautics Division economic impact study indicates that the Lincoln Airport (LNK) provides an overall impact of $1.3 billion per year on the local economy, including delivery of jobs and visitor spending. With commercial aviation hurting so intensely worldwide during the pandemic, the report indicates that, while a big part of LNK’s business is down, they are still making their mark on the economy via general aviation, military partners, and their industrial park, which are all thriving. LNK’s industrial park is one of the largest in the Midwest and is home to many local businesses that employ thousands of people in our community.

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Statewide, Nebraska’s airports are a dynamic and integral part of our state’s economy. The Nebraska Aviation Economic Impact Study helped measure the benefits provided by the state’s airport system. The airports in Nebraska are important economic engines, helping to provide more than 90,000 jobs in the state, with an overall impact of $8.6 billion annually. Aviation activity can greatly influence economic growth and development, too, as Lincoln Airport contributes toward $43.4 million in visitor spending and nearly 15,000 annual visitors (not including residents), who fly in, stay at hotels, eat at restaurants, rent cars, and transact business. Ideally located in Lancaster County, five miles northwest of downtown Lincoln, the Lincoln Airport is one of the 25 largest airports in the country in terms of land size. Geographically, it covers 5,500 acres and has three paved runways. The longest— measuring 12,901 feet—was once designated as an emergencylanding site for the Space Shuttle but was never used as such. Indeed, the airport has seen a world of change in its 100 years. For more information, visit lincolnairport.com. To view the impact study, go to lincolnairport.com/airport-improvements. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

We offer a FREE loaner vehicle while your vehicle is in for repairs or maintenance! STOP IN TODAY! 131 Russwood Parkway 402.486.9880 • inmotionautocare.com FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

If you know of a local, woman-owned business, tell Strictly Business about them!

MARCH 2021 ISSUE

Calling all Women-Owned Businesses! In the March 2021 issue of Strictly Business, we will run our biannual “Women-Owned Businesses” feature to highlight the businesses in Lincoln that are proudly owned and run by women.

“The world needs strong women. Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will.” – Amy Tenney

FEATURE INCLUDES: Strictly Business is direct mailed to over 10,000 businesses in Lincoln every month! With a 2–4 month shelf life and a pass-along readership, it’s estimated that 1 copy of the magazine could reach up to 5 people. Editorial features are published on our website as well. We are proud to have a strong online presence.

Photo of owner(s), business logo & 150-word write-up/quote

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

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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BUSINESS NEWS Lied Center Sells Tickets to February 20 Performance by Illusionist Mike Super The Lied Center for Performing Arts is now selling tickets to the February 20 performance by illusionist Mike Super, the winner of NBC’s hit show Phenomenon and a finalist on America’s Got Talent. Mike Super was a featured magician on Penn & Teller’s: Fool Us, and is the only magician in history to win a live magic competition on primetime TV. He’s also appeared on many other TV shows in the U.S. and abroad, including Fool US and Ellen. His upcoming Lied performance, which is part of his tour titled Mike Super Magic & Illusion, is an exciting family-friendly event filled with illusions, intrigue, danger, anticipation, and excitement. Many celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres and Chris Angel, have raved about the show. Tickets for the 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances are available for purchase online. Get them now before they sell out! The Lied Center for Performing Arts presents the world’s most iconic artists and major regional, national, and international performances. To learn more, call (402) 472-4747. Tickets to Mike Super Magic & Illusion are available online at liedcenter.org.

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LHRMA Announces 2021 Meeting Topics The Lincoln Human Resource Management Association (LHRMA) recently announced its monthly meeting topics for 2021. All topics are aimed at the LHRMA mission to provide for the interchange of ideas, ex p e r i e n c e s, a n d m e t h o d s concerning the relationships between management and employees, and to promote professional ethics and acquaintanceship among those involved in professional human-resource management. They are the go-to resource on people management for the community, connecting professionals to solve everyday problems, providing quality education, collaborating with community leaders, and leading the charge for the human-resource industry.

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RBC Wealth Management welcomes the Burt/Adams Group Strengthening your financial securitySM Let’s connect today. Call 402-465-3804 or visit www.burtadamsgroup.com

Kicking off the year, the January 2021 webinar featured Delight Deloney of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) talking about diversity and inclusion. Looking forward, topics up for discussion include Effects on Employers: Election Outcomes/ Supreme Court Make-up for February; Promoting Self-Care/ Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace for March; Fierce Conversations in April; legislative update and May SHRM Foundation Basket Raffle in May; HR Executive Panel – Preparing to be a CHRO in June; Benefit Trends – Preparing for Open Enrollment in July; HR Nebraska State Conference in August; Data Driven Decision Making – HR Analytics for September; Disability Employment Awareness in October; legal updates in November; and wrapping up the year in December with a member social. Annual dues for membership in the Lincoln Human Resource Management Association are $75 per individual, based on the calendar year. If you want more information about meetings, want to renew your membership, or are interested in joining LHRMA, visit lincolnhr.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

BUSINESS NEWS Nebraska Bankers Association Offers $2K Scholarship to Students Studying Business

Firespring Joins UN Global Compact to Power Headquarters Sustainably

The Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA) is offering a $2,000 scholarship to up to 10 college students who are interested in banking. Interested students submitted their applications by February 1; those chosen will receive their scholarship for the following academic year. The scholarships will be distributed to up to 10 students who are legal residents of Nebraska and are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in finance, accounting, economics, marketing, or another banking-related major at one of Nebraska’s state- or privately-funded colleges or universities (excluding the University of Nebraska). Those chosen for the scholarship will have been taking classes full-time and will have achieved at least a junior- or senior-level status by this coming fall with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The NBA is awarding these scholarships in memory of William B. “Bill” Brandt, who served with them for 25 years as a long-time general counsel and lobbyist. NBA is grateful to contribute to Nebraska’s next generation of bankers. Founded in 1890, the Nebraska Bankers Association is the voice of Nebraska’s $77.9 billion banking industry, which comprises small, regional, and large banks that together employ more than 15,000 people and safeguard nearly $67.1 billion in deposits. To learn more, or to inquire about the scholarship, call (402) 474-1555 or visit nebankers.org.

Firespring has joined United Nations Global Compact—the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative—and is now powering its headquarters sustainably through renewable energy credits (RECs). The program, administered by local public power utility Lincoln Electric System, allows businesses to purchase clean energy without having to buy and install their own renewable energy generators, like solar panels or wind turbines. Instead, the purchase of RECs supports clean power production, reduces customers’ carbon footprint, and effectively powers homes and businesses entirely through renewable energy. Firespring’s main location at 1201 Infinity Ct. in Lincoln is now 100% powered by clean energy. “At Firespring, we’ve always believed in finding a better way and lifting our community, and we can apply both of these obligations to this pivotal movement for our environment,” Founder and CEO Jay Wilkinson said. Wilkinson has added his signature to over 1,200 others from 100 different countries to the UN’s Statement from Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation, which underscores the need for international business owners to fight issues affecting the environment. Firespring is one of the largest marketing communications firms in the Midwest, providing print, creative, website, and IT solutions for over 6,000 brands, businesses, and nonprofits all over the world. For more information on Firespring or their sustainability efforts, call (402) 437-0000 or visit firespring.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS

A Full-Service Commercial Real Estate Appraisal Firm

Toastmasters District 24 Sponsors February Frenzy, March Madness Membership Drives While public speaking is a key element to Toastmasters, connecting with others is the real reward, and the District 24 clubs in the area are sponsoring February Frenzy and March Madness membership drives to share that reward with more people. These drives give guests a chance to join a club meeting, meet new people, and learn about Toastmasters’ many benefits. Members signing up during these months will receive a commemorative Toastmasters coin, and the clubs with the most new members will receive recognition from Toastmasters International, a ribbon to display on their club banner, and discounts or gift certificates for the Toastmasters store to use for club members and resources. Both the club and guest benefit when an individual visits a Toastmasters club; both parties get the chance to network and connect, share diverse ideas, and hear new perspectives within a supportive environment, where no matter how inexperienced you are, you will receive applause for speaking (or sometimes, jazz hands, which work better for Zoom meetings). Best of all, it’s never been easier to join a club meeting. While guests are always welcome to attend club meetings for free with no obligation to get up and speak, most clubs meet entirely online! Those interested can find a schedule of online club meeting times at meetup.com/District-24-Toastmasters-Meetup. Toastmasters International empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Toastmasters District 24 includes over 60 clubs and 1,000 members across Nebraska and Council Bluffs, IA. To learn more, visit d24tm.org, toastmasters.org/resources, or follow them on Facebook (@D24TM).

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CBD American Shaman Introduces Bath Bombs, Valentine’s Day Bundle Specials CBD American Shaman announced the recent arrival of a new product— American Shaman Bath Bombs, plus various bundle specials in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The CBD Bath Bombs deliver a lavish retreat for your mind, body, and spirit, as you indulge yourself in nature’s best ingredients for maximum wellness. You’ll get 30mg of CBD per bomb, available in three scents, including lavender and lilac, mint and tea tree, and soothing oatmeal. Valentine’s Day bundles include skincare and pet product collections. What’s more, while you’re at your favorite American Shaman store in Lincoln to pick up your favorite products, you’ll get a free sample to help you explore all the things that CBD can do for you! CBD bath bombs are just like regular bath bombs, but they contain CBD hemp extract. If you’ve used bath bombs, you understand the extra-relaxing experience they add to your bath. The new CBD Bath Bombs will provide your bath with a relaxing smell and color, plus all the relaxing properties of CBD oil. The oil in the bath bombs can help you maintain skin revitalization, provide support for normal everyday stress, and may help relieve everyday muscle aches, in addition to promoting quality sleep, joint flexibility and function, and removal of impurities from your body. CBD American Shaman is U.S. Hemp Authority® Certified and is among the only CBD producers in the United States that uses proprietary nanotechnology, making their products nine times more bioavailable than other CBD products. For more information, visit cbdoflincoln.com, contact local Franchise Owner Lance Schroeder at (531) 500-3672, or email lincolnamshaman@gmail.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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

by Kayla Northrup, Senior Account Manager

A Health Insurance Refund, Really? Yes!

Self-funded health plans are a staple in the large employer market, but over the last few years, a health plan concept called Level Funded has become very popular for small employers. Level Funded plans give small employers an option for coverage outside of the heavily-regulated ACA market. We encourage our clients to look into Level Funded plans and find that most employers who qualify choose to move to a level funded plan due to the cost savings and benefit customization that’s available. For the most part, once active, level funded plans operate like a traditional health plan for both the employer and the employees. However, one surprising aspect of a level funded plan is the potential for a refund. Here’s how this works. A portion of premiums paid each month goes towards funding an account from which claims are paid. If the plan experiences lower claims than expected, the insurance company typically refunds a portion of that surplus to the employer in the form of a check or credit on a future billing statement. We receive a lot of questions from employers on how to disburse this refund. The guidelines below will provide you with a general overview. Please consult with your tax or legal advisor for specific questions. Dividing and distributing refund: Employers should divide and distribute refund money based upon who paid for the insurance. If the employer paid for the entire premium, then no part of the rebate is due to employees. If the employer and employees shared premium costs, then the refund should be split pro-rata according to contribution. The portion of the rebate that is attributable to employer contributions belongs to the employer and can be used for whatever purposes they choose. Refund allocation to employees: Employers can calculate and distribute rebates based upon current enrollees of the plan or enrollees who were on the plan during the time period that the refund was based upon. It is not necessary to send a refund to former employees. We find that most employers choose to use the funds to reduce an employee’s future premium costs, basically as a credit against their payroll deductions, but it is allowable to pay out funds with a cash refund to employees. Tax requirements for refund: There are tax requirements for this refund. If employee premiums were paid with pre-tax dollars, such as through a Section 125 plan, then the refund is taxable income to the employee. Employers must also pay taxes on their share of the refund since the premium payments were a deduction when paid out. Our clients frequently receive refunds and they can often be a significant amount. A level funded plan will require some extra work, but if you take a step back and think about the idea of a health insurance plan that can refund you money, it’s so worth it!

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SMALL BUSINESS. BIG SUPPORT.

Small business, you’re the engine that makes our communities thrive. That’s why we’re with you, providing more for you. So you can focus on what matters most.

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STAR CITY SIX

VICTOR

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5 ELEMENTS MASSAGE & SPA 5 Elements Massage & Spa welcomes clients of all ages to come in for massage therapy treatments that are adjusted according to an individual’s specific condition, physical limitations, and personal needs. Victor Zweerink is a massage therapist at 5 Elements Massage & Spa. Tell us a little about your business. - 5 Elements, located in a new space at 6201 S 58th St., specializes in Swedish, therapeutic, pre-natal, and many more types of massages. We also have an esthetician on staff to carry out our more extensive spa packages. Massage therapy is the manipulation of the body's soft tissues. The purpose is generally for the treatment of body stresses and pain. How did you get started in the business? - Because I am tall, the world is not built for me. I experience pain from bending over, ducking down, etc. I wanted to learn how to relieve my pain and the pain of others who are in the same boat, so I went to Myotherapy Institute for Massage in Lincoln. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - I am a 6'5", 300-pound male in a female dominated industry...so I've had to overcome some prejudice along the way. I've been able to gain the trust of many clients, showing them I have the skills and ethics to treat them well. What has been your most important achievement professionally? - Joining the 5 Elements team. Before Owner Erin McLenon brought me on, I had no support and was struggling to get my name out there. Tell us a little about your family. - I am married to a wonderfully supportive wife. We have a two-year-old son together. My father has passed but my mother is still alive. I also have two older brothers and two younger sisters. What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - Honestly, meeting my wife and having her support to get my license. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Play video games with my kid, have some quality Dungeons & Dragons time with friends, and cook delicious food! What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - "Do, or do not, there is no try!" – Jedi Grandmaster Yoda If you had a theme song, what would it be? - Well, I did walk down the aisle to "The Imperial March", so... If you could have a super power, what would it be? - Field energy manipulation. Which talent would you most like to have? - Interpersonal communication skills. If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - A professional house spouse. It even has the benefit of rhyming! What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Amtgard International—great group of folks. What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - Mistborn from Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere Series. What is your favorite movie? - The Star Wars trilogy and The Lord of the Rings. What is your favorite TV show? - Boy Meets World (got to love Mr Feeny), Burn Notice, and a variety of comedy shows. What is your favorite local restaurant? - AmuManu Ramen Bar. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? (402) 617-7992; 5elementsne.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

STAR CITY SIX

DELTA

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* THE MECHANIX GARAGE The Mechanix Garage offers clean and month honest auto services and repairs, as well as, First 3 months @ $4.95/mo. customization of your off road vehicles in with installation cost of $149; after introductory period, rental is $23/mo. Lincoln. Delta Nelson is the owner of The Mechanix Garage. Tell us a little about your business. - By listening first to all Shop and compare at ilovemywater.com iLoveMyWater.com of our customers’ questions and concerns, we make sure that we handle everything they need and that they drive away completely TEMS WAT E R S OF N E R S · DRINKING SYS satisfied. Our team members love helping others and take it upon TE themselves to treat every customer fairly. We’ve established ourselves as industry leaders by achieving the highest customer Be the office sweetheart satisfaction of anyone in our area. We’re striving to keep it that with Greenfield’s Catering! way! As a result, they usually tell their friends and family about 2020AquaSystems_3_68x2_41.indd 1 3/19/20 10:58 AM us, and we couldn’t be more proud of our reputation. How did you get started in the business? - I grew up around the auto industry my entire life, starting with my great-grandparents. I have been around everything from working on race cars to working in an auto repair shop. To now, owning my own shop. C AT E R I N G What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Ooo La La, BREAKFAST * BRUNCH * LUNCH the biscuit - Even in 2021, the automotive industry is still primarily a male & DINNER CATERING French toast! dominated industry. As a female, it takes a little more to promote my knowledge and experience. CALL US TODAY! What has been your most important achievement professionally? IN THE MONTH OF FEB - Although owning my own company is a great achievement, it really Open Daily 7am-2pm comes down to the relationships I have developed over the years www.greenfieldscafe.com EXPIRES: 3/1/21 SB0103 with my customers and my fellow colleagues in the industry. From Not valid with any other offers 87th & Hwy 2 that, I was asked to be a member of the Women’s Car Council, now the Car Care Council Women’s Board. This organization is comprised of professionals dedicated to providing opportunities, education and career leadership to women in the auto care industry. Tell us a little about your family. - My husband Stacey and I have been married for eight years. Together we have three children: Garrett and his wife Brittany, Kylie and her husband Nick, and Kolby who is graduating from high school this May. We also have four amazing Plumbing grandchildren: Beau, Lane, Kodie, and Briggs. Without the support Faucets & Sinks | Toilets & Urinals | Showers & Tubs | Disposals & Drain Lines and love of my family, none of this would be possible. Dishwashers & Water Lines | Water Heaters & Sump Pumps What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - Working in other auto shops and experiencing the dire lack HEATING & COOLING of integrity of other owners, encouraged me to open my own facility Furnace Service & Installation | AC Service & Installation | Air Quality Specialists that can offer honest repairs with integrity. With integrity there also needs to be empathy to customers and their needs. Geothermal Systems | Commercial & Residential What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - With our kids and grandchildren, we love to go off-roading. We have taken our Jeeps and side by sides to the mountains, sand dunes, and down rivers. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Your crown has been bought and paid for. Put it on your head and wear it.” – Maya Angelou Who inspires you? - My children have always been my biggest inspirations. They each have taught me some of the most important life lessons a person could have. From unconditional love to learning to pick what battles are worth fighting for. Without them, I would not be the person I am today. If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “State of my Head” by Shinedown. We have all had a time in our lives where we have had to adapt to certain circumstances, whether good or bad. This song, to me, is a reminder there are events I can control and events I cannot. It Call us today ! is only up to me to how I allow the event to affect me. (402) 466-8118 If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (531) 249-1899; mec hanix.lincoln@gmail.com; w w w.biggerstaf fs.com themechanixgarage.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 23 YOU SAVE

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MCKINNEY’S IRISH PUB AND TIPSY TINA’S TACO CANTINA McKinney's Irish Pub and Tipsy Tina's Taco Cantina are locally owned restaurants/ bars in Lincoln's downtown Haymarket District. Nathan Stewart is a co-owner of McKinney's Irish Pub and Tipsy Tina's Taco Cantina. Tell us a little about your business. - McKinney's was started in 2013. We're known for our great selection of craft beer and Irish whiskeys. Our kitchen also serves up delicious and dynamic spin-offs of your favorite bar foods with daily specials throughout the week. Tipsy Tina's just opened within the past year, but we feel like we've done a good job of establishing ourselves already. People love coming in for street tacos and a few drinks. We have over 140 types of tequilas and 40 types of mezcals! We make all of our salsas, dips, and dressings from scratch. How did you get started in the business? - I started as a bus boy in the restaurant industry when I was 15. I went on to eventually manage food and beverage for a Holiday Inn before taking the leap to open up my own establishment.

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What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - COVID has taken a hit on everyone in the hospitality industry, but I'm grateful to be in Lincoln where we have such a supportive community. What has been your most important achievement professionally? - Opening Tipsy Tina's during COVID is something I'm very proud of. Tell us a little about your family. - I'm from Grand Island. I moved to Lincoln for college. My wife Shandie and I have been married since 2010. We have a three-year-old named Mccallynn, a 14-year-old named Burlyn, and a German Shepherd name Nacho. What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? Deciding to become a business owner. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy golfing and working on my Corvette. Who inspires you? - The owner of Dreisbach's Steakhouse in Grand Island, where I got my start in the industry. He taught me a lot. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Go big or go home! If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Kind. If you had a theme song, what would it be? - "Livin' On The Edge" by Aerosmith. What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - Photography. It's a passion of mine I've done on the side for about five years. Which talent would you most like to have? - I wouldn't mind being a little better at golf.

Jan

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - The Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Grand Island and Clinic with a Heart. We participate in their golf tournament each year.

Jim

What is your favorite movie? - Caddyshack. What is your favorite TV show? - Dexter. If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Tom Cruise.

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If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? (402) 217-3021; info@mckinneyspublincoln.com; mckinneyspublincoln. com / tipsytinas.wordpress.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

OLE’S Boot & Shoe Repair

STAR CITY SIX

CONNOR

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Connor Carstens

1-800 WATER DAMAGE 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, formally Delta Restoration Services, offers water, fire, mold, and sewage mitigation and full reconstruction services. Connor Carstens is the estimator/technician at 1-800 WATER DAMAGE. Tell us a little about your business. - We specialize in cleaning up and restoring emergencies. Things like bursting pipes in the winter, dishwasher/refrigerator lines breaking that cause unwanted water to go under your kitchen floor or into walls, or failing sump pump that causes your entire basement to flood...the list goes on. We also do a lot of mold cleanup and deodorization. Leaking pipes behind walls or a leaking foundation or a lack of proper ventilation in an area with excess moisture that hits the right temperature and humidity can cause mold to spread rapidly. We also do fire restoration and do reconstruction. We’ve done a job where a skunk got into the house and sprayed over the basement so we really can help you out with any emergency that happens in your home or business. How did you get started in the business? - I have been helping my dad with restoration work since I was a kid. After graduating from UNL, my parents and I decided to expand our services and open up 1-800 WATER DAMAGE. Tell us a little about your family. - I am thankful that most of my family lives around Lincoln. We spend a lot of time together—having cookouts, playing games (Catan, Ticket to Ride), and spending time outside are some of our favorite things to do.

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What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy spending time at state parks, fishing, hiking, and swimming. What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I love the sport of wrestling. I coach at Lincoln Southwest and enjoy sharing my knowledge of the sport with others. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - In my line of work, different complications arise a lot. My parents taught me to “adapt, overcome, and achieve,” which has helped me a lot. If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Kind.

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If you could have a super power, what would it be? - Every time I snap my fingers, the most delicious pastries and sweets would appear. If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - College wrestling coach. What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - I don’t read as much as I would like, but I loved the Harry Potter Call for a free series growing up.

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What is your favorite movie? - The Wolf of Wall Street.

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What is your favorite local Lincoln restaurant? - I love me a good Cheesesteak from CheeseSteak Grille. Vincenzo’s Ristorante downtown is also very good. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 318-3737 / (402) 570-8090; connor.carstens@1800waterdamage. com; 1800waterdamage.com/lincoln. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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STAR CITY SIX

KELSI

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CountryHouse Residence for Memory Care provides personalized Alzheimer’s care in an active and supportive community. Kelsi Hutchison is the senior living care consultant at CountryHouse Residence for Memory Care. Tell us a little about your business. - We are a highly skilled team of dementia practitioners who provide customized care to those in need of a safe, active, and knowledgeable environment. We genuinely care about your loved one as if they were our own. Helping them find joy in everyday moments is our mission. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - The lack of communities that support memory care here in Nebraska. CountryHouse is playing a very important role in the memory care community but, unfortunately, we can only do so much. I feel it is an issue that has yet to be exposed and unfortunately those we love most are at a disadvantage, especially in our rural communities. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in Nebraska, seventh is diabetes. It is a disease that should not go unnoticed. What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? Graduating from Doane University was a big turning point. Obtaining my degree opened a lot of different doors, and I was able to entertain multiple different career paths. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - My husband and I have a one-year-old Labrador named Boone, and anytime we can take him hunting or hiking is always fun. We enjoy traveling and tend to base our vacations around restaurants we would like to try. We’re currently looking at a trip to Kalispell, MT and Glacier National Park in the summer. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you have ever received? - “You can’t always be the strongest or the most talented or the most gifted person in the room, but you can be the most competitive.” - Pat Summit, Tennessee volunteer women’s basketball coach. Pat competed against dementia fiercely until 2016. I have always believed in this quote during athletics, but I feel it rings true to those fighting dementia as well. If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “Call Me” by Blondie. I think this works with my position here at CountryHouse. I am always happy to help, all you have to do is, “Call me, call me any, call me anytime!” Which talent would you most like to have? - I truly wish I would have taken piano more seriously when I was younger. Being able to sit down and just play would be a gift. I know if my mom is reading this she is saying, “I told you so.” What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - The Longest Day through the Alzheimer Association. Not only does this organization influence my day to day, but their mission to raise awareness by “doing something you love for someone you love” is a wonderful concept that can impact all those affected by the disease. What is your favorite local restaurant? - I am what some would describe as a “foodie” and a total sucker for breakfast, so if I could compile the perfect breakfast using Lincoln restaurants, it would be: Cultiva’s French Press and The Lumberjack Johnny Cakes, Virginia’s Café’s hash browns, and Stauffer’s Café’s raspberry muffin. If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Nellie Bly. Being an investigative “stunt” journalist during the 1800s would have been fascinating. Her writing led to many changes within the mental health community. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? (402) 992-8061; khutchison@countryhouse.net; www.countryhouse.net/l/ lincoln-nebraska; or come to CountryHouse on 27th and Old Cheney. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

STAR CITY SIX

NATHANIEL

Nathaniel Burnett

REGA ENGINEERING GROUP Nathaniel Burnett is the vice president at REGA Engineering Group in Lincoln. Tell us a little about your business. - REGA Engineering, now licensed in 12 states, specializes in engineering and surveying services. As a full-service civil engineering firm, REGA offers experience in residential land development, commercial site development, ALTA Survey’s, Floodplain Development and Landscape Architecture. REGA’s multi-state experience has helped us grow in our knowledge and problem solving abilities. Recently, REGA joined with I-eng-A to become equipped to do forensic engineering through the State of Nebraska. How did you get started in the business? - After graduating with my master’s degree at UNL, I was hired at REGA in 2011. It has been a great adventure over the past 10 years and I have enjoyed the variety of projects we have worked on. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Learning to communicate in all different types of relationships (client, consultants, city staff, etc.) especially in a digital age. What has been your most important achievement professionally? - Becoming a licensed professional engineer. It has challenged me to grow in my knowledge of engineering and opened doors to projects in Kansa, New Mexico, Nebraska, and soon Minnesota. Tell us a little about your family. - I’ve been married to my wife Rachel for 10 years. We are celebrating the newest addition to our family, Felicity Burnett. She was born on January 2 of this year and has three loving sisters and two brothers. What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - Marrying my wife Rachel. She has been my biggest supporter. We’ve walked through a lot in the 10 years we’ve been married and she has been a great friend. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Hanging out with the family. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - "I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it." – Charles Swindoll If you could have a super power, what would it be? - To make our six kids sleep through the night…haha. Which talent would you most like to have? - Automotive repair skills. What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Rachel and I serve as the directors of worship and production at Crossroads Church. Rachel is an amazing singer, and I play drums typically twice a month. We are really excited about many talented youth we’ve worked with who are starting to serve on the team. Not only have we helped in their musical talents, but it is also fun to help them grow in their understanding of Jesus Christ. What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - The Bible. It helps me fix my mind on eternal things not the temporal we so often worry about. What is your favorite TV show? - Seinfeld. What is your favorite local restaurant? - Lazlo’s. I really enjoy their prime rib enchiladas. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 484-7342 (REGA office number); nate@regaeng. com; www.regaengineering.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

5600 s 48th St 402.423.2206 staufferscafe.com Facebook.com/stauffersCafe/

“Food that Grandma Makes” M-F: 6am-8pm Sat: 6am-2pm Sun: Closed

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Attorneys at Law Sanford J. Pollack John C. Ball Heather S. Colton

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self care isn’t selfish! when was the last time you got a massage? 6201 S 58th St., STE A | Lincoln, NE 5elementsne.com | (402) 617-7992 FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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PERSONNEL NEWS Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery Welcomes Joey Peck as Funeral Director/Embalmer Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery recently welcomed Joseph “Joey” Peck as funeral director/embalmer. Originally from North Platte, Joey decided to enter into the mortuary field after the passing of his uncle. He studied mortuary science and received his certification from Des Moines Area Community College. At Wyuka, Joey supervises and cares for the deceased in a respectful manner while performing a variety of tasks related to embalming. He takes calls, talks with families, answers questions, provides initial details, and assists with contracts and legal documents. Established in 2000, Wyuka Funeral Home is committed to preserving Wyuka Cemetery’s rich heritage and beauty. With their pre-planning guidance and helpful staff, Wyuka can give you peace of mind in times of mourning. Whether you want a traditional funeral, cremation, or memorial service, Wyuka has the experience to get it done in a smooth and compassionate way. The cemetery is located at 3600 O St. Call (402) 474-3600 for more information or go online to wyuka.com.

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Lincoln Federal Savings Bank Announces Engelman Promotion, Wyatt Retirement Lincoln Federal Savings Bank recently announced the promotion of Adam Engelman to assistant vice president – loan servicing at their corporate office in Lincoln and recognized Donna Wyatt for entering a well-deserved retirement after nine years as senior vice president, deposit banking manager, and giving decades of service to the banking industry. Adam worked in customer service roles for nearly 20 years. In 2015, he began his banking career with Lincoln Federal Adam Engelman Savings Bank as a customer ser vice representative. With his knowledge and experience, it wasn’t long before he was promoted to customer service supervisor and now to assistant vice president – loan servicing. In his new role, Adam will be working to enhance the bank’s servicing interfaces and to create efficiencies in the loan boarding process. Donna came to Lincoln Federal Savings Bank with 40 years of banking experience. In her time at the bank, she was able to Donna Wyatt contribute to the positive culture; many employees have noted her upbeat outlook, kind heart, and willingness to help anywhere she was needed. Donna was integral in developing new deposit banking products, planning annual conferences, and managing the entire deposit administration and supervisory staff, as well as completing tasks related to her duties of BSA officer. In retirement, Donna looks forward to spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, and doing all the things she loves. Lincoln Federal Savings Bank is a depositor-owned financial institution specializing in residential home loans, construction loans, home equity loan products, commercial real estate loans and deposit services. The Corporate Office is at 8400 Maddox Dr. (84th and Van Dorn) and can be reached by phone at (402) 474-1400. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

402-476-8888 | 5100 N. 27th St. Lincoln, NE

Old Cheney Rehabilitation Introduces New Maintenance Director Michael Pleasant Old Cheney Rehabilitation announced the recent hiring of Maintenance Director Michael Pleasant, a man whose name appropriately matches his pleasant personality. Michael couldn’t be more perfect for the position. He has about 30 years of experience in commercial and residential maintenance, about four years of experience as a property manager, and about 3.5 years of serving as a nursing assistant at two hospitals in Lincoln. Oh, and he loves people. “I think I’ve found my home,” Michael said about working at Old Cheney Rehab. “The atmosphere and environment is just what I’ve been hoping for in a job. I just like to see people smile and be happy, and the employees at Old Cheney give residents everything they need to be happy, and then some. They also treat their employees really nice, which has a big influence on how well the employees take care of the residents. I’ve always been a people person, and in all the years of maintenance I’ve done, I’ve met great people, but nothing like those at Old Cheney!” Director of Facilities Eric Rose says the same thing about Michael: “Michael brings a selfless attitude for our patients and our team daily. He is talented and shows willingness to go above and beyond for everyone in so many ways. We are grateful to have him.” In his new role at Old Cheney, Michael is responsible for keeping up all rooms and all building maintenance and equipment, inside and out. Maybe his favorite task so far, though, was playing Santa Clause over the Christmas holiday, going into residents’ rooms and taking pictures with them. That day, he got to make lots of people smile. For more information about Old Cheney Rehabilitation, visit oldcheneyrehab.com or call (531) 739-3200. FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 29

PERSONNEL NEWS Immanuel Welcomes Emily Tonniges to Head Community Foundation

SP Group Welcomes Back Returning Tax Season Interns Livia Wilhelm, Trevin Little

Immanuel, the Midwest leader in retirement living and senior services, is pleased to welcome Emily Tonniges as director of the Immanuel Community Foundation. As director, Tonniges oversees funds that annually support retirement community residents, Immanuel Pathways PACE® (Program of Allinclusive Care for the Elderly) participants and employees. Foundation efforts support Immanuel capital improvements, programming, special projects and more. In her new role, Tonniges will also work closely with Immanuel’s Vision Foundation, a grant program that has provided over $11 million to community organizations. A Hastings native, Tonniges is also a graduate from Colorado College. With a diverse professional background, Tonniges has a passion for helping others. She has been heavily involved with area organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Omaha Performing Arts, Papillion La Vista Community Theatre, Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce, Sarpy CASA, Voices for Children, and many others. The Immanuel Community Foundation supports the organization’s mission of Christ-centered service to seniors, each other, and the community. To learn more, visit immanuel.com/immanuel-foundations/ community-foundations.

SP Group, P.C., a growing entrepreneurial accounting firm, is pleased to welcome back its returning tax season interns, Livia Wilhelm and Trevin Little. After their pandemic-shortened internships last year, SP Group is excited to have them on the team again. A product of small-town Nebraska, Livia hails from Syracuse, which influenced her decision to attend Nebraska Wesleyan University. Her activities include participation in Professional Business Leaders and Student Affairs Senate. She’s currently serving as a TeamMates mentor and actively takes part in the intramural sports program at NWU. Other interests include supporting all Husker sports, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Trevin is a recent graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and is in the process of taking the IRS Enrolled Agent exams. He loves to travel and takes advantage of every opportunity to do so. Trevin has been to every Major League Baseball stadium and spends summers playing golf with his buddies. During quarantine, he took on the task of teaching himself how to play the guitar via YouTube and now enjoys learning many country songs with his new talent. As a Lincoln native, he will forever be a diehard Husker fan. SP Group, P.C. serves growth-oriented companies and talented individuals in the Midwest. For more information, call (402) 4207758, visit www.spgrouppc.com, or follow SP Group on Facebook (@ SPGroup,P.C.) and Twitter (@SPGroupPC).

Nebraska Rep Theater Celebrates Hagemeier Retirement, Hiring of Ganser in New Role The Nebraska Repertory Theatre of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film is celebrating the retirement of General Manager Julie Hagemeier after an illustrious 25+ years of service and, in light of her departure, the hiring of Tim Ganser as Managing Marketing Director. The Managing Marketing Director responsibilities include promotion, publicity, community relations, management of the administrative offices of the Johnny Carson School of Julie Hagemeier Theatre and Film, and more. A Carson School alumna who has served as General Manager or Managing Director since 1995, Julie officially retired on January 4, though she remains on as a part-time consultant until spring to transition tasks to Ganser. “People like Julie and others have built a solid foundation from which to grow,” said Carson School Director Christina Kirk. An alumnus with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Theatre from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ganser has Tim Ganser served as an equity stage manager, worked as both a theatre and television director-producer and, most recently, managed NET’s “Coming Home: Nebraska” project. He also served as vice president international for Nielsen EDI in Los Angeles, has worked as a casting manager at Warner Bros Television, and has held multiple leadership positions in the entertainment industry. His expertise includes sales and marketing strategy, budgeting and financial reporting, negotiations and partnerships, and new-market development. The Nebraska Repertory Theatre is the state’s only professional regional theatre. For more information, visit nebraskarep.org, call (402) 472-2072, or email Tim at tganser2@unl.edu. 30 Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

Union Bank & Trust Hires Anita Schinstock for Talent Acquisition, Diversity, Inclusion Union Bank & Trust (UBT) is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Anita Schinstock as Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Schinstock brings 10 years of general human resources, talent acquisition, learning and development, and diversity and inclusion experience to her new role, in which she will be responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing UBT’s recruitment and talent alignment strategy. In addition, Schinstock will be responsible for leading UBT’s diversity and inclusion efforts with a focus on recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. Schinstock graduated from Peru State College in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Performance & Systems Management. She has begun pursuing a Master of Arts in Management with a focus in Human Resource Management. She holds an Improving Human Performance Certificate and is involved with the Society for Human Resource Management, Lincoln Human Resource Management Association, Lincoln Young Professionals Group, Leadership Lincoln Academy for Local Leadership Advocates Class XI, and Lincoln Public Schools Citizens Academy & Ambassador. Schinstock serves her community as a Board of Directors member for LAUNCH Leadership, governance committee and volunteer staff member, and Junior Achievement classroom volunteer. Union Bank & Trust is a privately owned Nebraska bank that offers complete banking, lending, investment, and trust services. The bank has 38 full-service and loan-production offices in Nebraska and Kansas. It is the third-largest privately owned bank in Nebraska, with bank assets of $5.4 billion and trust assets of $28.6 billion as of June 30, 2020. For more information, visit ubt.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS Guiderock Commercial Realty Added Tara Galaviz to Brokerage Team in January

Star City Dental Welcomes Dr. Mimi Mebarek Long to Team of Associates

Guiderock Commercial Realty LLC is pleased to announce that Tara Galaviz joined its brokerage team in January. Tara has more than 20 years of experience in commercial real-estate services and a deep knowledge about local markets and trends, making her a valuable resource to clients.

Dr. Meghan Hungerford, Dr. Melanie Fulton, and the whole team at Star City Dental are excited to introduce Lincoln to their new associate, Dr. Malika “Mimi” Mebarek Long. Dr. Mimi graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in 2014. She is passionate about dentistry and about providing her patients with the highest quality of dental care. Dr. Mimi makes it her priority to consider each patient’s comfort first and foremost by providing detailed discussions, gentle dentistry, empathy, and compassion.

“Tara brings genuine care for her clients’ needs, in addition to a wealth of knowledge about commercial real estate in Lincoln and Omaha,” said Cathy Kottwitz, owner of Guiderock Commercial Realty LLC. “Her leadership and dedication to service are qualities that we greatly value.” In her spare time, Tara enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, playing volleyball, shooting pool, traveling, and doing some volunteer work for her favorite nonprofits. Guiderock Commercial Realty is a Lincoln-based commercial real estate firm providing services for business owners and investors. For more information, visit www.guiderockrealty.com or contact Cathy Kottwitz at (402) 421-7474 / cathy@guiderockrealty.com.

Berry Law Attorneys Hancock, Wilson Named to 2021 Lawyer’s List of Midwest Trailblazers Berry Law attorneys Jerusha Hancock and Mike Wilson were recently named to The American Lawyer’s of 2021 inaugural list Midwest Trailblazers. They will both be featured in an April 2021 issue of the legal publication of The National Law Journal, the premiere source for timely legal news and analysis. The prestigious award recognizes professionals who have moved the needle in the legal industry—professionals who are truly Trailblazers. The 2021 Midwest Trailblazer awards shed particular light Jerusha Hancock on attorneys who have pressed forward throughout the pandemic and the renewed conversation about who we are as a country by taking extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes. Jerusha is a zealous advocate for the rights of Veterans, focusing her practice on appealing Veterans Administration (VA) rating decisions from the Lincoln office. She is the lead attorney for Berry Law’s VA practices, is a member of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates, and is a VA accredited attorney. Mike Wilson Mike works from Berry Law’s Omaha office and has devoted his career to protecting his clients, including those who have been charged with a crime and those damaged by either negligence or intentional bad acts. Of note are his results in the field of criminal appellate and post-conviction practice, where he has obtained new trials for clients convicted of serious felonies. Berry Law was founded in 1965 by legendary attorney Vietnam Veteran John Stevens Berry, Sr. With more than 250 years of combined legal experience, Berry Law is well-equipped to handle the most serious legal needs. For more information, visit berrylawfirm. com or call (402) 466-8444. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Dr. Mimi is a member of the American Dental Association, the Nebraska Dental Association, and the Lincoln District Dental Association. Her new associates at Star City Dental have full confidence in Dr. Mimi and assure that you will be in good hands when you get a chance to meet her at your next appointment. With the arrival of Dr. Mimi, Star City Dental will now offer Invisalign, and they have extended their hours to include availability on Fridays. Star City Dental’s top priority is your bright, healthy smile. Located at 4525 S 86th St., #A, they take the time to listen to your needs and concerns and use gentle, efficient cleaning techniques. For more information or to book an appointment, call (402) 489-7806 or visit StarCityDentalNE.com.

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FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

PERSONNEL NEWS West Gate Bank Promotes Jeremey Shiers to President of Mortgage Division

True North Technologies Welcomes Taylor Tunnison as New Communication Director

West Gate Bank® recently announced the promotion of Jeremey Shiers to Executive Vice President of West Gate Bank and President of the bank’s mortgage division. Shiers was also elected to the bank’s Board of Directors. He will be taking over for Mark Hansen, who is retiring after a 40-year career in the banking industry, including the last 18 years at West Gate Bank, where he served in a variety of leadership positions.

True North Tec hnologies, a Lincolnbased business launc hed by Renee Sobotka, recently added Taylor Tunnison to their team as Communication Director. Strategic, dynamic, and determined, Taylor aims to encourage greatness in those around him. He is passionate about helping people and applying technology, and he puts that passion to good use for True North Technologies clients. He is overjoyed by the opportunity to pursue his True North alongside distinguished peers.

Shiers joined West Gate Bank in 2016 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the mortgage division, where he led financial management and reporting, secondary market and other strategic initiatives. In his new role, he will manage the entire mortgage division and serve on the bank’s Executive Committee. Shiers is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he earned his degree in business administration. He also completed the Colorado Graduate School of Banking. Shiers is working out of the West Gate Bank Center at 6003 Old Cheney Rd. and can be reached at (402) 434-4089 or jshiers@westgate.bank. West Gate Bank® is a family-owned community bank with locations in Lincoln and Omaha. As a full-service banking institution, they are large enough to serve all your personal or commercial needs, yet small enough to provide the outstanding personal service that only a community bank can deliver. They’re committed to your success and invested in your financial well-being. At West Gate Bank, their interest is you! Visit westgate.bank for more information.

Taylor is a 2019 graduate of the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in communication studies. He has conducted primary research on the positive impact of communication and virtual teamwork. He is a team player with extensive experience in copywriting, customer service, and digital marketing, which has taught him the value of collaboration. Difficult challenges only serve to inspire Taylor’s quick, creative, and innovative solutions. He lives in Lincoln with his family, including five siblings and four dogs, and enjoys playing hockey, debating politics, and studying philosophy. Taylor also has been known to perform with fire occasionally. True North Technologies makes technology simple with website and mobile-app development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), branding, and social-media marketing. Learn more at go-tnt.com or call (402) 420-5101.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Bob Nohavec Plumbing Welcomes Mike Orso to Team as Lead Service Technician Bob Nohavec Plumbing recently announced the hiring of Mike Orso as Lead Service Technician. Mike has an associate degree in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) technology, 15 years of plumbing service experience in residential and commercial settings—including private companies and the University of NebraskaLincoln—plus plumbing sales experience for a local plumbing supply house. In his new position, Mike will repair and replace broken, outdated, clogged, leaking plumbing, and complete system remodels—both commercial and residential, from the smallest of jobs to the largest. That includes installation and repair of water heaters, water softeners, and bathroom fixtures, as well as cabling of drains and main sewer lines, including kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. “I’m excited to work for a plumbing company with a well-known and longstanding reputation in Lincoln,” Mike said. “After a break in plumbing work for a couple of years to work in plumbing sales, it’s nice to be able to use my knowledge and talent to solve problems for customers on their difficult days. I look forward to building relationships with our customers for years to come.” Bob Nohavec Plumbing has been proudly serving the Lincoln community for 40 years. Their plumbing service is built on a solid reputation for fast, reliable, and quality service that meets customers’ needs. For more information or to schedule service, visit bobnohavecplumbing.net or call (402) 420-1552.

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New DSAF Executive Director Jamie Bertucci Kinetic Business Welcomes Mike Fine as Focuses on Bringing Communities Together New Sales Manager for Nebraska The Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska (DSAF) recently hired Jamie Bertucci as its first-ever Executive Director, and she’s excited to focus on bringing communities together to offer support and events that friends, children, and loved ones with Down syndrome require. The position is more than a job for Jamie; it’s a personal journey. Two years after moving to Nebraska from the South, she welcomed her first-born son, Nicholas. Now 9 years old, he has taught her so much already. “He is a specially-abled, chromosomally enhanced little boy, whose birth changed the way my family would forever see the world and the people in it,” Jamie said. “Currently, I am raising three hyperactive, slightly destructive, excessively noisy, and eternally busy little boys. I am beyond excited to continue in my journey serving the Down syndrome community as the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska.” If the needs of children and adults were not apparent before, they most certainly have been exposed during the COVID pandemic. During the struggles of the pandemic, most families who care for someone with Down syndrome have felt the impact of school and work closings more than the average family. In her new role, Jamie hopes to be the bridge for families to receive the support, assistance, and information they need, and she is excited to get to know and be a resource for families, children, and loved ones who deal with Down syndrome. For more information about the Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska, visit dsafnebraska.org, call (402) 421-1338, or email info@dsafnebraska.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Kinetic Business by Windstream welcomes Mike Fine as sales manager for Nebraska. Fine joins Kinetic Business from Barfresh Food Group. As technology continues to play a crucial role in how businesses and retailers connect with customers, Kinetic Business is focused on providing the best products, services and resources to the communities served. Fine brings a multitude of experience from various roles throughout his career in sales, marketing and management “Through my onboarding, I am learning something I realized I already knew: the leaders of Kinetic Business are truly interested in my team’s success and continually emphasize the importance of the experience we provide to our customers,” says Fine. “I look forward to expanding the audience of Kinetic Business’s recent podcast launch and pointing our customers to a valuable resource for today’s business world.” Earlier this year, Kinetic Business by Windstream launched their Connecting Business Podcast. The series connects real business experts and provides thoughtful discussions about real business solutions while discovering simple, smart ways to grow a business in today’s uncertain business climate. Now is the time for businesses to prepare for a new year with the right technologies to connect with each other, and with customers. For more information about Kinetic Business services, visit kineticbusiness. com and follow Kinetic Business by Windstream on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to see when a new podcast episode drops or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 33

PERSONNEL NEWS Leadership Harbor’s Chris Hansen and Kris Peterson Earn Prestigious PAC Appointments

Fresh Start Welcomes 5 New Board Members, Recognizes 2 Outgoing Members for Service

Chris Hansen and Kris Peterson of Leadership Harbor, LLC in Lincoln have been asked to serve on two prestigious John Maxwell Team President’s Advisory Committees (PACs). Hansen will join the Youth Branch PAC, and Peterson will serve on the Executive Director Level Committee of the John Maxwell PAC for executive directors. On the Youth Branch PAC, Hansen will help provide strategic support and integrate the youth-leadership focus into the fabric of the John Maxwell Team (JMT) organization. Chris Hansen and Kris Peterson The Youth Leadership Team is a group of team members who actively serve as the leadership body regarding youth programming. The committee is responsible for the creation, coordination, and program promotion of the biannual JMT Global Youth Initiative event, the future John Maxwell Team Youth Camp, youth-leadership content, and much more. On the Club Level Committee of the John Maxwell PAC, Peterson will help provide oversight for Club Level membership, including content and application of proprietary content for the John Maxwell Team executive directors. Specifically, she will be serving on the Member Services Committee to help integrate content and marketing strategies for John Maxwell Team executive directors worldwide. Leadership Harbor, LLC offers leadership coaching, training, and speaker support. For more information, visit leadershipharbor.com or contact Kris Peterson at (402) 580-0947 or kris@leadershipharbor.com.

Fresh Start recently welcomed five new members to their Board of Directors, and recognized outgoing members Nick Ludwig and Cynthia Peterson for their combined 19 years of service. Executive Director Monica Zinke said both Nick and Cynthia held offices and played valuable roles in guiding the organization over the last decade: “We will miss them but know they will continue to be supporters of Fresh Start and advocates for those experiencing homelessness.” Incoming Fresh Start Board members include Sara Hernancez, Union Bank & Trust; Tad Hunt, Huron Consulting Group; Vanessa Meinberg, Southeast Community College; Michael Reinmiller, the AV Dude and UNL-CCFL; and Audrey Schaffer-Jackson, Serve Nebraska. “Empowering, supporting, and giving women hope speaks to my soul,” Sara said upon beginning her Board service. “I know people who have battled with addiction and homelessness for many years. I’ve seen firsthand the pain and struggles they have endured and its impact on their families. They participated in programs and I see the value they provide. I hope that the time and resources I can dedicate to Fresh Start can give someone hope and a chance for a better future.” Fresh Start has been in operation since 1991. It houses women without children in their direct care—a population its founders recognized as underserved in Lincoln. It is a valuable landing place for women facing an array of challenges, including escaping abuse, freeing themselves from addiction, or starting over again after incarceration. For more information, visit freshstarthome.org or call (402) 475-7777.

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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PERSONNEL NEWS Hannah Hundley Marks Three Years with Strictly Business

Luke Peltz Named LPED Vice President of Economic Development

This month marks Hannah Hundley's third year with Strictly Business. Hannah is the current editor for the magazine, and she oversees a variety operations such as event planning, onboarding new clients, running production meetings, and day-to-day office responsibilities. Hannah’s role has taken on many forms since she first joined the team in 2018. Coming from a background in hospitality, tourism, and community event planning, in additional to holding various marketing roles, Hannah was excited to work for a company dedicated to promoting other local businesses.

The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) has announced the promotion of Luke Peltz to vice president of economic development from his previous position of director of business development. Peltz succeeds Pat Haverty, who passed away in September 2020, and has served as the interim vice president of economic development since that time. During Peltz’s time as director of business development, LPED received a Gold Excellence in Economic Development award from the International Economic Development Council. LPED was honored for its creation of the Lincoln Economic Dashboard, which illustrates Lincoln’s economic status and progress against comparable regions, as companies considering expanding or relocating operations use it as a resource for planning purposes. Peltz was also instrumental in helping the state win three consecutive Governor’s Cups for most business development projects per capita within a state and back-to-back Silver Shovel awards in 2018 and 2019, which focuses on investment and development projects. Peltz serves on the Nebraska Economic Developers Association board of directors and has also played a key role in business recruitment trips, resulting in new projects coming to Lincoln. He has been with LPED since 2013 and previously worked for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. For more information about the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, contact Chris Whitney at (402) 436-2376 / cwhitney@ lcoc.com or go online to www.selectlincoln.org.

"I've grown a lot personally and professionally during my time at Strictly Business," said Hannah. "I've made many connections and life-long friends through this job. I'm proud to be a part of the magazine's rich history in the Lincoln and Omaha communities, being around almost 28 and 15 years respectively. All the people we've touched through the work we do; all the stories we've told...it's amazing. The last three years have been interesting, challenging, amazing, exciting, emotional, uplifting, and so many other adjectives but, most of all, fun! I look forward to seeing what the future holds from here." Strictly Business is a reliable news source and effective advertising tool, publishing original content in print, online, and on social media. To learn more, visit strictly-business.com. To contact Hannah, call the office at (402) 466-3330 or email editor@ strictlybusinessomaha.com.

Dr. Rahul Razdan Makes AMI First ASC in U.S. to Perform SIR-Spheres® Y-90 Procedure Advanced Medical Imaging (AMI) has become the first ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in the United States to perform a SIR-Spheres® Y-90 procedure. The procedure, performed by Dr. Rahul Razdan, is a targeted radiation therapy that injects microscopic resin beads directly into the bloodstream to kill liver tumors while sparing healthy cells. The procedure uses SIR-Spheres® microspheres that contain the radioactive isotope Yttrium-90 (Y-90); the tiny particles travel easily through the bloodstream and become lodged inside liver tumors to kill them directly through radiation. It is a well-tolerated and effective method to treat colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver and is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy. While it has previously only been performed in hospitals, Dr. Razdan has made AMI the first ASC (or same-day surgery center) in the U.S. to perform the procedure on its patients. AMI’s Dr. Razdan is one of the most skilled vascular and interventional radiologists in the Midwest and also alleviates patients’ pain by treating vascular disease, performing image-guided spinal pain procedures, and treating migraines. Reach out to Dr. Razdan for more information on the procedure, or to see if you qualify. Advanced Medical Imaging physicians are vascular and interventional radiologists who specialize in minimally-invasive, image-guided procedures. Due to their experiences and success rate, AMI is the only SphenoCath Certified Training Center of Excellence in the country. To learn more, call (402) 484-6677 or visit amimaging.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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NONPROFIT NEWS Angels Among Us Chosen as PJ Morgan Real Estate’s Annual Charity Partner Angels Among Us is pleased to announce its newest community partner, PJ Morgan Real Estate. Every year a new charity is chosen by their employees, and this year they have chosen to give back to the pediatric cancer families Angels Among Us serves. There will be various opportunities throughout the year for funds to be raised, such as company golf outings, themed days at work, paid lunches at work, etc.

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“We are excited to partner with Angels Among Us, our 2021 Charity of the Year! We look forward to enriching the community we love and live in by providing financial assistance to local families who face childhood cancer,” says Clint Collons, marketing director at PJ Morgan. PJ Morgan Real Estate is more than a brokerage firm. They are real estate professionals and take pride in assisting with "All Things Real Estate.” From residential and commercial real estate transactions to property management, they can guide clients through all the challenges and opportunities that come their way. 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 whose child has cancer is eligible to apply for financial support with mortgages, rent, and other expenses. In 2020, Angels Among Us provided $514,000 in support to over 125 families. For more information about ways to make an impact please contact Aly Theilen at alyssa@myangelsamongus.org.

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Bridge Behavioral Health Honors Staff for Making a Difference on Front Lines in 2020 The Bridge Behavioral Health pulled out the stops to honor all 50 employees by placing yard signs at each of their homes, noting: “Be proud of the work you do, the person you are, and the difference you make. Thank you for your dedication to The Bridge Behavioral Health.” Members of the organization’s Board of Directors took the time and effort to have the signs made and deliver them personally to all employees to show their appreciation for the staff’s tenacity and success throughout the challenges of the pandemic in 2020. “2020 was one of the most challenging years in recent history,” said Board Member Todd Duncan. “We wanted to recognize the dedicated staff at The Bridge who worked on the front lines under difficult conditions all year long to provide critical services to clients in our community. The yard signs seemed like a fun way to draw attention to The Bridge staff members who deserve to be recognized for their service and sacrifice.” The Bridge Behavioral Health has served as an essential part of the Lincoln community’s safety net since 1984, connecting people suffering from addiction and related mental-health issues with support and treatment. The Bridge provides caring substance-use, trauma, and mental-health treatment services. The individuals seeking safe passage from addition to sober living find it at The Bridge through a variety of support and treatment options, including medically supervised detoxification, substance use and mental health respite, residential treatment, and a variety of recovery support services. For more information, visit thebridgenebraska.org or call (402) 477-3951. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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NONPROFIT NEWS Malone Center Partners with Culler Middle School for Cougar Den After-School Program

Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach Encourages Donation Drives for Gloves, Masks, Blankets

The Malone Community Center is partnered with Culler Middle School for the Cougar Den program to provide free and extended learning opportunities to students from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on regular school days and from 1:40 to 4:30 p.m. on PLC days. When you register your student for this program, don’t expect your average after-school program. Instead, you’ll find that this program is about a family that takes care of one another!

With winter weather here and frigid temperatures bringing high risk for people experiencing homelessness to develop threatening conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia, the Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is encouraging donations of warm winter gear. Items currently needed most include warm winter gloves (men’s sizes L or XL), hand and foot warmers, masks, and blankets. Matt Talbot reaches out to individuals who are living outside to offer assistance, personal care items, hats, gloves, hand warmers, blankets, and socks. Many people experiencing unsheltered homelessness come to Matt Talbot to receive meals, take showers, do laundry, and pick up their mail.

Cougar Den is a Community Learning Center (CLC) club that provides a fun, educational delivery system using the school as the central gathering place for students, families, and neighborhoods. The club provides high-quality academic and enrichment opportunities for children outside of school hours. They help develop problem-solving and creative-thinking skills and encourage community and parent engagement in the success of the children who participate. The goals of the Cougar Den Club are successful students, thriving families, and stronger neighborhoods. To learn more about Cougar Den or register your child to participate, go to culler.lps.org/clc. Since 1955, the Malone Community Center has created and facilitated programs to combat the racial disparities and inequities that exist in our justice, healthcare, and social systems. For more information or to donate, visit malonecenter.org or call (402) 474-1110.

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The outreach team also seeks out those experiencing homelessness by walking the downtown streets and hiking to undeveloped land in Lincoln to reach out to individuals who are camping. Sometimes the outreach is as simple as offering a caring smile and handing a person some warm winter gloves. Other times the outreach is more complex and might involve helping a person receive crisis support or medical care. The goal is to meet immediate needs when possible, build trust, and increase the chances that eventually people will be receptive to receiving services that can help move them off the street and into safe shelter. To make donations of warm winter gear to Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach and support its mission this winter, you can place them in the donation receptacle by the service door, on the east side of the facility (2121 N 27th St.), Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cash donations also are appreciated at mtko.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Lincoln Literacy Receives $5K Through Great Western Bank’s Making Life Great Grant

Friendship Home Gets Community Support for Domestic Violence Victims over Holidays

In December, Lincoln Literacy received a generous donation from Great Western Bank for $5,000 as a part of the bank’s Making Life Great grant. This is the first time Lincoln Literacy has been awarded this grant. Great Western Bank has always believed in giving Clayton Naff (right) pictured back. They’ve been “Making Life with Deborah Aycock who Great” for their customers and was extremely helpful in communities for over 80 years. the application process. The bank does this by reinvesting in their communities through sponsorships and donations, employee volunteerism, and the Making Life Great Grants program. According to Executive Director Clayton Naff, the funds will go in support of Lincoln Literacy’s Bridgeway to a Better Life project, which, thanks to many volunteer tutors, assists vulnerable people to master basic skills and then guides them on a journey to gain occupational skills, credentials, and, in some cases, advanced degrees. “Working with our partners in higher education, workforce development, and the private sector, we address the skills gap by helping people to become certified nursing assistants, para-educators manufacturing workers, commercial driver’s license holders, and more,” said Naff. “Having support from Great Western Bank makes a real difference in this effort.” Established in 1972, Lincoln Literacy has grown to become the community’s leader in helping residents gain the English language and literacy skills needed to become full and productive members of our community. It currently does this through free online classes and tutoring. Learn more at lincolnliteracy.org.

Friendship Home received an outpouring of support from the Lincoln community to sponsor families being sheltered during the holiday season. Beginning in November, community organizations teamed up to provide 29 families at Friendship Home with meals for Thanksgiving, including turkey, stuffing, yams, and cranberry sauce. Donations for the meals were provided by Olsson, Lazlo’s Advance Chiropractic Solutions, Community of Christ Church, the Clark Enersen Partners, and several individual community members. In December, Friendship Home hosted its annual Sponsored Families Holiday Gift Drive, to which 75 organizations, businesses, and community members donated holiday gifts for all 115 individuals served in the shelter. Victims of domestic violence shed many happy tears when they received the gifts. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence please call Friendship Home’s 24/7 crisis line at (402) 437-9302. To learn more, visit friendshiphome.org, email Dani Bryant at danib@friendshiphome. org, or call (402) 434-0167.

NCF Recommends Making 2021 the Year You Finally Create a Will Given that an estimated 70% of American adults have either an outdated will or no will at all, Nebraska Community Foundation is encouraging people to make 2021 the year you finally update or create your will. In fact, it’s easier to get started than you might think! The Foundation offers a free Wills Guide that will guide you through the process. The easy-to-use, fill-in-the-blank downloadable booklet will help you organize your assets and your intent, all in one place. It is full of useful information and templates to record your family’s information, accounts, assets, liabilities and charitable intentions. Nebraska Community Foundation works with professional advisors and their clients every day to help put their assets to work with tax-efficient charitable strategies that make positive impacts on the Nebraska communities they care about most. To download or request Nebraska Community Foundation’s free Wills Guide and start making a plan to provide for your family and support the communities and causes you care about, visit Nebcommfound.GiftLegacy.com. Nebraska Community Foundation unleashes abundant local assets, inspires charitable giving, and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska. Headquartered in Lincoln, the Foundation serves communities, donors and organizations by providing financial management, strategic development, education and training to a statewide network of 1,500 volunteers serving 270 communities. Since 1994, Nebraska Community Foundation has reinvested more than $393 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information about the Foundation, visit NebraskaHometown.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

CBMC’s Understanding Worldviews Workshop Set for March 20 at Carol Joy Holling Center CBMC Lincoln is excited to host a workshop with renowned speaker, author, and Zig Ziglar protégé, Krish Dhanam on Saturday, March 20. On tap for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carol Joy Holling Center near Ashland, the workshop is titled “Understanding Worldviews: Learning about Comparisons, Contrasts and Contradictions to the Infallible Word of God.” The term “worldview” is usually offered as a less toxic substitute for the word “religion” and includes thoughts and ideas that emanate from philosophical constructs which shape and guide humanity. The Understanding Worldviews workshop is an in-depth look into all the prominent belief systems permeating the landscape and how they compare with Christianity. Krish has collated definitions and discussions that define some of the most prominent thought offerings globally. In this interactive session, he will put each of those views alongside the Bible. Participants will learn what others believe, re-learn what they believe, and leave with a better understanding of their beliefs and other worldviews. The ability to know and understand what others believe will increase preparedness to engage in civil discussions about Christianity and other worldviews. Krish Dhanam was born and educated in India. Equipped with an MBA and $9 in his pocket, he migrated to the U.S. in 1986 with his bride, Anila. He won a sales contest and ticket to a seminar conducted by legendary motivator Zig Ziglar. Krish joined the Ziglar Corporation in 1991 and eventually became their VP of Global Operations. Through training, teaching and facilitating seminars all over the world, Krish launched his professional speaking career. Personally trained by Zig Ziglar, Krish has spoken in over 50 countries and his client list is the Who’s Who of global enterprise. Today, he is the CEO of Skylife Success and Global Ambassador for the Ziglar Group of Companies. He is the author of multiple books, and he and his wife live in Texas. Learn more at krishdhanam.com. CBMC Lincoln is part of a global ministry that encourages men toward spiritual development, personal integrity, principled leadership, and a desire to impact others positively. To register for Understanding Worldviews, go to Lincoln.cbmc.com/events. Space is limited. If you have questions, call (402) 540-1093. FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 39

NONPROFIT NEWS Goodwill Installs 2 Hand-Washing Stations Virtual 2021 AHA Lincoln Heart Ball with Help of Boy Scout Anthony Santiago Scheduled for March 25 In an effort to give customers and employees more opportunities to sanitize, Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc. recently installed hand-washing stations in their stores at 6300 Apples Way and 4555 Vine Street. The stations are thanks to local Troop 282 Boy Scout Anthony Santiago, who made their construction his Eagle Scout community-service project. Anthony planned and implanted the build of the stations from start to finish, with most of the materials donated by local businesses, including recycled materials where possible. The stations are located at the front of the stores, giving customers and employees the opportunity to wash their hands without needing to go to the restrooms at the back of the stores. “We have been thrilled to collaborate with Anthony in these past few months,” said Goodwill Communication Director Anne-Marie Maher. “Not only does this project develop Anthony’s ability to create and lead a large project from start to finish, but it fulfills a need in our Goodwill stores during the COVID-19 crisis. During the installation, Anthony also demonstrated to Goodwill employees how to use the station, including changing the water reservoirs and retracting the foot petal, as well as showing the station’s mobility.” For more information about Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc., visit lincolngoodwill.org or call (402) 477-0436.

The American Heart Association’s 2021 Lincoln Heart Ball, an annual black-tie event, is scheduled on a virtual platform starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Marc h 25. Chaired by Dr. Eric and Annie Crimmins and CHI Nebraska Heart Hospital, the event celebrates the energy, passion, and commitment of donors, healthcare providers, community leaders, sponsors, volunteers, and survivors to raise funds for lifesaving research and education. Funds raised during the event support the fight against cardiovascular diseases—the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States each year. “The Heart Ball would not be possible without our volunteer leadership, who raise important funds to support our lifesaving mission,” said Nebraska Executive Director Jennifer Redmond. From humble beginnings in 1924, the American Heart Association has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites their more than 40 million volunteers and supporters, as well as more than 2,800 employees. Their size and scope ensure that the AHA has real impact. They have invested more than $4.5 billion in research, more than any other U.S. nonprofit organization. For more information about the 2021 AHA Lincoln Heart Ball and how you can support it or participate, visit heart.org/lincolnheartball or email Jennifer.Redmond@heart.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Community Action’s Gathering Place Seeks Help Keeping Residents Warm this Winter With frigid temperatures and snow impacting some Lincoln residents far more than others, Community Action’s Gathering Place is seeking help from the community to supply warm clothing items, specifically new, unused hats, gloves, and socks, to guests who come to the Gathering Place for a hot meal. “The need for new, unused, warm clothing items is always high this time of year,” said Community Action Gathering Place Program Administrator Lisa Janssen. “We get many questions from guests about whether we have warm clothing items available to take home. It’s wonderful to be able to have things like new gloves and socks on hand to distribute to those who need them in addition to a hot meal.” In 2020 Community Action’s Gathering Place served more than 34,900 meals to those experiencing hunger in Lincoln. Janssen said that many people who visited were doing so for the first time in their lives, as they were experiencing economic uncertainty in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those individuals have continued to return. For more than 38 years, Community Action’s Gathering Place has provided Lincoln-area residents with hot, nutritious meals in a welcoming environment. Recognizing donors’ desire to physically distance, they have created a warm-clothing-items wish list from which donors can purchase and ship directly to Community Action. The list, along with more information about how to support the organization’s mission, is available at communityactionatwork.org or by calling Jessie Hedrick at (402) 875-9338 or Heather Loughman at (402) 875-9339.

Wear Yellow Nebraska Opens Registration for 18th Annual Ride, Run & Walk in 2021 Wear Yellow Nebraska has opened event registration for the 18th Annual Wear Yellow Nebraska Ride, Run & Walk, sc heduled for Saturday, August 14. Each registration for the nonprofit’s annual fundraiser provides a fellow Nebraskan in their fight against cancer with two rides to and from their treatments. This is accomplished through the Wear Yellow Cab Ride Program, plus other initiatives that support their mission and truly make a difference for cancer survivors. From its very beginning, Wear Yellow Nebraska’s purpose was to bring together people who are passionate about cycling to celebrate life and fight cancer. The original Wear Yellow Ride was organized by Mike and Stacy Buckley in 2003 as a way to rally the Omaha community in riding for a good cause—their entry into the prestigious Austin LIVESTRONG Challenge. As passion for the cause grew and more people wanted to get involved, the group’s focus started to shift inward, and they made the decision to form a nonprofit organization and keep the funds from the annual event in Nebraska to support cancer survivors in our own communities. Today, Wear Yellow Nebraska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a clear focus on niche initiatives that offer cancer survivors support in ways that weren’t previously being addressed and for people who would otherwise fall through the cracks, truly caring for each person’s special circumstances. Get event details and register for the Wear Yellow Nebraska Ride, Run & Walk or donate to the cause at supportwyn.org/18 or call (402) 965-1699. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Lincoln Community Foundation's Lincoln Littles Giving Day Set for February 12 Lincoln Comm unity Foundation, in partnership with Lincoln Littles and Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, will host the third annual Lincoln Littles Giving Day on February 12, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The giving day will raise funds for tuition assistance, allowing more c hildren from working, lower-income families to access quality early c hildhood education programs. Launched in 2019 and inspired by the Prosper Lincoln agenda on Early Childhood, the day has raised $1.3 million to assist more than 300 children. The community can make online donations now through February 12 at 11:59 p.m. at LincolnLittles.org. Donations may also be mailed to the Lincoln Community Foundation, 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68508. Checks must be written to “Lincoln Community Foundation” with “Lincoln Littles” in the memo line. The Lincoln Littles initiative strives to create equal opportunities for all children in Lincoln to learn and grow in their early years. Access to high-quality early childhood experiences enables children to be kindergarten-ready and to develop into successful community citizens. The National Chamber of Commerce Foundation says that quality early childhood education is important for today’s workforce as well as preparing the future workforce. Matching fund sponsors: Mae Whitmer Early Childhood Fund (Lead Sponsor) – Buffett Early Childhood Fund – Nebraska Children and Families Foundation – Susan Sehnert Stuart – Krieger Family Foundation – Bettenhausen Family Foundation – In memory of Professor James D. Carr – Complete Children's Health – Kile & Virginia Johnson – Labenz & Associates LLC – Drs. Marilyn & David Moore – Nelnet – Helen Raikes in memory of Senator Ron Raikes – Drs. Bob & Lisa Rauner – Sue and Al Saathoff – Donald & Janice Svehla Family – Tom & Susan Tallman – Union Bank & Trust Company – Dr. Eileen & Richard Vautravers – Ross & Judy Wilcox. The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The Foundation has distributed more than $168 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents. Learn more at www.lcf.org. FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 41

NONPROFIT NEWS People’s City Mission Receives $25,000 Donation for Peanut Butter and Jelly

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Yep, you read that right. An anonymous donor stepped up to the plate in late December and made a unique—but wildly helpful—donation to People’s City Mission: $25,000 for peanut butter and jelly. Indeed, that’s a LOT of peanut butter and jelly, but the donation was made on the tenet that PB&J’s are a very good source of fast protein, and the most universally popular sandwich of people living on the streets. The donor was right about that—and when you consider that People’s City Mission (PCM) hands out 100 meals-to-go every day, in addition to the more than 700 daily homemade meals served in their dining room, think how many lives this donation can affect! With the generous donation in hand, PCM’s kitchen manager ordered more than 300 cases each of peanut butter and jelly in January to use for sandwiches and also to hand out to clients at the PCM Help Center and to other nonprofits in the city. There’s more to the story, too. This anonymous donor is ready to deliver another $25,000 check for more PB&J when this supply is gone. You can be part of helping make these meals-to-go, too, either by providing additional materials or assembling meals. People’s City Mission’s Help Center, 6800 P St, is their primary distribution point for free food, clothing, household items, furniture, toys, and personal items, all through public donations. For more information, visit pcmlincoln.org. To volunteer or donate money, contact Beneen Allen at ballen@pcmlincoln.org or (402) 475-1303, ext. 114.

NAM Announces Virtual Nonprofit Board Masters Training Series February 8-12 In an effort to help members of nonprofit boards strengthen governing skills and get a t h o ro u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g of their role, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) is offering a virtual Board Masters Training Series from noon to 1 p.m. daily, February 8-12. NAM will cover the most important aspects of board governance in this interactive program, with a goal that participants leave with clarity about the roles and responsibilities of boards of directors as governing bodies and a plan to make the board on which they serve the best it can be.

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Board Masters was created for current and potential board members—for organizations big and small alike—who want to learn how to better serve nonprofit organizations, regardless of their levels of experience. Participants will learn how effective boards function, tackle the essential tasks of nonprofit board members, and create a plan of action to address opportunities. To get the maximum benefit from this training, NAM strongly encourages that at least one board member and one senior-level staff member from each nonprofit attend all five days of training together. The cost is just $125 for members and $250 for not-yet members. NAM is a state association that represents more than 650 nonprofit organizations in Nebraska and southwest Iowa. With their growing base of nonprofits, NAM is committed to enhancing public recognition of the important role of the nonprofit sector, providing access to highquality assistance and information, advocating on issues that affect the capacity of nonprofits to address community needs, and fostering communication and cooperation among nonprofits. To register for the Board Masters Training Series, visit nonprofitam.org/events or contact Rosey Higgs at (402) 557-5800 or rosey@nonprofitam.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS TeamMates Mentoring of Lincoln Celebrates Mentors, Mentees with Awards for Service On January 26, TeamMates Mentoring of Lincoln hosted a virtual Recognition Celebration to honor mentors, celebrate mentees who have made great strides, and recognize the hard work of the school facilitators who organize mentor matches in their buildings. Nebraska football legend and TeamMates co-founder Tom Osborne shared some gracious comments, and participants gained insight from a student speaker. All told, 40 students nominated their mentors for induction into the Mentor Hall of Fame; 26 mentors received the Decade of Difference Award to commemorate 10 years of service; and 32 students won the Student Achievement Award upon nomination by their mentors. The students were recognized for feats such as improving grades, participating in extracurricular activities, and maintaining positive attitudes through a difficult school year. One student expressed his gratefulness for TeamMates like this: “I appreciate everything (my mentor) has done for me. It means a lot when he says how proud of me he is.”

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TeamMates Mentoring of Lincoln makes a meaningful impact in the local community and beyond by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring. Matches meet once a week in school during the academic year. TeamMates also offers Zooms twice a month for remote learners and mentors who request to meet virtually instead of in-person. For more information about TeamMates or to inquire about becoming a mentor, please visit LincolnTeammates.org.

Junior Achievement Launches Play 4 JA Virtual Teambuilding Event for Businesses Given that many employees are still working from home and many company holiday parties have been canceled, Junior Achievement (JA) of Lincoln has launched a Play 4 JA virtual event experience to help businesses maintain their company cultures. Sponsored by NRC Health, Play 4 JA is designed to be an hour-long engaging and fun virtual teambuilding event with a variety of interactive games. Play 4 JA can be customized for entire companies, departments, or teams—small and large alike—and Junior Achievement plans the event for you. Businesses can choose to have one session or multiple ones, with flexible scheduling available—and prizes and bragging rights up for grabs! All proceeds from your company’s Play 4 JA event will benefit Junior Achievement of Lincoln’s mission to empower young people to own their own economic success. Junior Achievement continues to deliver programs to Lincoln’s K-12 students virtually during the pandemic, igniting the spark in these young people and helping them dream big and realize their potential. Junior Achievement is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. For more information about Play 4 JA, pricing, or to schedule one for your team, contact JA Special Event Coordinator Kim Pramberg at kpramberg@jalincoln.org or (402) 467-4479. You can also find more information at lincoln.ja.org/events/index. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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NONPROFIT NEWS Domesti-PUPS Shifts I Love My Dog Expo to April 17-18, at Lancaster Event Center If you love your dog—and who doesn’t?—mark your calendars for the Domesti-PUPS “I Love My Dog Expo,” which was recently rescheduled to April 17-18 at the Lancaster Event Center. Originally scheduled for February, the COVID-driven rescheduling means you have a little extra time to plan your attendance! The I Love My Dog Expo is a family-style, dog-friendly event featuring the positive aspects of responsible dog ownership, as well as the principles of proper dog selection and training. The event offers a vast array of dog-related products and services, as well as educational demonstrations. Dog lovers of all ages will enjoy a fun-filled day, including entertainment from numerous vendors with all sorts of fun products for dog lovers. Given that the I Love My Dog Expo is an annual benefit for DomestiPUPS, the organization also is seeking dog-loving corporate sponsors for the event. Domesti-PUPS is a community organization that provides service dogs for persons with disabilities, pet-therapy programs, classroom dogs, and educational programs. Information about how Domesti-PUPS employs man’s best friend to impact our communities also will be available throughout the event, serving as a catalyst to help the general public better understand and appreciate the ways that dogs improve our lives. For more information about the Domesti-PUPS I Love My Dog Expo, visit ilovemydogexpo.com, or contact Michelle O’Dea at info@domesti-pups.org. To learn more about Domesti-PUPS or to volunteer, visit domesti-pups.org.

The Arc of Nebraska to Host 50th Annual Senatorial Dinner February 2 The Arc of Nebraska, committed to carrying out the widespread mission of empowering people with disabilities and their families, will host its 50th Annual Senatorial Dinner virtually on February 2 at noon. The guest speaker will Anthony Iann, a two-time Big Ten Champion, a Big Ten Tournament Champion, and a member of the 2010 Final Four team. He won the 2011 Tim Bograkos Walk On award and the 2012 Unsung Player award. At the age of four, Anthony was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), which is on the Autism Spectrum (ASD). Doctors and specialists told Anthony’s parents that he would barely graduate from high school, would never graduate from college, would never have a shot at being an athlete, and would likely live in a group institution with other Autistic kids for his adult life. Attendees will be moved by this inspiring story. Tickets can be found online at www.arc-nebraska.org. For over 60 years, The Arc of Nebraska has provided advocacy to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc of Lincoln works locally to ensure children and adults with disabilities have lives filled with positive, fulfilling relationships and broad social networks. The organization makes it possible for them to participate in a variety of recreational, educational, and employment activities that permit them to exercise personal choice and achieve their full potential. The staff and volunteers for The Arc are proud to be a part of the organization and find their work meaningful. To learn more about other events or ways to get involved, visit arclincoln.org. For questions about the Senatorial Dinner, contact Edison McDonald at edison@arc-nebraska.org / (402) 475-4407. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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NONPROFIT NEWS Registration Opens February 27 for 2021 Bright Lights Summer Camps for K-8 Kids

Vision Maker Media Celebrates 45 Years of Empowering Native Voices throughout 2021

If you’re looking for unique, motivating, hands-on learning opportunities for your children during summer 2021, be sure to register for Bright Lights Summer Camps! Registration opens February 27—at BrightLights.org— for their 35th summer of offering camps for K-8th grade students. The weeklong camps are fabulous for maximizing the fun of summer vacation for elementary and middle-school students while also ensuring parents that their children are avoiding learning loss. Bright Lights camps cover a broad range of curricula and allow students to explore their interests in a fun way that is challenging and inspiring. These extra learning opportunities may be more important than ever this year, given the reduced social interaction students have had during the last year. Bright Lights summer camps are scheduled for five weeklong sessions, including June 7-11; June 14-18 (International Week at Lux Middle School); June 21-25; June 28-July 2; and July 12-16. The entire schedule, including specific half-day and full-day camp topics for each week, is available on the website. Holmes Elementary is once again the main site for Bright Lights camps this year. Other locations include various community sites around Lincoln, and before-care and lunch-care services are available at select sites. For details about Bright Lights summer-camp services, a scholarship program, and how to involve older students as camp assistants, visit BrightLights.org.

I n 2 0 2 1 , V i s i o n M a ke r M e d i a i s celebrating 45 years of empowering Native voices. Established in 1976, with continuous support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), their mission remains to empower and engage Native people to share their stories. What began as a film archive to conserve and document Native American stories has, through the years, transformed into the nation’s public-media leader in content by and about America’s first people—Native Americans and Alaska Natives—for public broadcasting. The nonprofit Vision Maker Media is marking its 45th year with a year-long celebration of commUNITY events, including the premiere of an all-new Indigenous Vision Maker Media podcast, thematic film screenings, public events, and more. They envision a world changed and healed by understanding Native stories and the public conversations they generate. Vision Maker Media is incredibly excited to celebrate 2021 with their commUNITY—YOU! Vision Maker Media has 56 Native filmmakers and nearly 40 films currently in public-media broadcasting, 10 of which were added in 2019. They are currently accepting applications for their 2021 Public Media Project funding through February 12. To learn more, visit visionmakermedia.org, or direct questions to Charlie Perry at cperry@netad.unl.edu.

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NONPROFIT NEWS DreamCatchers Ride Credits Local Community for Nonprofit Success throughout Pandemic

Loaves and Fishes Announces Impressive Results for 2020 Nonprofit Food Services

The COVID pandemic threw lots of curves at Lancaster County nonprofits in 2020, and DreamCatchers Ride, Inc. credits our tremendously supportive community for stepping up to the plate and helping organizations meet their program needs. Of course, the ride isn’t over, and DreamCatchers continues to depend on community support to share the love of horses with those who would not otherwise have the chance. In fact, the need for the emotional support that horses provide is greater than ever, as DreamCatchers leaps into 2021 with hopes for another powerful year.

Through its partner company, LuLu’s on N, the nonprofit Loaves and Fishes served 3 , 9 9 4 m e a l s, p ro v i d e d 949 bags of groceries, and delivered 184 basic hygiene kits in 2020—all at no cost—to members of our community who are experiencing food insecurity. With the financial pressure of COVID felt deeply, Loaves and Fishes witnessed an increase in demand and are serving those who are living on the fringes, as well as the homeless population. They also partnered with the F Street Community Center to provide meals to youth who visited the center.

Jodi Freeman founded DreamCatchers Ride in 2018 based on the knowledge that there are many people in Lincoln who have a passion for horses but whose families simply cannot afford the time or financial commitment a horse requires. As a nonprofit, DreamCatchers is able to seek sponsors and accept donations for the care of the horses involved. The nonprofit recently expanded their services to include bringing horses to those in need of companionship or emotional support—including people in retirement communities, rehabilitation facilities, after-school and/or mentoring programs, mental-health companies, and civic organizations, to name a few.

Everything that Loaves and Fishes accomplishes is thanks to generous donations that support their mission of feeding all those who are hungry. If you want to donate, visit lulusonn.com, mail a check to LuLu’s at 1417 N St, Lincoln, NE 68508, or use LuLu’s on N for your catering needs. Every paid meal provides food for someone who is not able to pay.

DreamCatchers, Ride, Inc. provides a safe place where, through learning about equine companionship and care, people can be comfortable and able to express themselves. For more information or to donate to the program, visit dreamcatchersride.org, call Executive Director Jodi Freeman at (402) 679-3996, or follow them on Facebook (@DreamCatchersRide).

HopeSpoke Receives $2020 Donation from Midwest Family Lending MFLCares Program HopeSpoke was chosen as Midwest Family Lending’s (MFL’s) final monthly feature nonprofit of 2020, receiving a donation of $2,020 from the MFLCares program to round out the year with a bang! The funds will be used to support HopeSpoke’s mission to inspire healthy futures for children and their families MFL’s Jean Holman (left) through comprehensive behavioral presents HopeSpoke and mental-health services. Through Development Director Jenny MFLCares, Midwest Family Lending Cardwell (right) with $2020 employees nominate and select one donation from MFLCares. cause each month to support, and MFL licensed mortgage loan originator Jean Holman nominated HopeSpoke after one of her customers told her about the local nonprofit and its mission. Jean said MFL is proud to support HopeSpoke because it helps kids who might otherwise fall through the cracks and not get the help they need. HopeSpoke ensured that the donation will be used for just that. “We’re grateful to Jean for choosing HopeSpoke to receive this generous gift, which will ensure that we have the crucial resources to provide outpatient services to all who need them, regardless of their ability to pay,” said HopeSpoke Executive Director Katie McLeese Stephenson, MSW. HopeSpoke has been inspiring healthy futures for children and their families through comprehensive behavioral and mental-health services for more than 70 years. They provide help for youth at risk for suicide and behavioral challenges, and they provide school-based therapy for public-school students. For more information, call (402) 475-7666 or visit hopespoke.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Loaves and Fishes is a nonprofit that strives to walk alongside downtown Lincoln’s homeless population, offering them food, support, and basic hygiene items. LuLu’s on N is a walk-up restaurant and full-service caterer in downtown Lincoln. Every purchase made at LuLu’s directly supports their Loaves and Fishes mission. They provide community meals at St. Paul United Methodist Church from 1:30 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. To learn more, visit lulusonn.com, call (531) 500-5579, or email lulusonnst@gmail.com.

Tabitha to Offer a Variety of Support Groups in February Tabitha, Nebraska’s industry-leading senior care provider, offers a variety of support groups in Lincoln and Lancaster County. Online grief and support groups are open to anyone in the community and are a great way to find support while sharing common experiences and coping tips in the safety and comfort of your home. Your loved one did not have to be with Tabitha. Participation is free and registration can be found online at Tabitha.org/Hospice/Bereavement. • “Caregiver Support Group,” held every Thursday beginning January 21, 2 p.m. This eight-week support group is dedicated for those who are caring for a spouse, parent or other loved one with a serious illness. Each week will cover a different caregiving topic. For questions, please call Juanita Steenbakkers at (402) 416-7365. • “HOPE Book Club,” held every first and third Thursday, February 4 and 18, 10–11 a.m. The support group will read and discuss “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion; a memoir of her first year after her husband’s death. For questions, please call Tabitha Hoffman at (402) 362-7739. • “Grieving Gracefully Book Club,” held every second and fourth Tuesday, February 9 and 23, 12–1 p.m. The support group will read and discuss “Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope” by Mary Beth Chapman, a book that focuses on moving through grief with faith. For questions, please call Juanita Steenbakkers at (402) 416-7365. Tabitha is also looking for hospice volunteers to assist with creating special Valentine’s Day crafts and cards for hospice clients. If interested in participating, contact Rae Dixon, Tabitha Hospice volunteer coordinator, at (402) 486-8577 or Rae.Dixon@Tabitha.org. Learn more about the state’s quality award-winning senior care expert online at Tabitha.org. FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 47

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HEALTH NEWS American Red Cross Encourages Healthy COVID-19 Survivors to Donate Plasma

Nebraska Safety Council Highlights COVID Vaccine Benefits for Safety at Work, Home

The American Red Cross is encouraging all healthy survivors of COVID-19 to donate their plasma to help those battling the virus. Hospital convalescent plasma distributions have increased 250% since October, so it is critical that those who have recovered from COVID-19 donate plasma now to help patients in need. To be eligible to donate plasma, an individual must be in good health and have had a prior, verified diagnosis of COVID-19 but are now symptom free and at least 14 days from date of last symptom. They also must also meet all general blood donation requirements. Eligible convalescent plasma donors can give with the Red Cross every seven days for up to three months. All interested donors are strongly encouraged to give plasma as soon as possible; there is a major shortage for those battling the illness and prompt response could save lives. Reach out to your nearest Red Cross location for questions. Each day, the American Red Cross is active in the community, serving those in need. To learn more or inquire about donating plasma or blood, call (402) 343-7700 or visit redcross.org/local/Nebraska.

With an eye toward improving safety in the workplace and at home, the Nebraska Safety Council is highlighting the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Especially in the midst of the pandemic, implementing new protocols that affect daily operations is crucial. With new vaccines being developed and some already being administered, it is important for employers to begin planning for a more normal return-to-work protocol once most of the population has been vaccinated. While it is normal to have mixed emotions about the right choice for you, your household, and your workplace, now is the time to start discussing the benefits and risks of the vaccine with your primary health provider so you are ready to make an informed decision when the time comes. The Nebraska Safety Council reports that current research indicates the following benefits of the vaccine:

Nebraska LTC Pharmacy Expands into Lincoln, Offers Unique Individualized Patient Care Nebraska LTC Pharmacy has expanded into a new Lincoln location just off 40th and Normal Blvd. In addition, they’ve opened up a store in Omaha at 114th and Dodge. Nebraska LTC Pharmacy was founded by Fairbury native Shannon Schultz in 2011. She recognized a need in the community for a pharmacy that did more than just count pills and slap labels. She wanted to make a difference. The goal of Nebraska LTC Pharmacy is to continue to offer the “small town” level of customer service while providing the highest level of care for their patients. All it takes is one phone call to the pharmacy and you’ll notice the difference. No automated systems, no punching in prescription numbers, just great personal care. They want to help you with your medications and preserve your independence. Here’s how Nebraska LTC Pharmacy sets themselves apart from the big box chain stores: • Free adherence packaging. Nebraska LTC Pharmacy uses SureMed® bubble-packaging system that has been proven to increase medication adherence up to 90% (STOMPP Study). Better medication adherence will help you achieve your health goals for 2021 and beyond. • Free delivery in the Lincoln or Omaha areas. Nebraska LTC Pharmacy is happy to ship medications if you are outside their delivery areas. • In-home consultations. A licensed pharmacist will come to your home to discuss your medications and their service to ensure it is the best match for you. • Medication reconciliations. Their pharmacist will communicate with your doctors to ensure a safe and effective medication regimen tailor-made for you. • Many other miscellaneous services like environmentally safe disposal of medications, on-site vaccination/injections, and providing incontinence supplies and nutritional supplements. Nebraska LTC Pharmacy is a locally owned pharmacy that provides a wide array of services in the Lincoln and Omaha areas. They provide individualized patient care that increases safety and prolongs your independence at home. To learn more, visit www.neltcpharmacy. com or call the Lincoln office at (402) 328-0231. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

• The vaccine will help keep you from getting COVID-19 and also may protect people around you. • The vaccine is a safer way to help build protection. • The vaccine will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic. • More information to help you make an informed decision about the vaccine is available at Cdc.gov/covid19. The mission of the Nebraska Safety Council is to provide education and leadership to empower Nebraskans to live safe and healthy. For more information or to become a member, visit nesafetycouncil.org, call (402) 483-2511, or email nesc@nesafetycouncil.org. Do I have a problem with money? Or do I have a problem with gambling?

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HEALTH NEWS Community Action Now Enrolling for New FEAST Wellness Program

Next in SCIP Awareness Series: Fostering Youth Mental Wellness in a Stressful World

Community Action is now enrolling participants in their new FEAST Wellness Program, whic h is designed to arm participants in strategies for living a healthier lifestyle. The 12-week program, beginning the week of February 15, will support individuals and their families in increasing their health and wellness through education, access to healthy foods, and social support. FEAST—an acronym that stands for Food, Access, and Support, Together—will involve meeting with group leaders and peers (plus individual support) to discuss valuable topics on health that participants can immediately begin implementing at home. Each meeting will also focus on the creation of a unique, healthy recipe and will include a demonstration for participants to follow at home. Benefits of participation include: learning new cooking skills, exploring barriers to healthy eating, gaining health and wellness support from peers, and discovering healthy budget-friendly recipes to make at home. Meetings will occur via Zoom until further notice. To learn more about FEAST or to enroll, reach out to Community Action’s Nutrition and Wellness Coach Sheila Stratton at (402) 8759329 / sstratton@commuinityactionatwork.org. Community Action’s mission is to empower people living in poverty to reach economic stability. Their programs focus on eliminating the causes and conditions of poverty in early childhood education, homelessness prevention, financial and family wellbeing, hunger relief, and healthy food access. To learn more, call (402) 471-4515 or visit communityactionatwork.org.

School Community Intervention & Prevention (SCIP) of Lincoln Medical Education Partnership is inviting parents, students, school personnel, and community members to attend the next presentation in their communityawareness series, “Fostering Youth Mental Wellness in a Stressful World,” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. February 25 on Zoom. The series is the result of SCIP’s partnership with Lincoln Public Schools, Bryan Independence Center, and the Lancaster Prevention Coalition, the goal of which is to share a series of valuable presentations that support the health and well-being of our community’s youth. No registration is required. Series presenter Melissa Lafferty is a therapist with Nebraska Mental Health Centers and will discuss the role of stress on mental health and provide strategies that everyone can employ to promote mental wellness as a means to cope better with the stress of the current world around us. The role that teachers and parents can play to support youth by promoting positive coping techniques also will be addressed. To access the training, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81409286209, Meeting ID: 814 0928 6209. School Community Intervention & Prevention is supported in whole or part by Grant #2B08T1010034 under the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Nebraska Division of Behavioral Health and monies passed through by Region 4 and Region V to prevention providers ($135,170 or 53%) and $121,933 or 47% from non-governmental entities. For more information about other presentations in the series or for more information about SCIP, visit scipnebraska.com.

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HEALTH NEWS Adjuvance Technologies Teams with Oragenics to Develop 2nd-Generation COVID Vaccine Lincoln-based biotechnology company Adjuvance Technologies has entered a partnership with Oragenics Inc. to begin development of a second-generation vaccine against COVID-19. A second-generation of vaccines against COVID-19 are expected to provide benefits over the quickly developed first generation vaccines including protection with fewer doses, fewer sideeffects, and a vast expansion of the number of doses available annually. TQL-1055, the lead candidate of Adjuvance, could be a critical component of enabling these important secondgeneration vaccines. Dr. Tyler Martin, the CEO of Adjuvance, is “delighted that our team will be engaged in development of the critical secondgeneration of vaccines against COVID-19. In addition to our own product development, we believe that our technology has the potential to play an important role in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.” Adjuvance is pursuing similar agreements with other developers of COVID-19 vaccines. These partnerships will help to advance the company alongside the internal development of next generation saponin adjuvants and adjuvanted vaccines. Adjuvance Technologies (www.adjuvancetechnologies.com) is a Nebraska Innovation Campus partner. More information on this partnership can be found on the website of Oragenics at www. Oragenics.com. Dr. Martin is available for additional information by contacting him at tyler@adjuvancetechnologies.com.

CenterPointe Becomes Part of Zero Suicide Initiative to Make Suicide a ‘Never Event’ CenterPointe is proud to announce they are part of the Zero Suicide initiative, developed out of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center of the Education Development Center (EDC). EDC worked with health and behavioral healthcare organizations looking to improve care for individuals who are at risk of suicide. CenterPointe is now among these behavioral healthcare organizations seeking to make suicide a “never event.” The Zero Suicide leadership team consists of Michelle Nelson, Helen Trotter, Jenn Nelson, Jordon Weideman, Kat Clark, Ryan Carruthers, Amber Dirks, and Chris Allende. CenterPointe’s goals are to learn how to incorporate evidencebased best practices into individual care and safety for those at risk for suicide. The nonprofit’s team will assess risk and use all of the tools in the Zero Suicide Toolkit to ensure that every person served receives suicide care. CenterPointe intends to take the lead in the state of Nebraska to promote the Zero Suicide approach to improve care and outcomes for at-risk individuals in behavioral healthcare systems. CenterPointe is a nonprofit organization that started in 1973, offering Lincoln and Omaha a broad continuum of care for the disadvantaged, individuals facing homelessness, and those with mental health challenges. Today, CenterPointe offers nearly 40 programs in the areas of crisis response, treatment, rehabilitation, housing, and peer support. CenterPointe’s mission is to help those they serve get better, sooner, for longer. To learn more or to donate to their cause, visit centerpointe.org, call (402) 475-8717, or email development@centerpointe.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Lincoln Owned. Lincoln Focused. Lin coln First Real ty was founded in November of 2007 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cornhusker Bank of Lincoln. The affiliation with Cornhusker Bank is vital to their development in that it provides financial stability, leadership, business opportunities, and other resources that make them somewhat unique in the marketplace. Since opening their doors, Lincoln First Realty experienced steady growth and have become one of the fastest growing real estate companies in Lincoln. Lincoln First Realty is a full service professional real estate company offering services ranging f rom representation of buyers and sellers in a real estate transaction to pricing opinions and marketing strategies that assist their clients in the decision making process.

Their basic business philosophy is best described in their mission statement, which stresses the simple premise that the customer comes first and that their actions as professional REALTORS ® should always reflect that philosophy. Lincoln First Realty is a company of high standards and expectations that understands that their success is directly related to a business model that rewards the agents for their contributions through an “agent centered” philosophy. Lincoln First Realty has three offices: 7575 S 57th; 5701 S 34th St., STE 101; and 1101 Cornhusker Hwy., STE 200. The management team consists of Brad Hulse, general manager; Lea Barker, managing broker; and Pat Elgert, managing broker. There are over 50 experienced real estate agents with Lincoln First Realty.

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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STRICTLY BUSINESS UPCOMING EVENTS Last Month Recap We had such a fun group get together last month at Rock ‘n’ Joe Coffee Bar! We just love this place. Nothing but good vibes when you walk in. Plus, there are great lunch items to fill you up. Our group enjoyed salads, sandwiches (especially the chicken cordon bleu!), and the meat and cheese tray, charcuterie style—which is surprisingly bigger than you’d think! Rock ‘n’ Joe’s Lincoln location is locally owned by Dennis and Jayna Nienhueser. Their daughter Tara manages the shop. They are very sweet people! Rock ‘n’ Joe offers a full line of coffee and coffee-based artisan drinks that can be made hot, iced, or frozen. What makes Rock ‘n’ Joe unique is they also have a wine tasting room featuring their own wine from Whispering Winds Vineyards in York as well as 13 other Nebraska wines served in automated wine dispensers. They also have a variety of Nebraska craft beers in addition to the wine they offer. So Rock ‘n’ Joe is a great place to start and end your day! Or make it your office if you’re working remotely. They also have a drive-thru if you’re on the go. Thank you to all our friends who joined us!

Piedmont Bistro on Tuesday, February 9, 11:30 a.m. It’s been a while, but we’re so excited to be going back to Piedmont Bistro by Venue for this month’s Friends4Lunch event! Please join us on Tuesday, February 9, at 11:30 a.m. This unforgettable local restaurant serves fresh, made-from-scratch cuisine. Piedmont’s menu offers a wide variety of options including daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner options along with their all-day Sunday brunch. We will have a select menu for our event, featuring some of your favorite dishes and appetizers. Our group will dine in the Cotner Room, the bistro’s private event room. It provides an inviting cozy atmosphere for networking. Piedmont Bistro is located at 1265 S. Cotner Blvd. in The Shoppes at Piedmont. We hope you can make it! Friends4Lunch is a chance for you to treat yourself to a change of scenery while connecting with other professionals outside of the office over a delicious lunch! This unique networking opportunity in Lincoln is casual and open to anyone in the business community who is interested in attending…it’s not just for clients! We are also proud to support local restaurants during this time. RSVP is encouraged for these events. Please let the Strictly Business team know if you plan to attend by calling (402) 466-3330, emailing editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com, or marking yourself as “Going” on the Facebook event pages. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

A Place of Comfort for the Mourning No matter how prepared we can try to be for a loved one’s death, no one can truly prepare themselves for the intense grief that’s left in their absence. Dealing with the death of a loved one is always painful, and Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery is there to help prepare and comfort you and your family during your time of loss. “Wyuka” is a Lakota word meaning “to rest,” and the caring and understanding staff at Wyuka does everything to provide rest, comfort, options, and help to any family that seeks their help. For Wyuka, it’s always an honor to care and a privilege to serve. Wyuka has a long history in Lincoln, and it has been designated as a place of rest and tranquility for people and their loved ones since 1869. The “By allowing current funeral home, chapel, and office built in 2000 were designed after Wyuka to assist the buildings originally put in place during the early 20th century. As a you in your pretestament to the many types of people who’ve always considered Lincoln planning, you can home, Wyuka provides services for people of all faiths, backgrounds, and be assured that, traditions and will help you and your family honor your loved one in the way that best represents them. When a loved one passes on, Wyuka believes when the time that a service of dignity and simplicity in a setting of great natural beauty is a comes, your final heartfelt way to say goodbye. Many see Wyuka as a peaceful and comforting wishes will be place to visit, as it provides a beautiful and serene setting for families known.” and their loved one’s final place of rest. Throughout the years, over 52,000 individuals have selected Wyuka to be their cemetery of choice for burial. One of the ways that Wyuka helps families struggling with loss is by providing funeral pre-planning services and consultations for individuals who know they will be passing soon. It may seem difficult, overwhelming, or even a bit awkward to think about right now, however, pre-planning can help you make an informed and thoughtful decision about your funeral. You’re then able to choose sentimental things you want included, compare prices, and help your family. By allowing Wyuka to assist you in your pre-planning, you can be assured that, when the time comes, your final wishes will be known. This can provide an enormous relief to those close to you, who might be overwhelmed with making decisions at the time of your passing. By requesting assistance from any of Wyuka’s pre-planning consultants or by filling out a pre-planning form, you and your family can choose to include any special burial options, themes, musical selections, poems, religious texts, special stories, messages, or more in your service. And, by opting to pre-fund your plan, you can rest assured in the knowledge that your expenses will be covered when you need them to be—guaranteed. Despite how overwhelming losing a loved one can be, Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery wants to help guide you and your family through the process. Wyuka provides information and resources for dealing with grief and loss and does whatever they can to make sure you or your loved one is honored and memorialized in the way that best suits them. If you are planning a funeral for yourself or a loved one, or are experiencing an unexpected, sudden loss, please reach out to Wyuka for guidance. They will walk you through every step and provide you with the best options with compassion and care.

(402) 474-3600 | 3600 O St. | wyuka.com 54

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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LINCOLN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION by Bud Synhorst, President

(402) 466-3419 • www.liba.org

Reinventing Ourselves

During the past year, I believe we have all taken the opportunity to “reinvent ourselves” so to speak. In conversations with business owners, I regularly hear of new, innovative ways businesses throughout our community are adapting to better serve customers and clients during a pandemic. Change is difficult and I believe human nature is for us to resist change at some level. During difficult times, when faced with great challenges, I believe we are able to adapt when we are forced to make quick, decisive decisions. This is also our innate human nature. At the Lincoln Independent Business Association, we have spent time focused on how we can do things differently and still serve and support our members while adding value to members. I am proud of the work of our team to find new ways to reach our members, support business, and help our community. The team at LIBA has embraced a greater presence on social media, finding ways to feature LIBA member businesses. Our weekly virtual lunches on Facebook are growing our reach and sharing the message of local business. We have been able to connect members with resources at the local and national level through conference calls, webinars, and of course Zoom. Our team was committed to making sure our office never shut down during the pandemic in order to serve businesses. We have refined our ways of communicating with members through e-newsletters and being more outwardly focused. During the summer and fall, we started hosting our events again and found creative ways to make sure everyone was safe and able to participate. We as a community have continually stepped up to help fellow business owners. There are so many great examples in our community of stepping up to help others. We have adopted a bit of a new mindset about how we support local. Restaurants and bars have innovated in the way they serve us for dining in, carryout, and curbside or delivery. Some restrictions have loosened in order to help bars and restaurants serve customers and survive. This past holiday season, the stories of people in our community committing to buying local was inspiring for me. Day after day, calls after call, people were assuring me they were shopping local this year instead of relying on the convenience of ordering online. Those commitments from our customers will have a lasting impact as the business community reinvents themselves. The support for local business with gift card purchases through NebraskaBuyLocal.com was inspiring. I saw many of our own members opting to put their money back into our community. I absolutely love being a Nebraskan and a Lincolnite! The way we come together to support one another is meaningful. Nebraskans adapting to new situations and “making it happen” is what makes me so proud to be a Nebraskan We are truly blessed in our work ethic, our commitment to getting things done, and helping our friends and neighbors. These qualities are why I believe we will all find a way to “reinvent ourselves” over the course of the upcoming year and together we will be a stronger, more vibrant community. I tip my hat to the community of Lincoln for stepping up and working together to help our friends and neighbors. I encourage you to find ways to innovate how you are able to serve your clients and customers. This will make your business and our community stronger in the long run. Thank you for supporting our local businesses! Together we are helping each other not only reinvent, but better ourselves and the community. LIBA studies and promotes these types of issues that are important to businesses and our community. If you have an interest in joining, please call LIBA at (402) 466-3419. LIBA membership is not restricted to just businesses. We also have “individual” memberships for those who want to help influence our local government decisions.

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FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

TRANSFORMING BUILDINGS

Through Design, Construction, and Operation Engineered Controls’ vision is to participate in projects to transform the way buildings are designed, built, and operated; and to create environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. From the integration of new control technologies into their designs, to the contracting work they engage in, Engineered Controls is participating in the green movement in construction right here in Nebraska and Iowa. Building Automation Systems can earn LEED points a variety of ways. Categories include: • Potable water use reduction • Lighting controls • Sensors for Occupancy and CO2 • Measurement and recording • Building automation system

Engineered Controls has participated in the following Green building projects, to name a few. Air Force Global Weather Agency—Engineered Controls provided the environmental control system for the Air Force Global Weather Agency Facility at Offutt AFB. The 188,000-square-foot facility is responsible for providing around-theclock weather analyses, forecasts, and warnings for global climatological intelligence to military, DOD, national agencies, and allied nations for the planning and execution of missions. “AFWA wanted a contractor that AFWA Facility achieved LEED Gold could deliver a state of the art certification. Engineered Controls began building management system working with the Air Force Weather Agency in 2006 as part of the original with open communications construction team. Engineered Controls protocols to obtain the flexibility provided all the product, electrical and interoperability they desired. installation and commissioning labor, and The combination of Engineered provide all required site commissioning Controls and Honeywell’s WEBs with the US Corp of Engineers.

"We had Engineered Controls upgrade our software and while they were here, the ECI technician was able to improve the boiler staging to make them operate more efficiently. We should see a big savings on our energy bill. Way to go Engineered Controls!" – Craig Billings, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Elkhorn

product met all of AFWA’s needs for today and into the future.“

J. James Exxon FBI Headquarters Building—Engineered Controls provided the environmental control system for the J. James Exxon FBI Headquarters Building in Omaha at 4411 S. 121st Street. The 161,700-square-foot facility that serves as the Regional Headquarters for the FBI achieved LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and incorporated numerous sustainable design features, including recycled and regional materials, building automation, gas detection controls, VFDs, energy metering, 3rd party integration, and planned maintenance. Metro Community College - Engineered Controls provided the environmental control system for the new - three building complex at Metropolitan Community College – Fort Omaha Campus. The 252,000-sq. ft. facility is responsible for providing advanced educational opportunities for the Omaha area. The MCC project is projected to achieved LEED Gold certification.

Established in 1994, Engineered Controls offers complete turnkey building control solutions including system design, new construction and owner-direct retrofit sales, installation, repair service, and preventative maintenance work for smart buildings.

402.339.1300 engineeredcontrols.com 56

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE by Wendy Birdsall, President

(402) 436-2350 • www.lcoc.com

2021 LaunchLNK Winners

Life on the Silicon Prairie remains vibrant with a bright future ahead. There is no shortage of big ideas in our startup community as entrepreneurship continues to thrive. The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) is happy to announce the five recipients of this year’s LaunchLNK grant awards. LaunchLNK provides qualifying startups with a $25,000 grant, connections to mentors and potential corporate partners and professional services from companies such as HBE, Cline Williams, Suiter Swantz, Eakes Office Solutions, and Firespring. “We were very impressed by the strength of the applicant pool this year, which reflects all of the work being done to build the startup ecosystem across Lincoln,” said Christina Oldfather, LPED director of innovation and entrepreneurship. “We are excited to work with this talented group of founders to help them grow their companies.” Startup companies that receive an award through the LaunchLNK program have the potential to leverage other Nebraska based programs and funds, such as the grant and investment programs offered through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Invest Nebraska. In addition to gaining outside sources of capital, the awarded startup companies will also participate in Fluent Studio's virtual accelerator program. Here are this year’s LaunchLNK recipients: Corral Technologies, founded by Jack Keating, uses hardware and software to create a virtual fencing system, allowing ranchers to move, track and record data on their cattle to increase pasture utilization, decrease rent costs and save them countless hours of backbreaking work. The app will help manage the work that must be done to run a ranch profitably. Sub Guru, co-founded by Sarah Rasby and Andra Rasby, is a customizable management app that automates the entire instructor substitution process for fitness studios, providing clients with a reliable solution and eliminating the need to find substitute instructors for classes. Sub Guru saves owners time, money, and stress. Oculi Data, LLC, owned by Dr. Teresa Anderson, offers an easy-to-use web-based SaaS data portal for nurses and healthcare executives to compare clinical outcomes to other facilities to improve patient care and achieve the best of class nursing and clinical excellence. With a single competitor offering this unique service, Oculi has an opportunity to significantly disrupt the current market while supporting healthcare facilities to achieve data entry efficiency and significantly reduce costs. Job Share Connect, co-founded by Jessica Charlsen and Jina Hwang Picarella, Ph.D., standardizes the job share sourcing, matching, and on-boarding process for companies looking to recruit and retain top talent. This platform is the first of its kind in the United States. Job share partners share the role, responsibilities, hours, and compensation for one full-time position. Iron Sun, founded by Natalie Gunther, provides virtual assistants that can come alongside working moms to free up their time so they can invest that time in themselves, their family and their career. Iron Sun helps with meal planning, gift planning, calling and scheduling appointments, and much more. Iron Sun wants to help working moms get more time back to enjoy evenings at home with their families. Congratulations to our LaunchLNK recipients! We are excited to help you grow and expand your companies here in Lincoln.

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

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FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Highest Quality Window Tinting in Lincoln for Your Home, Business, & Vehicle Pro-Tint is Lincoln’s premier source for high-quality window tinting products. Their inventory includes options to guard against glare, fading, impact, and excess heat. Whether you’re the owner of a home, business, or vehicle, Pro-Tint has what you need to protect your investment while increasing your comfort, privacy, and safety. With over 45 years of industry experience, you can count on Pro-Tint to install your window tinting solution with expertise and confidence.

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Elegant and Decorative Window Glass Tinting Decorative Glass Finishes are beautifully engineered and available in over 50 designs. These glass finishes add an interior aesthetic touch while providing privacy and controlling light. Pro-Tint provides their customers with a customized windowing tinting plan to fit unique needs and budgets. In addition, to ensure the best in customer service and satisfaction, all of Pro-Tint's auto tinting is backed by warranty. For a free estimate on an industry-leading window tinting solutions in Lincoln, call Pro-Tint!

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"Best window tint place in town! They are professional, affordable, and have a great staff. Plus, they're local! My family did four cars with their service, and we are always so satisfied with the work they do!" - Johan K. “I was told it would take a couple of hours to tint my windows...in an hour they were done! They did a perfect job and were very polite and helpful." - Chad H.

"A while ago, I needed to get my car windows tinted. I'd heard all these great things about John at Pro Tint and decided to check it out. Right away, I could tell that they had great customer service and that they'd take their time to make sure the job was done quickly and efficiently. I was highly satisfied with the quality of the job and the affordable price. I would clearly recommend ProTint and would recommend that you check them out before going anywhere else—you won't be disappointed!" - Alyssa P.

2901 N 27th St., Suite A, 68521 | (402) 474-1234 | www.pro-tint.net 58

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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DOWNTOWN LINCOLN ASSOCIATION by Todd Ogden, President

(402) 434-6900 • www.downtownlincoln.org

George + Maeve: Carefully Curated by a Mother of Five

If you don’t see the red ribbon, it’s not....

The Genuine. The Original.

Jody Domangue’s inspiration for opening her own children’s store is pretty obvious: she has five kids of her own, all between the ages of ten and two. You get to know a thing or two about onesies and toys with five kids, and Domangue loves to shop small. She opened george + maeve a year and a half ago but moved into the Haymarket’s Creamery Building in March. Her charming selection of children’s clothing, books, toys, and accessories now occupy the former Paint Yourself Silly space. The timing of the move, she admits, wasn’t ideal. “We moved, and literally everything shut down because of COVID,” she said. “But that’s life.” The store was quick to adapt with an online shop, curbside pickup, and free local delivery but the year has been slower than she ever could have imagined. For now, she’s weathering the storm.

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Moving into the historic Creamery building had been hard to resist. “This has been a fun space to play with and figure out how to rearrange and get creative,” Domangue said. “My old space had white walls and no windows. This building has so much character.” Domangue lives and breathes tiny clothing and toys, and tries to stock her personal favorites as well as items that will last the test of time. “We like stuff that is going to last from kid to kid,” she said. “That’s kind of a big thing for me. My two year old is still wearing clothes that my eight-year-old boy wore and has been handed down from kid to kid. And toys, too—wooden toys are the toys at our house that have lasted a long time. The plastic stuff sort of seems to break.” She also looks for things that are geared towards all ages, as her oldest children are entering “big kid” territory.

402-440-1857 gabelconstruction20@gmail.com 6211 O St. | Lincoln, NE

A THOUSAND WORDS (REVIVAL)

George + maeve is currently offering free local delivery and free shipping on orders over $50. Shop george + maeve online at georgeandmaeve.com, or visit in person at 701 P Street: Monday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thursday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

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

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Feb 17-21 Free On-line For Details

nebraskarep.org Professionals in Residence at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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When times are hard and our lives seem chaotic or unfair...we can count on our pets to bring a smile to our faces. Especially as business leaders in our community, life can be pretty demanding, but owning a pet actually brings about health benefits that get us through the thick of it. For example, studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to the owners. Pets also bring out the child-like love in all of us...have you ever seen a big, tough, grown man melt at the sight of a puppy and start talking in a baby voice? It’s hard to be angry when there’s a cute animal in the room. This is why many employers promote pets in the workplace, and there are many professions that can’t allow pets because of the specific industry they are in, but they really wish they could. Pets create camaraderie within the workplace and spark interactions that may not have happened without them. They can also offer a much-needed distraction. According to an article by the University of Southern California on The Benefits of Bringing Pets

to Work, spending too much time too close to a project, problem, or other work can inhibit productivity and cause unnecessary stress. Pets remind people to pause and step back from whatever they are involved in. Short walks, a little playtime, and temporary distractions allow mental breaks so as not to overwork and become stressed.

Katie Titterington, store manager of Arnie’s Pet Food Store and Wild Bird Habitat Store, rescued her dog Toby three years ago. He is about seven years old and believed to be a Border Collie mix. He is a horrible watch dog because he lovingly welcomes every person without hesitation. When they go to the dog park or the store, Toby greets people first over other dogs. He is not a barker, thank goodness, and loves his three cats—Oliver, Oscar, and Meechi. He must not have been played with in his younger years so toys are not his thing, but he is very treat-driven. Some of his favorites include Vital Essentials Bully Twists and Honey I’m Home Buffalo Honey Sticks (found at Arnie’s!). When Katie and her dad David Titterington opened Arnie’s Pet Food Store over four years ago, the local community welcomed them with open arms. Having Toby and, previously, their dog Arnie made them more aware of pet health. The knowledge and training they have acquired over these past few years has made them more passionate about learning how to help animals. Learn more about the products at Arnie’s by visiting the store, 5601 S 56th Katie Titterington St., or go online to www.arniespetfoods.com. & Toby 60 Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

MJ Cassner is the owner of Transworld Business Advisors of Lincoln. MJ’s dog Princess is a Maltese mix and a lively addition to the Cassner family. She jumps high, does twirls, and oh does she love a tummy rub! The family purchased Princess from a friend a few months into COVID when the family wanted a pet. She wears a pink tutu with “Spoiled Princess” written on the back. How appropriate! Princess truly is spoiled with love. She has brought a ray of sunshine into an otherwise dark year. Transworld Business Advisors is the worldwide leader in business and franchise brokerage. When a company owner needs to sell their business, they can’t just stick a for sale sign in the window. They need the assistance of a business broker to locate and vet potential buyers. On the other side, buyers rely on the broker to help facilitate the process of evaluating potential businesses and franchises for sale. A Transworld Business Advisor is the solution for both scenarios. To learn more about buying or selling a business with Transworld, v i s i t t wo r l d . c o m / L i n c o l n o r contact MJ at (402) 413-1095 MJ Cassner & Princess or mjcassner@tworld.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

At Strictly Business, we believe people choose to do business with people they know, like, and trust. As almost every pet owner can attest, their furry friend(s) play a big role in their lives. Getting to “meet” these business leaders’ pets gives us a little look into their hearts and homes. We’re excited as this is the first time we are highlighting Lincoln businesses and their pets as a stand-alone feature in the magazine, but we look forward to doing it again in the future, and getting even more leaders involved. Who doesn’t love photos of cute dogs and cats? Reach out to us if you’d like to introduce your pet(s) to all our readers while promoting your business!

Coco is a nine-year-old rescue dog who owns Dr. Bob Bleicher, medical director of HoriSun Hospice. Coco brings smiles to everyone she encounters, from HoriSun staff and their patients to the patients’ families and caregivers. She is also known (prepandemic) to visit senior living communities, bringing joy to many residents. HoriSun Hospice has been assisting individuals facing a life-limiting illness since 2004. Their mission is to care for hospice patients and their loved ones with honor, dignity, and respect. Dr. Bleicher has practiced medicine in Lincoln for over 35 years with more than 25 years of hospice medical direction. He strongly believes in compassionate care with attention to patients’ and families’ physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. To learn more about Horisun Hospice, visit www. Dr. Bob Bleicher & Coco horisunhospice.com. This is Chip, a Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier mix. Christy Merritt, executive director at The Waterford Communities, went through Wag N Train Terrier Rescue in Omaha and adopted him about nine years ago. Christy was Chip’s fourth home. He had a rough start in life, but the Merritts were a matc h made in heaven. COMMUNITIES One of Chip's favorite toys is his tennis ball, and he enjoys jeep rides with mom and the occasional McChicken sandwich. You can find Chip sleeping just about anywhere the family is—and Christy has a big family so there’s always someone willing to share a snack or a hug. The Waterford Communities is made up of three communities that offer assisted living and memory care to seniors in the Lincoln community. You can take virtual tours online Christy Merritt & Chip at thewaterford.net. Garrett Rech, son of Delta Nelson who owns The Mechanix Garage in Lincoln, is the proud owner of Zeus. Garrett has grown up working for the family business, and Zeus has become the ultimate shop dog—it’s a great place for him to work off his puppy energy. He is a mix between an American Staffordshire Terrier crossed with a Bull Nose Pitbull. His personality ranges from being a major goofball, chasing his tail constantly, to wanting to do nothing but cuddle up next to you. Zeus almost always has a smile on his face. His favorite toys are bones and empty bottles (which are a lot cheaper to come by!). The Mechanix Garage is located at 1323 Dawes Ave. Go to them for a full range of automotive repair services (and to say hi to Zeus!). Focused on honesty and integrity, they’ll never tell you something needs fixing when it doesn’t and they’ll never tell you they fixed something that they didn’t. Book online at the mechanixgarage.com or call Garrett Rech & Zeus (531) 249-1899. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Ben and Andrea Bleicher, team leaders of Professional Realty Group (PRG) of Woods Bros Realty, are the happy owners of Lola, a four-year-old Pomchi (Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix). Lola came into Ben and Andrea's lives four years ago when she was just a tiny fluffball of fur. She has a really silly personality and loves little kids, especially Ben and Andrea's seven-year-old daughter Brynnlee. They cuddle every night! Lola also likes to lay on top of Andrea's pregnant tummy like she's protecting the baby, and she constantly follows Andrea everywhere. The mailman and other visitors can't miss Lola...she yaps and yaps when visitors approach, but she soon warms up to them and just wants to snuggle!

Andrea, Brynnlee & Ben Bleicher & Lola

Ben and Andrea run one of the most successful Real Estate teams in Lincoln—Professional Realty Group of Woods Bros. Their family of agents specialize in all aspects of Real Estate but have very extensive knowledge of new construction. With a strong understanding of the real-estate market, PRG of Woods Bros aids clients in getting into their dream homes as quickly and painlessly as possible. To learn more, visit PRG-NE.com or call/text Ben at (402) 419-6309.

Colleen Clark and Tom Ryan are the owners of Camp Bow Wow Lincoln. They have three Yorkies—Zena, Zeppelin, and Zara—and a Shih Tzu/Maltese mix named Sasha! Zena is 11 years old. At 4 pounds, she is a total Energizer Bunny! Zeppelin is 8 years old. He's tiny but has the personality of a Great Dane. Zara is six years old and can jump a 4-foot wall. Sasha is the same age as Zeppelin, and she's really the leader of the pack. Her princess personality puts everyone in place at times! The group of them keep Colleen and Tom really busy, not to mention running a business on top of it all. When Colleen and Tom saw how professional, caring, and fun Camp Bow Wow was, they knew it was the business for them. Camp Bow Wow is a premier dog care facility that provides daycare, overnight boarding, and grooming. Whether you need help for the day or longer, they can accommodate your needs. Your dog will have the freedom to run, play, and romp in the large climatecontrolled play yards. It is the only place in town where you can check in on your pup from afar via live web cams. Treat your pet to all-inclusive fun at one convenient rate at Camp Bow Wow. They are located at 56th Santa & Zara, Zeppelin, and Old Cheney. Learn more at www. Zena & Sasha campbowwow.com/lincoln.

“You can usually tell that a man is good if he has a dog who loves him.” - W. Bruce Cameron FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

Meet Theodore Han Becker, a purebred Boxer named after BancWise REALTOR Jayson Becker’s son Sam’s favorite president, Theodore Roosevelt, and his favorite Star Wars character, Han Solo. Theo, for short, was born July 31, 2017 and given as a Christmas present to Sam. Theo is nothing short of a barrel of energy and is always so glad to see the Becker family when they get home from a long day at work or school. Theo loves his walks and enjoys destroying tennis balls, digging up sprinkler heads, and laying in front of the space heater in the winter time. Theo is a celebrity in the Becker’s neighborhood. All the neighbors who walk by know him by name and get a kick out of him running along the fence line barking like he’s nuts. As much of a pain in the butt is he is sometimes, they wouldn’t trade him for the world. Jayson jumped into the real estate world about 10 years ago. He is proud to lead a team under the BancWise Realty name. They specialize in residential and commercial real estate, development, and new construction. Jayson is known for getting results for buyers and sellers. To learn more, contact Jayson at (402) 610-1013 / Jayson Becker & jbecker@bancwise.com or bancwise. Theodore Han com/agent/jayson-becker.

This is Carla Schroeder, wife of CBD American Shaman Owner Lance Schroeder, and their dog Molly. Molly is a Chiweenie and will be 12 years old in July. She is a bit camera shy, though Lance and Carla have no idea why as they’ve had her since she was a puppy. Still, she acts as if the camera is going to hurt her. As soon as the camera is gone, she starts wagging her tail and running around again. Molly is such a sweet, caring dog. She is a little bit of a drama queen, at times. She definitely knows how to work a room to get what she wants! Molly’s facial expressions are hilarious. Her favorite hobbies include sleeping and getting treats. She actually knows what times she is supposed to get her treats, so she will definitely remind you if you forget! Molly is truly loved by Carla, Lance, and the CBD American Shaman family here in Lincoln. Her favorite CBD product is the Canine Tincture. She takes it twice a day to help with joint health. CBD American Shaman of Lincoln has dozens of CBD products aimed at helping your pets relax, manage stress, and provide relief and overall wellness. American Shaman CBD products for pets are all made from high-quality and terpene-rich pure hemp extract, and all of their CBD pet products are made with non-GMO hemp, grown in the USA, powered by their proprietary nanotechnology and lab-tested to ensure that they meet or exceed purity and potency standards. To learn more, go to cbdoflincoln.com or visit one of the Carla Schroeder & Molly three locations in Lincoln. 62 Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day.” - John Grogan Meet Jacque Rico, an agent for Compensation Programs, Inc (ComPro Insurance), and her Chihuahuas, Goldie, Peanut, and Pepper! Jacque actually got Goldie at a McDonald’s drive thru and Peanut and Pepper are her kiddos. Like all Chihuahuas, they get easily excited and like to bark, bark, bark! One of their favorite things is going to the dog park. Jacque’s sweet puppy Pepper prefers to get carried as they walk along the trail, though. A fun fact…they go crazy for chicken jerky! As an agent at ComPro, Jacque helps clients find just the right fit for their health insurance plan. She answers questions and gives assistance every step of the way and beyond. Jacque truly enjoys helping people in this way. Being fluent in Spanish, she can also offer this service to the Hispanic community. At ComPro, their clients affirm that it is very reassuring to work with professionals they can trust to walk them through the often times confusing world of health insurance. Let the team at ComPro help you connect the dots for your Jacque Rico & Peanut, health insurance plan! Call (402) Pepper, & Goldie 488-5100 or visit comproins.com.

Chris Dwinell is a business broker for Transworld Business Advisors of Lincoln and thinks working with her best friend Jameson by her side every day is about the best thing about her work. Although he’s not the best at answering the phone, he is a great companion and a comfortable foot stool as he lays under her desk. Jameson is a Bernese Mountain dog that Chris and her husband Dave rescued two and a half years ago when he was found, just three months old, near a breeders farm in a ditch with a broken leg. Since the leg never healed properly, it stopped growing so it is about two inches shorter than the rest and probably accounts for the fact that he stopped growing altogether at about nine months. Although he is big, he is not the alpha male...as you can see, the older dog in the house wouldn’t even let Jameson take a picture alone with Chris. The reason people call Transworld to help them buy or sell businesses or franchises is that the process can often be very complicated and Transworld is able to handle everything from confidential marketing to the closing. That lets business owners who want to sell focus on keeping their business profitable and confidentially find qualified buyers. If you want to know more about how to sell your business, buy a business, start a franchise, or buy an existing one, call Chris at (402) 802-2288. If Jameson answers, just tell him to transfer. Chris Dwinell & Jameson #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Sold Exclusively at Arnie’s Pet Food Store PLAY WITH YOUR DOG & FIGHT WORLD HUNGER Two FREE meals to orphans for every WO Dog Toy you purchase

#buyonegivetwo Alamo Plaza / 56th & HWY 2 Lincoln, NE 68516

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RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP There’s nothing as heartwarming as the sparkle in the eyes of a child receiving an adorable new family puppy that jumps, tail wagging, into their arms to deliver kisses and immediate love. On the other side of the coin, there’s nothing as heartbreaking as the ache and bewilderment in a dog’s eyes when they turn out to be more effort than anyone imagined and don’t get the care they richly deserve. Owning a pet is a privilege and a life-changing love story, but it’s not something to take on casually for a few special moments. Pet ownership is a lifetime commitment that comes with a wealth of responsibilities—with unimaginable rewards if you’re in it for the long haul. Making A Loyal Friend Katie Titterington of Arnie’s Pet Food Store said a dog’s main focus is to please their owners, and with the proper training, nutrition, and lots of affection, they will quickly understand that they’ve become a member of the family or a loyal friend. It’s a shared sense of love, joy, and security that makes lives better on both sides of the relationship. As a pet owner, however, it is your responsibility to take the steps to honor that loyalty and live up to the love your best friend wants to deliver unwaveringly. Katie Titterington Arnie’s Pet Food Store “If you are considering adding a pet to your family, there are several things you should take into consideration,” Katie said. “For example, if you live in an apartment and now own a dog, you will need to take the time for daily walks with your new partner. You can also take your dog to a city park or open space on a long line and let them explore, or visit one of Lincoln’s off-leash dog parks where they can run and play. Daily exercise is essential for a happy, healthy pet. Even if you are a homeowner with a fenced yard, daily walks can help you learn to control your dog, create a bond, and increase your dog’s senses of the world around them.” A major concern for dog owners is selecting a proper diet to insure good health, providing maximum nutrition and energy. The folks at Arnie’s pride themselves on their five-star high quality all natural pet foods. Their award-winning pet food lines are produced by family owned and operated businesses. FROMM for one has been producing high-end pet foods for five generations. Their full line of treats and chews are 100% all natural and sourced in the U.S., and their pet health care products contain all natural ingredients—no synthetic chemicals—to help keep your pet healthy and happy. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Create a life you love with your dog!

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402-631-3618

thebalancedpackdogtraining@gmail.com “Your dog’s main focus is to please you,” Katie said. “With a little training, proper nutrition, and a lot of affection they will quickly understand they’ve become a member of the family and a loyal friend.” A Life-Changing Experience Dian Quist, who manages Kenl Inn, said owning a pet is truly a life-changing experience and recommends that you take the steps to making it positive both for your family and your new dog or cat. That includes asking experts for help, and enrolling in training classes, so you’ll both have a friend for life. Kenl Inn offers handling/grooming tips during their Just for Puppies class and their Basic/Manners obedience class, and if you have a dog that needs styled, their grooming salon can do that for you—or they’re happy to teach you how to style your own dog.

Dian Quist Kenl Inn

If you’re getting a new puppy or kitten after losing an older pet—or adding to a household with an older pet—be aware that puppies and kittens are going to be a lot more active and curious—which is the perfect example of positive words that could translate to a possibly destructive pet! Also consider the time of year that you’re bringing a new pet into your home. Sometimes, winter isn’t the best time for those active, curious ones. If and when you do decide to move forward with getting a new pet, there’s a lot to get done before bringing it home, too—and that includes creating a routine. “When bringing a new pet into your household, you’ll want to have everything ready before your new pet arrives,” Dian said. “Where will the pet sleep? Eat? Play? If you are a family, you might want to divide up the chores so that everyone gets some quality time with the pet. Who will be responsible for feeding in the morning, afternoon, FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 63

We’ll Treat Your Pet

Like Family! Lodging Salon Daycare Training

evening? Who will be responsible for brushing/combing? Who is responsible for potty breaks and exercise? Creating a routine for you and your pet will help your new pet adjust. We oftentimes ask a lot from our pets, like expecting them to just go with the flow. If you’re lucky, that will work, but it’s not the norm.” Daily hands-on care is ideal for every dog or cat, and it helps teach them that petting and examining are good things, which also helps your veterinarian down the line. What’s more, it helps you notice if something is different or wrong, and it helps you know when it’s time to clean dirty paws, clip toenails, or brush or comb your pet, and it reminds you to examine their ears and mouth regularly.

Call us to Book Today!

Love Them by Leading Them

402-488-8190 • www.Kenl-Inn.com

When you get a new pet, training is absolutely crucial. The Balanced Pack encourages dog owners to transform into leaders to guide their dogs through life. They take a unique approach to dog training, with their focus on each dog’s state of mind, because they must determine how a dog feels about a situation for real change to take place. When you bring a new dog into your household, setting boundaries is a crucial first step toward a successful training path and long-term relationship.

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

“I believe one of the biggest mistakes new dog owners make is giving their new pup too much freedom without including boundaries,” said The Balanced Pack Owner and Trainer Alyse Krejdl. “It is common that new owners want their pet to feel loved and safe in their home. This is often done by showering the dog in all the toys, treats, and affection they could possibly want. This strategy can easily backfire, as the dog can begin to feel entitled and have a lack of respect for their owner. If your dog doesn’t respect you, they Alyse Krejdl certainly won’t be inclined to listen to you or The Balanced Pack follow your guidance. When bringing a new dog into your home, put some boundaries in place, teach your dog what the boundaries are, and have a way to hold them accountable. This will help your dog look to you as their leader and not just as a treat delivery service.” Alyse completed more than 400 hours of hands-on experience covering a wide range of dog behavior and training before launching The Balanced Pack training programs. Before setting up a training program for your dog, they’ll take you through a required consultation, where you can learn about their philosophy, training styles, and process to determine whether you and your pet are a good fit for any of their training options. Programs available include a Puppy Program; Basic Behavior Program; a Behavior Modification Program; and an Off Leash Program, all with the same goal. “If you are struggling with your dog’s behavior or training, you don’t have to do it alone,” Alyse said. “The Balanced Pack aims to keep dogs happy, healthy, and safe in their homes. When dogs control their emotions and trust in their owners, their reward is more inclusion in our lives.” Comfort Counts Your pet is bound to have occasional stress, need joint-health support, and have many of the same wellness needs as humans. With that in mind, we suggest that you make CBD American Shaman of Lincoln part of your pet-health plan. They have dozens of CBD products aimed at helping your buddies relax, manage stress, and provide relief and overall wellness. That includes everything from full-spectrum and THCfree CBD hemp oil tinctures to canine and feline food, and treats for your cat, dog, or horse. Stop in and learn more!

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Life with a furry friend can create one of the best relationships you’ll enjoy in your lifetime. Your pet wants nothing more than to make you happy and love you to the fullest, so it’s up to you to set the stage for success. It will be worth every penny and every moment you spend. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Wedding Planning Lots of brides and grooms saw the date of their special day come and go—multiple times, in some cases—in 2020, as COVID pushed pause on big gatherings, and wedding parties scrambled to reschedule or adjust to the conditions. We’re hopeful that 2021 will see many of those postponed nuptials go off with all the regalia they deserve. With restrictions still in place, and changing constantly, ceremonies in 2021 may still look a little different than the old norm, but both businesses and couples are finding creative ways to may those special days truly special, nonetheless. We found plenty of wedding-related businesses in Lincoln that are putting their version of magic into wedding plans, associated events, and all the trimmings. Dream Dress You know you want to look amazing on your wedding day. With that in mind, one of the most important elements of most weddings is the bride’s dress, and it takes some planning and fittings to come up with that perfect dream gown. Blush Bridal Boutique in Lincoln is all about helping brides-to-be get exactly the look they imagine and, in the process, enjoy an experience they’ll treasure forever—and they actually had their best year ever in 2020! The boutique is open to the public again now, after closing for a short time early in the year and creating At Home with Blush virtual consultations, including contactless curbside pickup of wedding gowns to try on, plus Bling Boxes of accessories to top off your wedding-day look. “At Home with Blush allowed us to still serve our brides while maintaining safety and health for our brides and staff,” said Blush Owner Emmy Gorman. “We hosted many virtual consultations with brides, some of whom chose to do the Blush At Home package to say ‘Yes!’ at home and some who ended up coming in when we reopened to say ‘Yes!’ to the dress back in the boutique.” If you choose the Blush at Home package, you’ll get a free virtual consultation, during which Blush stylists will get to know you and Emmy Gorman your style, help guide you through your Blush Bridal Boutique options, showing you available inventory and relaying the same helpful information you would get in the store. You then can pull up curbside to the boutique and go home with up to five beautiful gowns to try on (for a small deposit) before having a Zoom try-on appointment from home with one of their stylists. Talk about making lemonade out of COVID lemons! Whether it’s in the boutique or using At Home with Blush for brides who prefer it, Blush Bridal goes the extra mile to create memorable, individualized shopping experiences for clients. They recommend that all brides purchase their dresses at least six to nine months in advance to allow plenty of time for alterations and last-minute details. They have a tremendous selection of customizable designer wedding gowns, including the Studio Levana line of gowns to cater to curvier brides. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Lincoln Firefighter’s Reception Hall

Where Your Dreams Ignite! • Choose your own caterer • Full bar with staff included • Tables & chairs available • Event planners & designers • Decorating packages • Sound system with projector • Close to the Haymarket & hotels Call or email Lincoln’s most affordable event venue today! 402.477-6001 • manager@firefighterhall.com www.FirefighterHall.com • 241 Victory Lane

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“Every bridal store has pretty dresses and accessories,” Emmy said, “but not every store has Blush stylists! These girls are hand-picked for their servants’ hearts and their ability to love big and fast. Our best advice is to take a deep breath and remember to enjoy this process. It doesn’t have to be stressful. We want brides to remember that the most important thing is that you are marrying the love of your life… and that doesn’t change whether you are surrounded by just your closest family or 250 of your friends!” Top of the Tiara If you’re aiming for a spectacular setting for your wedding, Wilderness Ridge delivers a hole-in-one. Situated on one of Nebraska’s most prestigious golf courses, Wilderness Ridge offers the ideal setting and ambiance for your one-of-a-kind wedding experience. They provide extensive amenities, including everything from event planning assistance, multiple menu options, room-layout coordination, and set-up and tear-down services, to audio-visual equipment, raised stage for band or DJ setup, table linens, centerpieces, table services, welcome sign in the lobby, cake-cutting services, private servers, in-room bar service, dance floor, lockers, and golf carts for photography on the course. With COVID restrictions in place, Wilderness Ridge goes the extra mile to keep clients’ safe, and the smaller events that have come as a result of those restrictions have actually been pretty special. “Smaller groups create a more intimate reception,” said Social Sales Manager Melissa Jacobs. “In some cases, the smaller weddings seem more personal. Instead of guests filling the dance floor, we’ve seen DJ’s come up with some terrific socially distanced fun, like trivia games or casino games that the guests can play at their own tables. Instead of passing appetizers around, we have hot and cold appetizers set up at stations with an attendant, and in lieu of sheet cake, individual desserts are pre-packaged Melissa Jacobs and creatively displayed. For party favors, Wilderness Ridge brides are making their own labels to stick on masks, hand sanitizer, and social-distance wristbands.” The key to wedding planning in pandemic times is flexibility, which isn’t always comfortable for such a big occasion, but it’s the situation we’ve been dealt. “We are trying to remain as flexible as we can,” Melissa said. “Planning weddings is a long-term investment and already can be a stressful planning process but trying to plan when the future is unknown can be a nightmare. I try to remain positive while planning each client’s event, but I also remain realistic with them about capacity limits and what could possibly transpire.” Wilderness Ridge was recognized with four major awards by Nebraska Wedding Day Magazine in 2020. That included the Top of the Tiara Award, which goes to the Best All Around Wedding Vendor, Best Venue in Nebraska, Best Country Club or Golf Club Venue, and Best Rehearsal Dinner Venue. That’s a lot to live up to, but Melissa said Wilderness Ridge does whatever it takes to meet their own high standards: “To be recognized as Nebraska’s best venue for a wedding or rehearsal dinner is a great honor that we do not take lightly, and our team of professionals works hard every day to maintain these lofty standards.” Experiential Events On your big day, LUXX Event Rentals offers everything you need to make any upscale wedding and reception location as beautiful as the day itself. LUXX was created to serve the Lincoln area with incredible “Experiential Events,” and they offer high-end soft seating, catering station displays, wedding arches, and additional décor that is perfect for any upscale wedding, bridal photo shoot, or engagement party. They even subcontract out the basics, like chairs and tables. Maybe most unique of all, however, LUXX offers complimentary virtual layout diagrams showing placement of the rental items in the bride and groom’s selected venue—free of charge for all rentals over $500. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

“We are the only rental company in Lincoln and the surrounding areas offering design layout and diagram creation with our rentals,” said Owner Gretchen Arroyo. “We provide upscale services and rental items. We’re willing to go the extra mile to ensure our clients’ satisfaction and are flexible and willing to deliver anywhere in the state. Along with over 25 years in the event-planning industry, our firm also houses a custom prop shop that creates amazing event design elements, giving couples the Gretchen Arroyo ability to make their big day as unique as LUXX Event Rentals they want. We also offer white-glove setup on EVERY installation of our rental inventory.” LUXX makes it a top priority to keep their clients’ safety and well-being at the forefront of what they do. They have taken measures to clean and sanitize all rental items between bookings, adding an extra day to their booking window for them to process the items as they come in. Gretchen said she expects to see some creative wedding options in 2021, and LUXX will be there to help bring them to life. “I love the idea of the ‘drive-in wedding,’” she said. “It’s such a fun and unique way to celebrate on a large scale without compromising people’s safety or health. I have also seen unique outdoor plans connecting tents and staging with full-scale audio-visual production that completely transforms the inside of a standard 20’ x 40’ tent into an upscale ballroom. This will be big for summer 2021 upscale wedding events!” Breathtaking Setting If you’re looking for a breathtaking outdoor setting for an intimate wedding, we highly recommend that you consider James Arthur Vineyards. This full-service space is near the winery’s tasting room, complete with a waterfall and fabulous landscaping. The maximum capacity of this space is 72 people or less, so it’s meant for relatively small events already. When you throw social-distancing requirements in there, it gets even more intimate. It’s not the only option at James Arthur anymore, though. They recently opened up a huge green space with a picnic area and the perfect location for a larger wedding. “We do all of our weddings outside because the setting here is just gorgeous,” said Jim Ballard, one of the owners of James Arthur Vineyards. “It’s a beautiful place to get married. We did a couple of weddings at the winery in 2020, with about 10-20 people to allow for social distancing. We also opened up the green space in the back and have had two weddings there—one with about 50 people and the other with about 80. So, we didn’t have as many as we had hoped for in 2020 but we were able to help some brides Jim Ballard and grooms out when they were in need of James Arthur Vineyards a new space to get married.” Operating a wedding venue during pandemic conditions is challenging for sure, but if you book with James Arthur Vineyards, you will feel like you are in paradise on your wedding day. They’ll handle everything from providing seating to setting up and tearing down, and they’ll provide a room for the bride to change. They even provide a wine toast at the end of each ceremony! In addition to weddings, James Arthur Vineyards is a great place to hold wedding rehearsals and small receptions. They’ll make your rehearsal dinner special and provide you with everything you need, from start to finish, including wine and catering. “We try to make everything as simple as possible for the bride and groom,” Jim said. “We want to be part of making the day special for them.” Lincoln’s Only Luxurious Boutique Hotel The Kindler Hotel focuses on the individual needs of their guests and takes extra precautions to protect their health and well-being. If you #PrintProudDigitalSmart

LUXX is a full-service special event rental company providing unforgettable details for life’s memorable experiences.

Let's Create Some Magic Together!

Make Your Big Day

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need accommodations for your family, wedding guests, and a bridal suite for you, The Kindler Hotel offers luxurious accommodations, sure to wow everyone. “We offer discounted rates on lavishly appointed bridal suites and guest room blocks for your family and friends,” said Director of Sales and Marketing Cheryl Deiro. “Our hotel is different from any other hotel you will find in Lincoln, offering the highest-quality service with Modern Deco guest rooms and décor. The Kindler Hotel was just awarded the 40th Annual Gold Key Award for Excellent in Hospitality Design, ‘The Best Lobby—Upper Midscale’ by Boutique Design magazine.” Cheryl Deiro Cheryl said The Kindler Hotel has seen many The Kindler Hotel couples opt for smaller, intimate receptions and celebrations in the wake of COVID, which also allows them to offer an overall higher end experience for their guests. The Kindler Hotel is modern and offers unique, alluring accommodations you won’t find anywhere else in Lincoln. Additionally, you just can’t overstate the value of an amazing guest experience. “We have all checked into a hotel and not felt welcome, felt like the hotel is unkempt, unclean, and outdated,” Cheryl said, “and we have all encountered the front desk associate that treated us as ‘just another guest.’ The Kindler is dedicated to you, our guest. We treat everyone as family and focus on ensuring that our guests feel welcome, comfortable, safe, and special.” A Flavor Extravaganza When you’re planning a wedding, the food and goodies you serve are a highlight for your guests. If you want to knock their socks off, Nothing Bundt Cakes will do the trick. A local favorite, they dish up seriously moist, mouthwatering cakes for plenty of weddings and FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

Unforgettable Experience; Undeniable Style

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5505 S 16th Street, Suite 300 Lincoln, NE 68512 402.261.5615 www.BlushBridalNE.com

Rustic, Urban Charm IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN LINCOLN

From event setup to a full-service bar, the Talon Room will meet all of your event needs to go above and beyond.

Let us execute the event of your dreams. Call Matt today to book your event! 402-641-0943 ∙ www.TalonRoom.com ∙ 230 N. 12th St. #1 Lincoln, NE

associated celebrations in the Lincoln area. Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise Owners Sharon Hansen and Melissa Hegarty offer four sizes of Bundt cakes, with the trendiest for weddings being the Bundtini™ and the 8-inch bundt. “The smallest we have is the Bundtini™ which is really popular for receptions because it’s just two or three bites, is available in all 10 of our flavors, and is easy for guests to pick up and eat. The 8-inch cake is popular for use as part of a combination centerpiece and Sharon Hansen dessert on each guest table at the reception. Nothing Bundt Cakes We can design and decorate it with the wedding colors or flowers—or whatever the bride and groom choose. We can even put small decorations on the Bundtini™ and make them really cute. You’ll find a flavor for every taste bud, too. That includes carrot, confetti, chocolate chocolate chip, lemon, marble, pecan praline, red velvet, which chocolate raspberry, classic vanilla, and then a 10th feature flavor that changes every month or two. In working with brides and grooms to make their selections, Sharon said Nothing Bundt Cakes keeps the process as simple as possible and keeps the prices economical. The Party Bus! Party buses are all the rage in the wedding industry these days, and Lincoln’s Tailored Dreams Party Buses is here to serve you in style— be it for a night on the town with the wedding party, a bachelor or bachelorette party, or traveling around to different sites for photography sessions. Tailored Dreams is true to its name, providing experiences tailored to match your dreams in dependable, luxury form. They have a variety of busses, with capacities of anywhere from 26 to 45 passengers, and the majority of their business is wedding parties. Tailored Dreams offers a custom, luxury party bus experience 68 Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

at economical prices, and wedding parties that book one of their buses for both their wedding and bachelor or bachelorette party get a discount. Your wedding party can relax and have a good time while jamming to music and enjoying drinks on the way to their destination. Owner DeeDee Loomis suggests booking a party bus as soon as you know the date you want it, because options in Lincoln are limited and busy—but well-coordinated! DeeDee Loomis “There are four major players in this industry Tailored Dreams in Lincoln,” DeeDee said, “and that’s not Party Buses near enough to meet demand. So, we all work together to satisfy clients. If we don’t have what they need, we can send them to another company, and they’ll do the same for us. All of us are focused solely on making sure clients are taken care of rather than on competing with each other.” Catered Barbecue You’ll have lots of opportunities to feed your wedding party and guests during your wedding experience, and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is always a popular option. Under new ownership, Dickey’s continues to provide catering for gatherings, including weddings and related celebrations, and providing individual box lunches for more casual gatherings during the wedding planning and celebration period. It’s as simple as making one call to work out details, and Dickey’s will deliver it to your location on time. Dickey’s continues to follow all COVID guidelines to keep customers safe. They slow smoke all meats on-site, and the menu features beef brisket, pulled pork, St. Louis style ribs, polish sausage, spicy cheddar sausage, smoked turkey, and marinated chicken, with an extensive array of home-style sides. Wedding and Celebration Venues If you’re looking for the perfect place to host your rehearsal dinner, wedding, or reception, you don’t have to look far in Lincoln. One of the fabulous choices you have is Venue Catering & Events of the PILLAR Restaurant Group. With a combination of five private dining rooms and two large ballrooms, Venue can fit your wedding plans like a white, lace glove. When you see the Venue menu, you’ll know you’re in for a treat, too! You’ll impress your wedding guests with catered options they’ve never seen before, and Venue will cater everything from the rehearsal dinner to the ceremony and reception, with tantalizing food that matches your style and stays within your budget. Another fabulous option for anything from a small, intimate wedding and reception or up to 300 (minus social-distancing requirements of the day) is the Talon Room. They can accommodate any budget and will make sure that your perfect day is perfect, indeed. Formerly Spaghetti Works, the Talon Room has been transformed into the perfect venue to host a wedding reception or any other kind of social gathering. From wedding planning to catering, bar service, scheduling, vendor assistance, and basic wedding décor, the Talon Room team does all the work for your wedding celebrations, so you can kick back, relax, hit the dance floor, and chat with friends and family, stress-free. Yet another event space we recommend is the Lincoln Firefighters’ Reception Hall. The Firefighters’ Hall is proud to have a dynamic entertainment space that can accommodate any style of event and up to 300 people (seated)—but obviously fewer during the pandemic. Regardless, it’s a fabulous option, located within minutes of downtown Lincoln with quick and easy access to lodging, restaurants, and shopping, without the inconvenience of paying to park downtown. Their amenities include all-day access, table/chair set-up, the ability to bring in your own catering or use their large commercial kitchen, plus a projector and screen, wireless mics, internet access, bar service with staff available, centerpieces, decorating and lighting options, and much more! In 2021, weddings are still under pandemic restrictions for social distancing, but Lincoln wedding-related businesses have learned to adapt and provide the same great services and amenities. We recommend considering the companies featured here to suit your wedding needs, from start to finish! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUILDING MAINTENANCE

Home Inspections

Randy King | 402.450.0978 KingsInspections.com

Owning a building for your business or residential property involves substantial investment and comes with monumental responsibilities. One of the most important things you can do to protect your investment is to be diligent about timely preventive building maintenance. It can save you money in the long run and keep your clients, employees, and family safe and comfortable, while maintaining maximum efficiency, reducing energy use, protecting and preserving your assets, maintaining staff efficiency at work, and protecting your reputation and credibility as a property owner in the event of an accident. Preventive maintenance includes everything from your computers and office equipment to plumbing, heating, and cooling systems, electrical systems, fire-protection and life-safety systems, plus building maintenance like doors, gutters, trim, skylights, reskins, additions, and insulation packages. In COVID times, building owners and operators face heightened maintenance requirements toward providing safe, clean buildings that have better air quality than ever, thus providing freedom from harmful contaminants and contagions which, in turn, leads to improved staff morale and efficiency. The consequences of relying solely on reactive building maintenance can be serious, including unplanned downtime, idle employees, halted production, missed deadlines, and even long-term damages to your brand. Being diligent about maintenance, on the other hand, leads to decreased equipment downtime, conservation of assets, improved reliability, improved safety, increased equipment efficiency, and more. If it all seems overwhelming, you’ll be happy to hear that Lincoln is home to multitudinous businesses that can help you keep your business and company safe and efficient and your employees and clients happy and thriving. Comprehensive Services Greenleaf Commercial Real Estate in Lincoln provides comprehensive property-management services that include facility- and assetmanagement components. Facility management covers the physical aspects of the property, while asset management focuses on increasing the value of the owner’s investment. “A few keys components of our facilitymanagement services include full takeover and start-up inspection; annual property inspection reports; identification and implementation of routine maintenance, coordination of vendor repairs and services, quick response to maintenance requests, and 24/7 emergency response,” said Greenleaf Property Manager Talisha Parsley. Asset-management ser vices include: analyzing current leases to ensure Talisha Parsley information is correct; forming an annual Greenleaf Commercial operating budget; completing an annual Real Estate budget reconciliation for the prior year; invoicing tenants and collecting rents; making vendor payments; #PrintProudDigitalSmart

ea Squ

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providing monthly owner reports and quarterly and year-end financial statements; accessing financial matters regarding operation of the property, annual cash flow, and Pro Forma statements; listing and marketing property to aim for 100% occupancy; and a yearly meeting with the owner to review the property as a whole. Think about the confidence and peace-of-mind you could gain by handing all of that over to a highly reputable company like Greenleaf. “It is always better to be proactive rather than reactive,” Talisha said. “Doing routine and ongoing maintenance can save significant time and expense in the long run. For example, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) routine maintenance like changing filters and replacing belts is an upfront cost each year but can prolong the life of the heating and cooling units by several years. If not maintained, the unit likely won’t function efficiently and runs the risk of breaking down, leaving you in an emergency situation.” Talisha adds that quality property management maximizes the value of a commercial real-estate asset by increasing tenant satisfaction and controlling costs. Higher tenant satisfaction correlates directly with lower turnover and vacancy rates, while overall tenant satisfaction—combined with close attention to reducing operating and capital expenses keeps the asset competitive in the marketplace and increases the value of the asset for owners. Keep Critters Away! Discovering rodents, bats, or squirrels in your business is far more than an inconvenience. It can ruin your reputation if customers see signs of the critters; present health hazards in the form of diseases and germs they spread via their blood, urine, and droppings; damage products in your business (especially anywhere with food!); cause expensive structural damage, and deliver odors and sightings that distract your employees. The good news is that Bats to Rats Wildlife Control and Prevention, LLC can help you avoid infestations and, in the case of a sighting, respond quickly with humane removal, identify the source of entry, and repair it and any damage they might have caused. FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

“We offer interior and exterior inspections for both home and commercial buildings to make sure your property is sealed up, so no unwanted rodents, animals, or wildlife can get in,” said Bats to Rats Owner Daine Patton. “Just something as simple as an unsealed AC line or any utility line into your home or business can allow entry for rodents and other small critters. Bats to Rats will provide a complete inspection of your building’s exterior, interior, attic, and basement or crawlspace. We will then consult with the owner and go Daine Patton over any and all possible wildlife and pest Bats to Rats issues, and provide a graph or layout of Wildlife Control and problem areas and the solutions we offer to Prevention, LLC effectively and efficiently address any issues.” If unwanted nuisance pests damage your property—from your yard to roof, soffits, fascia, deck, and more—Bats to Rats can not only remove them but also repair any damages and prevent future entry. In addition to damage repair, they’ll clean out gutters, dryer vents, install chimney covers, and more. Hiring someone to help point out simple maintenance fixes early can save you lots of money in the long run. We recommend Bats to Rats, as they have been a leader in wildlife and pest management and prevention in the Lincoln and surrounding areas for nearly a decade and are licensed, permitted, and insured! The Power of CLEAN! If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the power of CLEAN! In light of heightened awareness of the dangers of bacteria and volatile organic compounds, ServiceMaster Professional Building Maintenance (PBM) has taken the necessary steps to adapt. “We have created a whole new service program for sanitizing workplaces on a routine basis, as well as after suspected or known COVID-19 exposure,” said ServiceMaster PBM Owner and COO Jon Paolini. “We also have products that can be applied to provide ongoing

antimicrobial protection for up to six months before needing reapplication.” ServiceMaster PBM is a full-service janitorial company that cleans manufacturing, medical, government, financial, and commercial facilities, including restaurants. They also offer carpet, ceiling, and floor cleaning—including stripping, refinishing, scrubbing, recoating, and buffing vinyl and vinyl composition tile (VCT), and cleaning ceramic, porcelain, and other tiled floor types. They take great Jon Paolini pride in using green cleaning products that are environmentally friendly. Caring for ServiceMaster Professional all of surfaces in any building is crucial to Building Maintenance their efficiency, their lifespans, and the first impressions of your brand. “If you don’t keep up with regular maintenance, hard floors can become scratched or stained and grout discolored beyond being able to resolve them, and carpet wears much faster when soils are not properly removed,” Jon said. “Using the wrong service provider can make these situations worse. Using a provider with the right experience rather than a Johnny-come-lately to provide sanitizing services is very important, especially during the pandemic. If you are going to stay open and operate, we can help make it safe for your employees and guests or clients.” ServiceMaster employs professional experts who are trained, screened, and tested to ensure top-quality service, and their professional cleaning services will not only leave your business looking spotless, but will also enhance its overall appearance. Protection Against Extremes Protecting your home from extreme weather is part of a comprehensive preventive maintenance program, too. Whether it’s the summer heat and humidity or the cold, icy winters in Nebraska, failing to protect your

Full Service Commercial Real Estate •

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Site Selection

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Property Management

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John Linscott, CCIM, CPM®

Don Linscott, CCIM, SIOR

GREENLEAF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 300 N 44th St, Ste 112 Lincoln, NE 68503

Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

Brett Harris, CCIM

Adam Lowney

(402)-467-2525 www.greenleafcommercial.com

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home or business from extreme temperatures and weather conditions will lead to skyrocketing energy bills and increased risk to your physical assets. Streamline Energy Solutions offers a solution for you: Reinsulate and air-seal your home! “One of the biggest things we recommend to create the maximum impact when someone wants to insulate their home is to air seal it,” said Streamline Co-founder and BPICertified Auditor Jen Keller. “We’ll locate all the accessible crevices in your attic, including around your fixtures and top plates, and seal them to prevent conditioned air from leading into the attic space. That preps the attic for us to insulate with blownin fiberglass. We prefer this product over cellulose because it doesn’t settle over time, Jen Keller does not absorb moisture, and is a lot cleaner Streamline Energy product. Of course, the baffles we install in Solutions an attic are a crucial step in the process, too, because they keep the insulation from blocking air flow through your soffit vents and provide necessary ventilation.” According to Streamline, nearly 80 million homes in America are currently under-insulated. That’s 90% of all the households in our country! Insulation codes also change regularly, so if your insulation was up-to-code 10 years ago, that doesn’t mean it still is. Keeping your insulation up-todate will mean improved energy efficiency, reduced energy costs, the comfort of your family, clients, and employees, and more. Cost-Neutral In establishing a reliable building-maintenance plan, Engineered Controls emphasizes the importance of teamwork between the business owner, building owner, property manager, and key industry professionals. They offer custom maintenance plans that can be tailored to fit the needs of each customer, including a complete suite of building management services and cloud-based resources designed to monitor energy and operational efficiency and put your facility on a path to optimization. “A well-maintained system can be cost-neutral when considering both the energy savings and the extended life of the equipment,” said Engineered Controls President and CEO Pat Killeen. “From Engineered Controls’ perspective, there are five main benefits for a building owner to work with a maintenance provider: reduced hassles from equipment breakdowns; management of business expenses; optimization of energy use; improved employee comfort and overall health; and increased peace of mind.” Pat Killeen Engineered Controls When it comes to building maintenance, the bottom line is that having someone keep it current for you will be far more expensive than regular, timely, preventive maintenance. Buildings that are continually maintained are much less likely to need sudden expensive repairs, which can snowball: “First, a hole is left unrepaired, leading to a leak in the ceiling, which causes mold in the floorboard, which weakens the structure of the building, and on and on,” Pat said. “No one wants to deal with these kinds of problems.” Paint Your World You’ve seen it stand out like a sore thumb—that one house on the block that is in dire need of a paint job, with chipped, peeling paint and exposed wood dragging down its curb appeal…and its value. Of course, that’s not the kind of recognition anyone wants. Regular upkeep and an occasional fresh coat of paint are crucial for maintaining or growing your property value—commercial and residential, inside and out. Walter’s Painting can help. They offer first-rate exterior- and interior-painting services, in addition to wallpaper removal, power washing, refinishing decks, re-staining, painting cabinets—basically any coating removal or application you can think of. Owner Jeff Walters has been painting homes in Lincoln for nearly 30 years and can help you identify painting priorities to help you keep your home or business looking fresh, clean, #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Now is the time to have a professional do your cleaning! If you find that you need a deep clean of your business or facility, we are equipped to handle it. We use EPA approved disinfectants which will disinfect those high traffic areas and high touch points.

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and presentable. He truly listens to customers’ needs and desires for their home or business and helps them create the overhaul they’re looking for. It’s amazing the difference a fresh coat of paint can make! “Walter’s Painting uses only top-quality products and qualified painting crews experienced with helping clients make the most informed decorating and painting decisions,” Jeff said. “With our team of well-trained and experienced painters, we Jeff Walters understand what home and business owners Walter’s Painting expect from a painting company, and we are at the ready to deliver.” Their services include thorough sanding of all surfaces to create a perfect base before painting. The Walter’s service crew does all the heavy lifting for you, too, carefully moving your furniture, removing and replacing switch plates and fixtures, as well as protecting your flooring and belongings with drop cloths. Their commercial painting services in Lincoln are carried out by a fully insured, licensed, and well-trained painting team for office buildings and schools, hotels and retail stores, apartment complexes, medical facilities, and any industry that requires their services. Book your appointment today with the Walter’s Painting online scheduling tool at walterspainting.com! Don’t Overlook the Overheads Likely one of the most neglected parts of your home or business, your garage and other overhead doors need just as much TLC as the rest of your building. It’s crucial to have professionals perform biannual routine maintenance on your doors to ensure that they are in shape to keep out the weather elements, intruders, and unwanted animals that would love to nest under the hood of your vehicle. Proper maintenance also helps keep your door’s cables and springs from rusting, which otherwise can lead to failure, and it ensures that gaps don’t develop between the ground and your garage door due to warping caused by water, snow, and wind.

Maintaining proper insulation in your garage door can also help reduce your heating bills in the winter. Maybe most importantly, regular garage maintenance helps you avoid more expensive unexpected repairs and keeps your overhead doors in prime working condition all year long. The Overhead Door Company of Lincoln can care for all types of residential or commercial doors, from annual maintenance to occasional repairs, and door replacement or construction. Radon Testing for Your Safety Keeping your family and employees safe in your home or business is priority No. 1, which is why it’s wise to check for radon gas to protect against cancer. Founder of King’s Inspection, one of Randy King’s most important personal goals is to help people understand what radon is and what to do about it. They provide the full spectrum of radon testing and mitigation. Because radon gas levels can vary across states and neighborhoods, King recommends that every home and building be tested for radon. Randy King King’s Inspection “Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas,” Randy said. “It comes from the decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. Radon gas is colorless, odorless, and without taste. The presence of radon in a home cannot be detected by human senses. The only way to know if your home contains radon gas is to test for it. EPA recommends that homes with a high radon concentration (above 4.0 pCI/L) be mitigated. We can provide many straightforward reduction techniques that will work in almost any home.” As you can see, ongoing building maintenance is a lot to handle on your own. We highly recommend contacting the local businesses featured here to remove the burden from your shoulders, help preserve your property assets long-term, and keep your employees, clients, and families safe and healthy.

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866.395.0186 | engineeredcontrols.com Building Automation and Controls I Security I Lighting I Gas Detection I Parking Management

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SENIOR LIVING It’s impossible to summarize in a few words the plans that were dismantled or destroyed by COVID-19 in 2020. Those were felt maybe no more profoundly than by families and their loved ones in senior living, those considering moving to senior living, those newly needing home-care assistance, and those who suddenly required moving to a community with assisted-living or memory-care options. Suffice it to say, we would all appreciate a little less uncertainty and disruption as we move through 2021—but that’s not looking likely quite yet. So, how do senior-living communities, residents, and families adapt in the meantime…in real time? You can’t just wait for it to go away. It’s about adapting and thriving, and we’re happy to report that managers of senior-living communities in Lincoln have adapted in every way, shape, and form. They are accommodating ongoing quality care for senior residents and their families, as well as for those who are considering the move to senior living amidst the ongoing challenges of the pandemic—and the long-term changes that are likely in its wake. If you have a loved one in senior living in Lincoln or need to begin considering moving them to one, you’re in good hands. Loving, caring hands. We also recommend that everyone stop and consider how you can help provide joy for seniors as the pandemic continues into 2021. Make spending more time with your elderly family members—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.—one of your New Year’s resolutions that lasts all year. Even if you can’t visit in person or you don’t even know any elderly folks in the area, you can help by sharing kindness and caring with someone who needs a boost in these isolating social times. In-Home Care: When It’s Time to Find Help At some point in life, you may be faced with the challenge of providing care for a parent, spouse, or close friend. The activeself-sufficient person you knew for many years may slowly begin requiring addition help or, eventually, one-to-one care. Changes often happy gradually, making it difficult to discern when and how much help they need. Visiting Angels Owner Natalie Leon recently offered up some tips to help you know when the right time is to engage in-home care for your loved one. “The best way to discover if changes are Natalie Leon happening is by getting some perspective,” Visiting Angels Natalie said. “It’s best to rely on the person closest to them to provide much-needed and personal insight. You’ll also want the opinion of someone who has not seen your loved one in a while. Both vantage points will provide valuable assessments.” Natalie recommends considering the following warning signs in your loved one’s physical and mental status: wearing the same soiled clothes on consecutive days; a general decline in personal-grooming habits; #PrintProudDigitalSmart

THE

Windcrest on Van Dorn COMMUNITY

Providing Support, Preserving Independence Now more than ever, we are a vital place for seniors who may otherwise be isolated at home with limited access to resources and assistance. Our assisted living community offers 24/7 staffing and apartments that strike the perfect balance between safety and comfort.

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• Refers interviewed, screened and qualified in-home caregivers • Provides quality care at affordable rates • Places caregivers between 1 to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week • Flexible hours that can change as your needs change • No up front deposit or fees to begin services Office@CCAHomeCare.com 11640 Arbor St., Suite 103 Omaha, NE 68144 402-398-1848

1530 S. 70th St., Suite 202 Lincoln, NE 68506 402-488-3771

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their home is no longer as clean and tidy as it once was; forgetfulness about medications; clutter from newspapers and other items creating unsafe obstacles; an empty refrigerator and inconsistent meals; a once-vivacious person becoming less outgoing; bruises from a fall or bumping into furniture; and weight loss. “The signs may be subtle at first but can develop into the inability to manage family tasks,” Natalie said. “Unfortunately, as many seniors begin to realize their newly found limitations, they can become depressed and start to isolate themselves. Living a long life is a blessing, but it can be challenging for some to adjust. For many families, a discussion about getting home-care services can be a challenging series of conversations. Your best ally is your tone. Condescending or authoritative attitudes can put a senior on the defense. As adults, this is a problem to solve together.” Natalie suggests starting the conversation by telling them you want to share some things on your mind, then gently phrase your observations and ask them if they see the same things. Proceed carefully. You can explain that in-home care will offer the best of both worlds—allowing them to remain happily and safely in their own home with one-to-one care from a trusted resource, like Visiting Angels. “By choosing Visiting Angels for all your home care needs, you will be met with a personalized approach to our home care services, as we treat each client with the utmost respect as we establish a comprehensive care plan,” Natalie said. “Get started with our elder services today by giving us a call. We will help you schedule a free, no-risk care consultation for your loved one, in the comfort of their home. Whether this is a decision that must be made urgently or if you are planning ahead, you can rely on Visiting Angels for compassionate, in-home care. Our family is here to help yours.”

to contact Oasis Senior Advisors. They assist people with finding the perfect senior-living for them, and their services are FREE to the senior and their family. They learn about you, what is important to you, and what you will need—both now and in the future. They then customize your search with their proprietary software so that you never have to worry that you may be wasting your time looking at a place that is not able to meet your needs, be those physical needs or your financial ability to pay. Every Oasis Senior Advisors owner is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). That means you can trust that they are putting your needs ahead of their own and that they operate with the highest of ethical standards. “We will show you all the options available to you in Lincoln and the surrounding area,” said Oasis Lincoln Owner Beth Friesen. “We're not going to try and 'sell' you on any particular community. We are going to allow you to preview all the communities that could meet your medical, financial, social, and geographical needs, then allow you to determine where you would like to tour. In addition, we will advocate for you and connect you with any community resources you may need along the way.”

Finding the RIGHT Living Option

One of the ways that Oasis Senior Advisors Beth Friesen helped cheer and engage senior-living Oasis Senior Advisors residents during the pandemic was to start a card campaign. They collected cards and drawings from children, then distributed them to some of the senior-living communities here in Lincoln. Beth also recommends that family members of seniors reach out often via phone, computer, and in writing to show them that you love and care about them, even when you can’t see them in person.

If the time comes that you or a loved one wants or needs to move into a senior-living community in Lincoln, you would be well-served

Throughout your search for the RIGHT senior-living option for you or your loved one, Oasis Senior Advisors will be there to support

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you: “The knowledge, care, and compassion that you and your family will receive when working with Oasis are unparalleled,” Beth said. “As our baby boomers reach the age where assisted living and other senior-living options become necessary or desired, their families need to be able to reach out to services such as Oasis Senior Advisors to help them navigate this complex maze. We are in communication with the communities in our area every week. Don’t guess on care. It’s just too important.”

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Adjusting in Senior Living When the time comes that you decide to move yourself or a loved one into senior living, don’t be surprised if they have difficulty giving up some of their treasured physical memories, including furniture, kitchen items, knick-knacks, and the like. If that happens, don’t push hard enough to upset them. Instead, consider getting a storage unit at Store It All facility. The self-storage facility is locally owned and operated by Kingery Construction and is located at 3321 Ox Bow Circle, just east of North Star High School. They’ll help you protect your loved one’s treasures with the utmost care.

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If your loved already one resides in a senior-living community, you know the pandemic has been a challenge for the entire family, with isolation at the core. All of The Waterford Communities offer a home-like environment and a host of amenities that allow residents to maintain their independence and the quality of life they deserve. One unique aspect of The Waterford Communities is their size. They are small in comparison to many of their counterparts, with the largest assistedliving community including 41 apartments. Waterford Executive Director Christy Christy Merritt Merritt says the smaller community lends The Waterford itself to more of a small-town feel that Communities many residents say feels more like a home than a facility. Lower resident numbers also enables them to get to know their residents and customize care to meet each person wherever they are on their journey. Adapting to changes brought on by COVID has been easier in this setting, too.

• Small Pet Allowed • Elevators • Secured Entry Systems • Handicap Accessible Units • Group Transportation • Community Room • Organized Special Activities • Coin-Operated Laundry

“Our teams have adapted well to individual and small-group activities,” Christy said. “Many of the entertainers who once came into the community adapted and hosted outdoor concerts that residents were able to safely enjoy from their rooms or on outdoor patios, socially distanced, of course. Several of our residents adopted fish. A few of our memory-care residents received new life, like pets that they have helped nurture through the pandemic. It is truly heartwarming to see the comfort that a companion, live or life-like, can bring to someone who is lonely.”

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Lincoln Housing Authority 5700 ‘R’ St. • (402) 434-5500 TDD (800) 545-1833 ext 875 • www.L-Housing.com Moving a family member to a retirement community can be a high-stress event while planning what will be going to the new space and not wanting to get rid of or sell what can’t be moved. What if you could find a secure space to store those items?

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Whether you have a loved one at The Waterford Communities or not, there are ways that members of the Lincoln community can help raise the spirits of residents there. You can send notes or gifts, bring a pet by to their windows, or have your children give a little song or dance for them. “Plants and flowers always make great pick-me-ups,” Christy said. “One of my residents said it best when they said, ‘I like things that show me life and remind me of the beauty in the world.’ I know that several people have placed healthcare appreciation signs outside of our communities, but large signs that tell our residents that they are appreciated and missed might also be a really nice gesture.” Creative Care at its Best Windcrest Assisted Living works collaboratively with you, your family and, when needed, their team of caregivers to design a custom, person-centered approach to nurturing the whole self. Their first-rate amenities, active social community, and delicious culinary options create a genuine, meaningful experience. The safety of the residents and team members at Windcrest on Van Dorn is their top #PrintProudDigitalSmart

STORE IT ALL

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priority. They are taking safety measures and following guidance from officials. While life in the community might look a bit different right now, they’re hard at work keeping their wonderful, down-toearth residents happy and engaged. “We provide weekly COVID updates to residents and family members and we make lots of Facebook posts to keep families connected to what is going on with their loved one,” said Windcrest Executive Director Kylee Graham. “We’re back to 50% capacity for the dining room, and we offer residents a weekly travel series of videos from different locations around the world. We also have an Ambassador Program, with office staff assigned to residents to touch base with them, spend some time with them, and see if there is anything they need. A staff member and a resident each lead our prayer services, and we have a resident who plays the piano for other residents, in addition to providing trivia games to keep them engaged.”

Kylee Graham Windcrest Assisted Living

Windcrest is known for particularly impressive restaurant-style dining with a large selection of fantastic foods. On the tenet that food connects us, brings us joy, and can be a creative outlet, the residents also are invited to get into the action with food, via bake-offs, organized recipe exchanges, and working together safely on fun cooking projects. When it comes to other amenities, residents love Windcrest’s comfortable lounge with a big-screen TV, their activity center stocked with games, their well-stocked library, the computer area for keeping in touch with family, and the on-site salon for both men and women. Some of the adaptations that Windcrest has made because of COVID just might be long-term keepers, too. That includes offering more hydration and exercise encouragement to residents; continued use of Facetime and other video apps to keep them in touch with their families, and the whole-staff increased engagement with residents as true extensions of their families. Never Move Again!

WHERE HOME IS... Sharing a laugh with a loved one.

LOCATIONS The Waterford at Williamsburg Assisted Living The Waterford at College View Assisted Living The Waterford at Wilderness Hills Memory Care

402.480.6950 | www.thewaterford.net

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Pemberly Place Director of Marketing Kelly Mans recently announced a new an exciting change at the community: They’re independent-living apartments have now been licensed to use for assisted-living residents, as well: “So, once you come to live with us, you may never have to move again! You can continue living in your apartment, whether or not you need dayto-day assistance. This gives more options to all levels of the population, so if you want a kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator and stackable washer and dryer, we can make that happen regardless of the level of care you require.”

Kelly Mans Pemberly Place

Throughout the pandemic, Pemberly Place has gone above and beyond to make sure that residents stay active and busy, all while staying safe with six-foot distancing. A few examples include a “Who Am I” contest with some of the staff submitting their baby pictures, then residents trying to guess who’s in each picture, with winners getting prizes. They also did a Veterans Day flag-raising ceremony outside, as well as one-on-one conversations with residents, Christmas goodie bags delivered door to door, a Haunted Halloween door competition, Christmas tree tour with multiple communities through virtual tour, a magician, and a violinist/keyboard duo. For people interested in moving themselves or a loved one to Pemberly Place during the pandemic, virtual tours have been offered to keep everyone safe—and it’s a tool that will outlive any social-distancing requirements. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

“I feel virtual tours will continue to be a good asset for people and referrals,” Kelly said. “This gives the general population a time to sit back and watch pre-taped tours to gauge their interest with their families before they decide which communities they would like to go and see in person. Pemberly Place is a premier senior living community that can provide a unique balance of assistance or independence, in which you will never run out of things to do!” Going the Extra Mile Given that elders living in their own homes have been so isolated due to the COVID pandemic, Agemark CountryHouse Residences for Memory Care is going the extra mile to maximize the socialization benefits of being in a senior-living community. Devoted exclusively to benefit those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, CountryHouse is not “typical” memory care. They are all about experiences. Do More. Engage More. Live More. In the pandemic environment, of course, that means initiating all necessary safety precautions, including offering testing and providing vaccinations. Some of the activities inspired by pandemic restrictions will carry on after COVID passes, too. “CountryHouse has gotten creative when precaution levels restrict normal activities—and one of the best ways is to mobilize the activity,” said Life Enrichment Director Marcia Houchin. “We have developed hundreds of fun and engaging cart activities in 23 categories. You name it, and we’ve taken it ‘on the road’ to residents’ rooms. That includes bookmobiles, traveling craft projects, a rolling spa, and Happy Hour or party carts for any occasion. This adaptation has taught us how to reach and benefit those who don’t normally participate in Marcia Houchin Agemark CountryHouse group activities or just prefer to stay in their rooms under normal circumstances. Residences for For this reason, we will continue many of Memory Care these cart activities after COVID is over!”

care and have often found the answer to be a Home Care Partners team.” Their caregivers enjoy helping clients stay active and engaged in their homes by planning activities that promote emotional well-being. Caregivers assist clients with technology to keep in touch with family members who are unable to visit inside the home, especially during the winter months. With social distancing in mind, public outings to the zoo and Holmes Lake are a couple outdoor activities the Home Care Partners caregivers plan to keep Andrew Carlson clients active outside of the home. They Home Care Partners have introduced new protocols during the of Nebraska pandemic, which they plan to continue after the pandemic because they promote a healthy environment for our team members and client families. One practice that they will continue is regular screenings to monitor changes in their caregivers and clients' health that might be symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, or a cold. Andrew said: “It is a pleasure to support adult children who live outside of the community. Our Care Management team partners with the family members to ensure their parents safety and wellbeing, which offers them peace of mind during the pandemic when they are unable to be present.” Care Management adds value to the rest of the care continuum by collaborating with all health-service providers involved to monitor both physical and mental health and reduce hospitalization and readmissions. We track progress and improvement and proactively address factors that are concerning or could lead to an issue. Home Care Partners priority is health and safety, but we also promote support and relationships. Personal relationships between clients and caregivers will make a family and their loved one more comfortable receiving care in the home. They will begin to look at

Even if you don’t know anyone in senior living, Marcia said, there are so many ways that you can help engage and entertain residents. Virtual visits—especially from kids and student groups—can really brighten their day. Children have a joyful energy, especially when singing a song or performing music and CountryHouse can even stream the Skype or Zoom video to a large screen. Consider making a new pen pal or two and send cards and letters to residents or put together drive-by parades of any kind, including cars decorated for birthday and anniversaries. Window visits are always welcome, too—and not just from people. “Our residents have been delighted by window visits with dogs, horses, a llama—and even a miniature pony with rainbow-dyed mane and tail,” Marcia said. “We also welcome donations for activities, including craft supplies, flowers to make floral arrangements, books and magazines, nail polish and other spa supplies, and the like. Anyone can get a little creative and make the day for residents of CountryHouse. We welcome all ideas!” Familiarity Breeds Comfort Home Care Partners of Nebraska offers care services within the homes of their clients, including Companion Care, Personal Care, Recovery Care, Memory Care Support, and Hospice Care. Their services give families an alternative to moving into an assisted-living community because being in a familiar environment among one's own possessions and memories is the best place to promote health and healing. “This is especially true during this time of COVID-19 safety measures, as seniors' emotional ties to their familiar environment are increasing,” said Andrew Carlson, managing partner of Home Care Partners. “Due to the additional emotions, individuals are searching for ways to delay moving out of their homes to receive #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Call Us Today! (402) 415-0331 8601 Firethorn Ln. HillcrestFirethorn.com

*Updated information about nursing homes: usnews.com/bnh

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SENIOR LIVING MADE SIMPLE Navigating life’s tough decisions. A free, confidential, service that navigates senior care options. We tour communities such as Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living and Skilled Nursing Care to find the right fit. We offer our resources, knowledge, and expertise to personalize your families needs.

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our care team not only as helping hands but also as friends.” For additional information, visit homecarepartnersofnebraska.com. Live Joyfully, Age Gratefully Tabitha offers a range of services, including results-driven rehabilitation, accessible at-home health care, compassionate hospice services, and innovative living communities with lifeenriching programs. They are industry leaders who are here to ensure that seniors and their families are set up to live joyfully and age gratefully. They listen, learn, and provide expert guidance to best fit each unique situation. Tapping into Tabitha’s expert resources ensures that families make informed decisions, and their strong continuum of care allows seniors to seamlessly receive support as their needs evolve. Amid the pandemic, Tabitha continues to adapt to ensure residents remain active in daily life. “Tabitha has utilized our innovative Connectors Program to ensure seniors remain engaged,” said Ruthi Thompson, director of life enrichment and volunteers at Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. “The Connector is a Tabitha team member who volunteers their time to visit with a resident and facilitate communication between family and friends through the power of technology and in traditional manners. Residents are connected with loved ones by video chats, phone calls, notes, and letters. Connectors have helped to orchestrate celebrations of Ruthi Thompson milestones such as wedding anniversaries Tabitha and birthdays or getting a favorite meal delivered from a local restaurant. The bond Connectors have made with seniors and their families is invaluable.” Tabitha’s life enrichment teams have gotten ultra-creative with doorto-door and doorway activities, as well as continuing traditional events like weekly bingo games and holiday celebrations with social distancing and other precautions in place. They have also implemented a variety of “Party Carts,” which include fun themes and costumes, “mocktails,” and delicious treats. These carts travel suite-to-suite so residents can participate safely. Tabitha also has tapped into more online resources—replacing live concerts with video performances provided by local organizations, such as Lincoln Public Schools. In addition, virtual education series and city and museum tours from around the world have been popular. Ruthi said there are a variety of ways that Lincoln residents can get creative to brighten seniors’ days and help combat loneliness: “Often we find that a senior who is living alone, at home, is the most isolated. A simple phone call or socially distanced check-in can make all the difference. Community members can also donate highly requested items, such as scented lotion and seasonal treats, to be used for pickme-ups and giveaways during enrichment activities. Handmade cards and inspirational notes are another great way to lift seniors’ spirits. They can also send care packages with activities such as crossword puzzles and word-search books, handheld games, and decks of cards.” Tabitha is another senior-living provider that has found some diamonds in the rough via the pandemic: “From this crisis, valuable tools have been put into place that will live long after the pandemic,” Ruthi said. “Screening of all those who enter Tabitha buildings has been quite valuable. Telehealth was already a growing segment, but the virus has sped up the utilization of this service, especially in remote areas of the state. Tabitha has always and will continue to implement safety and health precautions as well as infection control practices to safeguard residents and staff.” The Tabitha Connectors Program also will be strengthened. Tabitha was fortunate to receive a grant from the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln to fund a Connector Coordinator role. This position will allow Tabitha to continue to build this important program, combat senior loneliness issues, and enhance relationships for all. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

‘COVID Luxuries’ Legacy Retirement Communities offer a full spectrum of seniorliving options, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and Legacy Home Care for any resident in the community on an as-needed basis. Looking on the bright side, Legacy also has identified some pandemic adaptations that will become long-term changes for their residents. “We like to playfully refer to some adaptations as ‘COVID luxuries,’” said Legacy Marketing & PR Director Kelly Stenka. “We may see that residents may continue to want the option to forgo the large dining-room experience and gather in a small group setting to share a meal in different parts of the buildings, or occasionally take advantage of taking dinner to go and enjoying it in the comfort of their own apartment. The biggest adaption that will most likely offer longterm changes is the residents’ engagement level with technology. This past year gave Kelly Stenka everyone, regardless of age, an extra Legacy Retirement push to explore different ways to connect Communities through technology. As more residents have become comfortable using different types of devices such as phones and tablets, this may allow us to offer a larger variety of activities along with more participants as well.” Toward building connection between the Lincoln community and senior residents, Kelly suggested some fabulous opportunities to bring smiles for miles. “Don’t we all love a little surprise?” Kelly asked. “On social media, someone had shared that, next time it snows, head over to a retirement community and start building snowmen around the grounds. Not only is it fun to get to see the end result but it’s also fun for the residents to see new faces around. Write cards with positive messages inside and drop them off at any community to be distributed. This is an easy way to build connection, share a fun message, and maybe find a pen pal. If you’re part of a car group, organize a classic car parade.”

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If you have other ideas you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to call Legacy and ask for the contact information of the activity or enrichment director. They’re always open to new ideas and love to let the residents know ahead of time if there’s something happening on their grounds. “Overall,” Kelly concluded, “the most impactful thing the community at large can do for those in retirement living communities is to receive the vaccine as soon as it becomes available to the masses." Five-Star Senior Care Hillcrest Health Services offers a continuum of care for seniors in the Lincoln area. With the top rating for quality measures – five stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – Hillcrest Firethorn is a superb choice for post-acute rehab after a surgery, illness, or hospital stay, or for long-term care services. Part of the care continuum in Lincoln, Hillcrest Home Care can provide in-home skilled medical services and telehealth. Outpatient therapy is also offered through Innovate Physical Therapy at 70th and Pioneers. Choosing Hillcrest each step of the way ensures the continuity of care, and under pandemic restrictions, the team at Hillcrest Firethorn has found safe ways to keep seniors engaged and having fun.

Jonathan Anderson Hillcrest Firethorn #PrintProudDigitalSmart

“At Hillcrest Firethorn, most activities are now done right outside of the resident or guest’s (patient’s) suite in the hallway,” said Jonathan Anderson, Lincoln business

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development specialist for Hillcrest Health Services. “Some hallway activities include bingo, keno, scrabble, balloon tennis, and soccer. Residents and guests also enjoy Nerf gun target practice—we’ve done a duck hunt, turkey hunt, and deer hunt—movement and music, horse races, games of Blackjack and Higher or Lower, remote control car races, and video calls with loved ones.” At the same time, the Hillcrest Home Care team has helped facilitate many Zoom and Facetime visits with home-care clients’ additional family members to reduce unnecessary exposure to multiple individuals. Utilizing telehealth services for doctor’s appointments has also provided a much safer option for clients and reduces the need for transportation, which can be challenging for some seniors living at home. At Hillcrest Firethorn, there are some COVID adaptations they’ve made out of necessity that they plan to continue as responsible practices: “Focusing more on our sanitation processes and protocols has undoubtedly reduced the amount of the common cold and flu bugs among our seniors this year,” Jonathan said. “This helps to reduce hospitalizations and contributes to positive outcomes where individuals are healing faster and going beyond previous functional baselines. Hillcrest is fortunate to have a Chief Medical Officer who has been leading the fight against COVID-19 and now leading the immunization plans. We are looking forward to getting back to some kind of normalcy!” One Big, Happy Family If you or your loved one doesn’t need a new living situation but rather needs a short regiment of rehabilitation therapy following a recent hospital stay involving surgery, injury, a traumatic even, or illness, consider Old Cheney Rehabilitation. There is a constant need for short-term rehabilitation following both planned and unforeseen hospital stays. Old Cheney Rehabilitation offers a close-knit team of caregivers to ensure quality patient care is provided. Their therapists and nursing staff strive to understand your goals, motivate you to reach

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your full potential, and return you to home and life activities—and the folks at Old Cheney rehabilitation believe that everyone who walks through their doors, be it a vendor or guest, becomes a part of their family. In fact, family is the very core of their purpose. “We believe in our mission to provide a home-like atmosphere while providing intense post-acute rehabilitation that will get our guests back to their home,” said Administrator Sara Bunting. “Our Care Coordination staff guides our guests through their journey at Old Cheney Rehabilitation, making sure each transition is a smooth, safe, and enjoyable transition. We also have a Respiratory Therapist on staff who is available for all types of respiratory needs, including education on disease processes and assessments.” Sara Bunting The restrictions that came with the pandemic Old Cheney have helped Old Cheney staff reach a Rehabilitation whole new level of creativity. Some of the activities they have done to keep a connection between residents and the outside world have been through their windows: They have had a horse named Jewell visit, trick-or-treaters for Halloween, musical guests from the Omaha Symphony, and a local dance team performance, just to name a few. Their activity department even planned a surprise visit from Santa for their guests, along with cookie decorating and dancing with staff to keep the holiday spirit flowing throughout the building. “Old Cheney rehabilitation is family providing care to family,” Sara said. “Every day, I watch our team take care of a variety of guests, all coming in with different illnesses or ailments. Every day, I watch this team grow, encourage, and teach each other about accountability, discipline and trust. There is laughing and joy within our walls. Old Cheney Rehab is a FUN place to be!”

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Independence Plus The Gramercy Hill senior-living community recently extended its services to offer Independent Plus. This new program is designed to help aging in place an easier transition between independent and assisted living. Independent Plus living is perfect for seniors who want to live independently but enjoy having access to assistance when needed, at a rate that is lower than full-time assisted living. In addition to the benefits of their all-inclusive lifestyle, such as included dining, transportation, and activities, residents in the Independent Plus program can access Gramercy Hill’s Wellness Team, which will provide limited, customized services to assist residents. Throughout the pandemic, the Gramercy team and the community have gone above and beyond to keep residents engaged and smiling.

Sara Jeffery Gramercy Hill

“Our residents have been isolated for going on a year,” Gramercy’s new Sales Director Sara Jeffery said. “This entire year has been hard on them, but we have had small acts of kindness that have made a huge impact on our residents and their mental health. For example, a local artist brought in multiple handmade cards for the residents that really brightened their day, and another local business made little goodie bags for every resident, including crossword puzzles and treats. Any contact is important and valued, and we are ALWAYS taking deliveries. In COVID times, a random act of kindness can be the world to one of our residents.”

The staff at Gramercy has also gotten creative in providing ongoing activities for residents throughout the pandemic. Over Christmas, the team organized a deer hunt and snowball fight. Employees dressed as reindeer, and the residents were able to shoot them with nerf guns and throw "snowballs" at them. They also encourage residents to take advantage of their daily opportunities to exercise and socialize inside and outside, and they offer weekly “joy rides” around town so our residents can see all the wonderful things Lincoln has going on.

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“Our activities department is committed to touching the lives of each and every resident and have done an amazing job at keeping them active,” Sara said, adding that during the first week of January, Gramercy was thrilled to have their first COVID vaccine clinic, with more than 100 residents and employees getting vaccinated. Their next two clinics are on the books, and they are ecstatic to be able to provide this tremendous safety offering for the community. Lincoln’s Active 55+ Community Nestled among mature trees and natural surroundings, Carriage Glen is in an excellent location, close to shopping, dining, medical facilities, and area activities, yet comfortably removed from the hustle and bustle. They are a community serving Lincoln’s active 55+ community and host a wide variety of activities for residents, ranging from games to fitness classes, which help residents keep feeling young and lively. Executive Director Kim Kallhoff said Carriage Glen has some additional options that have kept residents active throughout the pandemic. “We have an internal channel and have been uploading different things, such as exercise videos, and we have events outside as much as we can,” Kim said. “We also like to distribute things to our residents, like a variety of teas and a cookie on National Tea Day, and we also did a spirit week and have a variety of other themed days, plus things like puzzles and activity books—all toward keeping residents’ minds and bodies active, even in isolation. Now that will have access to the vaccine and can get folks vaccinated, we will have more room to do more things.” Given the changing landscape and hyper-awareness about health issues in the world today, Carriage Glen made a purchase that will ensure the most ultra-clean, sanitized, safe long-term environment for their residents. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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“We have purchased an electrostatic machine, which we can use to mist the high-touch surfaces in the community to fight COVID,” Kim said. “Before anyone ever moves into our community, that is the last thing we do to ensure safety for all residents. We also clean high-touch surfaces throughout common areas with the mist multiple times a day.” With terrific move-in specials running now, Carriage Glen boasts 51 total apartments, available to rent with a month-to-month lease, with seven different floor plan choices between one- and two-bedroom apartment styles. They have apartments that range from 703 up to 1,542 square feet, with spacious open concepts. Many of the kitchen plans have a breakfast bar at Carriage Glen. An elevator serves all three floors as well as the underground parking level. If you’re looking for an active 55+ community, be sure to contact them about scheduling a tour to see for yourself if it’s the right place for you! A Safe and Healthy Environment Sumner Place Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation has also pulled out all the stops to keep their residents safe and active throughout the pandemic, increasingly encouraging family members and friends to call their loved one often and keep them communicating on a regular basis. They’ve also helped families connect with their loved ones via online video applications, pictures, letters, and online messages, and are constantly engaging their residents in the community. Sumner Place prides itself on providing resident-focused care, independence, and offering a home-like atmosphere. They have three households and a walk-out entrance and patio for their Alzheimer residents in the secure Memory Support household. Their excellent staff and teams strive daily to serve the residents’ and their families’ needs, while maintaining Dignity in Life for all residents, families, visitors, and their team of caregivers. The Fitness Factor

Pre-Planning It’s never a comfortable conversation and often overwhelming and awkward, but if you have loved ones in senior living, planning ahead for what they want when their time on earth ends is such a crucial thing to do. Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery is there to help you decide upon and record both your loved ones’ and your own end-of-life wishes. Pre-planning can help every individual make an informed and thoughtful decision about their funeral, choosing sentimental things they want included, comparing prices, and helping the family. Wyuka offers a pre-planning checklist with all the information you need to start the process, and they will walk you through the entire process. When you or a loved one passes away, your family will be making numerous important decisions, while also grieving. Pre-planning can help your family plan with ease when the time comes. Your family can confidently put a loved one’s plan into action, knowing that these were their wishes. Working with Wyuka to create a plan in advance also leaves your loved one with the peace of mind that their family has been relieved of making burdensome decisions during their time of loss. Once completed, you can rest assured that you and your loved ones’ plans are in the hands of trusted individuals—without forcing anyone to make decisions in a hurried manner. You do not have to pay for a plan in advanced, unless you choose to, so it’s never too soon to get started. The Lincoln community can be proud of the exceptional options for elder care in the region, be that at-home care or in a senior-living community. They’ve excelled throughout the pandemic but always welcome creative ways for the community to bring smiles to seniors’ faces. Take some ideas from this feature or come up with your own way to share joy!

Research indicates that regular physical activity for seniors helps improve their mental and physical health. It produces endorphins, which act as a stress reliever and leave them feeling happy, and regular exercise has been linked to improved sleep for seniors, reduces their risk of falls, and improves their social interaction and cognitive function. The fitness professionals at Right Foot Forward Fitness in Lincoln offer a variety of ways to help your loved ones—whether in senior living or at home—keep moving. They recently launched a new online/remote coaching program that delivers custom programming with full-length workout videos customized for each individual. They use positive reinforcement and encouragement to help participants, regardless of age and ability, to achieve their goals, no matter how big or small. “Right Foot Forward Fitness is not just a gym or training program, it’s a community,” said Owner Jeff Madsen. “Whether we work with someone for a month, a year, or a decade, my goal is twofold. First, I strive to help seniors understand a better way to work out based on their age and the physical shape they are in, and second, I work to help clients build relationships that will help them with their fitness journey for the long term.”

Jeff Madsen Right Foot Forward Fitness

Right Foot Forward Fitness is the premier provider of individualized personal training in Lincoln. Whether you are an athlete, a master’s athlete (40+ years of age), seeking to lose weight, or looking to gain muscle and size, they can help you achieve those goals—at the training studio or at home! Right Foot Forward Fitness wants to help you achieve the best version of you possible so you can live the active, engaged life you want, regardless of your age!

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Pemberly Place offers Pet-Friendly Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Support. ON-SITE MEDICAL CLINIC Pemberly Place is the only senior living community in Nebraska that has its own on-site medical clinic. Archer Place Medical Clinic, gives residents the healthcare they need without the hassle of leaving home.

Call for a tour! 402-413-9770 | www.PemberlyPlace.com

7655 Archer Place, Lincoln, NE #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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