Strictly Business Omaha - February 2021

STRICTLYBUSINESSOMAHA.COM

Jim Barger Owner/Business Coach

OMAHA • FEBRUARY 2021 TM

• OMAHA BUSINESSES & THEIR PETS • BUILDING MAINTENANCE • SENIOR LIVING

Client Spotlights

• DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT • AR SOLUTIONS • CCA HOME CARE • GOD’S GOT YOUR BACK

AGO

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RIVER CITY SIX

In This Issue

r u o y e Mak s s e n i s bu !

U O Y r o f k r o w

Michael McKee Business Coach

TONY MENDIOLA VANESSA SCHMIDT Midwest Geriatrics/ Florence Bath Fitter Home Healthcare Center

JAY FAYLOR JESSICA RENNER PinnacleStrictly Bank Energy Studio, Inc. FEBRUARY 2021

Don Dotson Business Coach

ROBERT DURRETT Budget Car and Truck Rental of Nebraska

DAN HEADLEE

Universal Group, LTD.1 Business

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

RESTAURANT EXPOSE

DicCkleayss’sicBOaurtdbeocour e Pit Barbecue, Indoors!

You don’t have to miss out on classic outdoor barbecues just because the cold is keeping everyone inside—we certainly didn’t! In lieu of smoking a rack of ribs outside on the grill, the Strictly Business crew did the next best thing: ordered a catered feast f rom Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. It’s important to note that all of Dickey’s catering, curbside, and dine-in options are curtailed to COVID-19 guidelines and have options to suit any occasion, including anything from massive buffets to individual box lunches for home or office gatherings.

We had to try all of it. The f rigid winter wind and the flurries of snow—not to mention having to stay huddled indoors during quarantine—made us miss summer afternoons and good old-fashioned weekend barbecue. That’s why the enormous feast we had catered to our office hit the spot for all of us—pounds of barbecued meat, buckets of traditional barbecue sides, buttery rolls, and a carrousel of sweet, Southern treats like pecan pie and loaded chocolate chip cookies. We spared no time devouring it.

We were impressed with how much we got. The XL Family Pack is perfect for any holiday, family, or business gathering; even with six hungry adults, we had plenty for leftovers for dinner and even lunch the next day. It came with three pounds of meat of our choice, so we picked the Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket, and Jalapeño Cheddar Kielbasa. It also came with three medium sides of our choice, and we went with the brisket-topped Mac & Cheese, Dickey's famous Jalapeño Beans, and their signature Creamed Spinach. We were also given eight rolls and plenty of individually-packaged barbecue sauce. We were blown away. The Kielbasa was just spicy enough for a small kick but not spicy enough to knock you out, and the pork and beef had that excellent, fresh-off-the-grill flavor we’d all been craving. The Mac & Cheese topped with delicious brisket was creamy and flavorful, the Jalapeño Beans were just slightly sweet, not too spicy, and the Creamed Spinach was so good...we were tempted to just drink it!

If that wasn’t enough, we also had the Delivery Buffet, which came with two pounds of meat and three more sides. We got the Pork Ribs and the traditional Polish Kielbasa—the pork was sweet, perfectly smoked, with meat that quite literally fell off the bone. The Polish Kielbasa was savory and a great alternative to anyone sensitive to spice. We also got the highly-coveted Onion Straws (everyone was asking for more), Fried Okra (a Southern favorite), and their f resh Creamy Coleslaw (the perfect palate cleanser).

There was also the Box Lunch, an individually packaged meal that came with a Classic Sandwich filled with tender Sliced Beef Brisket, potato chips, barbecue sauce, and a yummy Chocolate Chunk Cookie. We noted that these lunches are absolutely perfect for catering to picnics or office parties that follow strict COVID guidelines. By this time, we were all too stuffed to move, but we persevered and washed it down with a few more bites of their sweet Pecan Pie and some swigs of their house-made sweet and sour lemonade—the perfect end to a filling meal.

Dickey’s kept our stomachs (and our hearts) full, and we welcome anyone missing big meals with coworkers or family to get Dickey’s catered or delivered to their front porch or office. You’ll not only have delicious, hearty food, but you’ll also have a great time eating it with others.

15825 w maple rd. | 402.408.2878 4102 twin creek dr. ste 116 | 402.905.9673

dickeys.com

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FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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

Print Marketing for the Win in 2021 on TV interrupting your favorite show. Not to say those methods Naive are those who think print is dead. aren’t effective, but we are psychological people. If we relate Quite the opposite is true, really. Especially annoyance or intrusiveness to a brand, that is going to affect our with the pandemic pushing even more purchasing decisions, whereas with print, your audience is viewing marketers online, resulting in a high volume your content on their own terms. of information given to customers at the digital level, print will set you apart. Printed Print is Engaging. Consumers (and yes, even millennials) continue to content will be seen more as it’s not scrolled retain a higher level of interest in printed materials. Studies continue past or deleted as we so often do in the to show that students read digital formats faster—but at a cost. digital world. According to a blog published They ended up absorbing fewer details, which suggests students

by Colortech Creative Solutions, “print advertising also provides a are much better off reading print. Investing in broader customer experience—this allows for a print advertising increases the chance that your deeper level of engagement than that of digital materials. Printed pieces can be taken with you “Especially with the pandemic message will be read, understood, and better and are tangible where digital formats are pushing even more marketers yet, not diluted by off-topic comments or other advertising in the sidebar. fleeting. For example, if a potential customer online, resulting in a high has a brochure in their hand [or a magazine!]

Let’s say you’re a business and there’s no one on they can see the beauty and color of the ad, but volume of information given to your team who is a trained writer. Not only that, they can also feel the texture and smell the ink, customers at the digital level, there just isn’t enough time to put together branded experiencing something that’s separated from content for your business while actually running and print will set you apart.” the digital realm.” The article positions branded operating it. That is exactly why Strictly Business content as one of the top marketing trends for exists. We are a marketing partner like no other 2021. This is content that has been specifically to local businesses in Omaha. Why? Our small-but-mighty team works created with your brand vision in mind—it tells your story in a way with every single one of our clients, really getting to know each one that is meaningful to the reader. so that we can best tell their story and convey their mission, values, and expertise to the community. Our writers—Diane, Hannah, and If you’re not convinced that print has its place in marketing in the Tegan—are very talented. They can take anyone’s jumbled thoughts digital age, let me highlight some of my favorite qualities of print. and turn them into a well-written article that flows and resonates with I hope you see the value in these characteristics as well. the reader—and they can do it in minutes. All the press release, feature story, and spotlight writing we do for our clients is free with their Print is Credible. Sadly, there is a lot of distrust around information advertising campaign. We also know how important it is to supplement we find online. It’s hard to know if what we’re absorbing has been a physical print presence with an online presence, so we publish all that fabricated to accomplish a certain agenda or exaggerated for the rich, original content on our website and backlink to our clients’ sites. sake of becoming “clickbait”. However, when you read an article In addition, Strictly Business offers a social media add-on package in Strictly Business, or any other publication with integrity, you know to take our client’s even further. If you’re interested in learning more what you’re reading is true because it’s been responsibly sourced about working with our amazing team to share your story and grow and approved by the person or business the article is about. your business, reach out to me!

Print is Polite. What I mean by this is that people who read Let Strictly Business help you lock in your status as content in a magazine or newspaper are doing so voluntarily. It’s THE EXPERT in your industry, utilizing print, the internet, and social not being shoved in their face like a pop-up ad or a commercial media. Find out how by contacting Paige at (402) 466-3330.

CONTENTS NEWS

4 Business 22 Personnel

26 Nonprofit 33 Health

SPOTLIGHTS 1 32 35 48

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit AR Solutions CCA Home Care God’s Got Your Back

COLUMNS

15 Ask the Expert: Outlook Business Solutions 16 River City Six

FEATURE STORIES

36 Omaha Businesses & Their Pets 39 Building Maintenance 44 Senior Living 4 Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

Hannah

Diane

Dillon

Tegan

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

Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright ©2020 by PZAK, Inc. Third Class Postage Paid at Lincoln, NE 68505

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About the Cover Make your business work for YOU! ActionCOACH is a team of committed, positive, and successful people who are always striving to be balanced, integral, and honest. They work within their 14 Points of Culture to make sure that everyone who touches or is touched by the ActionCOACH team will benefit greatly and, in some way, move closer to their goals.

ActionCOACH is the best business investment you will ever make.

GET A COACH By showing business owners how to get more time, build better teams within their companies, and increase money to their bottom-line, ActionCOACH has grown to be the number one business coaching firm in the world, with hundreds of proven systems and strategies that are guaranteed to get results.

FREE BUSINESS TOOLS Webinars, videos, whitepapers, seminars...just to name a few are available as free resources for any business in need. ActionCOACH supports business education and offers tools to help any business be more successful.

ACTIONCOACH GUARANTEE ActionCOACH promises to find cashflow in your company to cover coaching costs within four months of starting coaching—or we will coach you free until we do. We have programs for any size business in any industry.

WHAT AN ACTIONCOACH CAN DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS Your ActionCOACH will learn your business inside and out, and and guide you to build a business that works for you. Your ActionCOACH will help you get clarity in where you want your business to go, develop plans to get there and meet regularly with you to hold you accountable to work your plan.

Jim Barger started ActionCOACH in Omaha over 12 years ago. Jim purchased the New Zealand development rights for Burger King and built 60 restaurants in six years, doing $100 million in annual revenue while employing 3,000 employees and 350 managers. After seven years, he walked away from the day-to-day operations and enjoyed a business that worked without him. As an ActionCOACH Business Coach, Jim can show you how to do amazing things with your business and build a business that provides passive income or enables you to sell your business for a premium price.

Additional certified coaches on the ActionCOACH Omaha team include: Michael McKee and Don Dotson.

Your first consultation is free...so schedule a session with one of these experienced and passionate business coaches, or checkout upcoming seminars, programs, and events online.

(402) 676-8809 | 10828 Old Mill Rd., STE 4 | jimbarger.actioncoach.com

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BUSINESS NEWS 101 Mobility Now A Dealer for Liftup Products, Financing for Home Projects

Amy Bracht Introduces New Coaching Business to Omaha, A Better You is Possible

101 Mobility recently became an authorized dealer for Liftup and also began offering quickand-easy financing for your home projects! You can apply and get financing in as little as one to five days, to support you in making your home—or your loved one’s home—accessible regardless of physical challenges. The financing option allows 101 Mobility to be your one-stop shop for all of your assisted-mobility needs.

Amy Bracht, certified life coach, is excited to announce the launch of her new coaching business: A Better You is Possible. Amy specializes in working with those interested in a career change and with businesses looking to implement coaching services to improve retention. She offers several programs tailored to the specific client’s needs. They assist clients who know they want change but aren’t sure what to do next.

“I once felt stuck. I wanted to live an amazing, abundant life, but I didn’t know how. I did a lot of research, and I found a process called PSYCH-K™, a method to make rapid, efficient change to support new goals and aspirations. So, I decided to work on this process myself and became a facilitator. As I used PSYCH-K™ as a tool for change, I became unstuck. I’m excited to share this journey as a coach to guide you through this incredible process,” said Amy. With A Better You is Possible, clients can expect to work on their mindset and address limiting beliefs that hold people back from their goals, while having fun along the way. Get connected by going to abetteryouispossible.com or email amy@abetteryouispossible.com.

Liftup offers some very innovative products, including the Raizer and the FlexStep. The Raizer is a simple, battery-operated mobile lifting chair that helps a fallen person up to an almost standing position within a few minutes. It is easily assembled and operated by only one assistant and does not require any physical effort besides a supportive hand. The FlexStep is a stairlift designed to function both as an ordinary staircase and as a wheelchair lift.

Developed and manufactured by Liftup, the FlexStep is flexible and equally useful for pedestrians and wheelchair users alike.

It’s an innovative two-in-one solution and saves space compared to installing both a flight of stairs and a separate lift.

Tom Riedl opened the first 101 Mobility in Omaha in May 2020, at 10717 Mockingbird Drive, to provide residents in the region with life-changing mobility and accessibility equipment to allow them to continue living in their homes. Their core products include stairlifts, wheelchair ramps, vertical platform lifts, patient lifts, and more. For more information, visit 101mobility.com/Omaha, call (402) 3561670, or email Tom at triedl@101Mobility.com.

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

Consumer Title & Escrow Opens New Office in Omaha, Crushing 5-Year Goal in 2 Years Consumer Title & Escrow opened a new branch in Omaha on January 18, after growing dramatically in their first two years of business in Lincoln and crushing their five-year plan to start a second location. Since its launch in July 2018, the Lincoln office grew from a staff of two to seven, and has now added licensed Title Producer Aaron Kircher to manage the new Omaha location. The additional office gives real-estate agents and lenders the ability to do closings in the metro area without having to drive to Lincoln, and it opens the door for more agents and lenders, in general, to use Consumer Title.

“We exceeded all expectations in our first two years, which brought us to our five-year goal to open an office in Omaha just into our third year,” said Vice President Val Kircher, who is also a licensed Title Producer and Licensed Abstractor, as well as a licensed Real Estate Broker, with 28 years of experience in the real-estate industry – and Aaron’s mother.

“We have a staff of one in Omaha now, but as we grow and change, that will change, too. In the meantime, the beautiful part about our business is that it is all internet-accessible, so we can do our work from anywhere. That means we can take care of that one person on location in Omaha with a full staff to support him.”

In fact, everything that Consumer Title & Escrow does is about teamwork.

Val stresses that none of the growth that’s happened so quickly has been the result of a single person. They work as a team and succeed as a team, operating by the tagline “Title to Table, It Takes a Team.” The result is the ability to provide real-estate agents and lenders their full slate of title and escrow services for everything from IRS Code 1031 property exchanges to commercial, agricultural, and residential property transactions. The real-estate market in Omaha and Lincoln have both been flourishing nonstop, keeping things at Consumer Title & Escrow moving at high speed.

“I would like to see the Omaha office blossom as quickly as Lincoln has,” Val said. “I think that would be the icing on the cake, to have at least seven staff members in the new office in two years’ time.”

The Omaha office of Consumer Title & Escrow is located at 14301 FNB Parkway, STE 100. For more information, visit consumertitleomaha.com or contact Aaron at (531) 600-7553 or aaron@consumertitleomaha.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS DayCloud Studios Merges with Blue Fin Sales to Expand Market in Des Moines DayCloud Studios announces a merger with Des Moines-based digital marketing agency, Blue Fin. Blue Fin CEO Makenna Sellers brings to DayCloud Studios extensive experience in sales and marketing and will lead her sales team in Des Moines while building a new sales team in the Omaha market.

DayCloud Studios will serve Blue Fin’s existing clients, offering a full suite of creative digital marketing including content and copywriting.

Blue Fin’s client portfolio will be transitioned over to DayCloud Studios as they operate under one entity.

“We’re excited to bring on Makenna and her team because of their great talent as well as the local and regional expansion opportunities they bring to DayCloud,” says DayCloud Studios Owner Liz Hunt.

DayCloud Studios looks forward to serving clients with our creative digital marketing needs in Omaha, Des Moines, and beyond.

DayCloud Studios is a brand strategy and digital marketing agency located in Omaha. Owner Liz Hunt was a recipient of the MBJ’s 40 under 40 Awards in 2020. Learn more at DayCloudStudios.com

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DataVizion Differentiates Business Units to Better Support Customers In order to better serve customers, DataVizion officially announced the launc h 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

Offering: IN-STUDIO Painting & Pottery TO-GO Kits ‘Painting Pottery’ is perfect for Family Gatherings, Birthday Parties, Date Night, Ladies Night, & Creating at home.

thatpotteryplaceomaha.com | @thatpotteryplaceomaha

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-to-head in a bracket-style tournament on ABA’s Instagram page. 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.

Learn more about Lincoln Federal Savings Bank at lincolnfed.com or go to lightscamerasave.com for more information on the contest.

FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 7

BUSINESS NEWS That Pottery Place Offers Both In-Studio Painting and Pottery To-Go Kits

MBA Hosts April 22 Business Expo to Help Boost Networking with Business Prospects

Whether painting alone, with family, or a party, That Pottery Place offers both instudio and pottery to-go kits to customize your experience.

Studio hours are currently Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (paint till 7:30 p.m.), Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (paint until 8 p.m.), and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. (paint till 5 p.m.) at their 7828 Dodge St. location. The studio is operated and sanitized according to COVID-19 regulations, and masks are required. Due to limited seating, reservations—especially for groups—are encouraged but not required. For those who’d like to take their pottery home to paint, That Pottery Place offers curbside pickup and delivery for their pottery to-go kits, which include all the pottery and paints to finish their masterpiece at home (just return the piece to the studio for a coat of clear glaze and firing!). The kits can be ordered online or over the phone and are a great way to celebrate birthdays, holidays, or time with friends or family while staying safe.

The Millard Business Association (MBA) recently announced that their second annual Business Expo is on tap for April 22, with booths available for any and all business types and entry open the public. The all-day event is labeled as a kickoff for boosting networking and finding new business prospects in 2021. The Expo will be at the Ramada Inn at 3321 S. 72nd St. Connect with other MBA members and respected business leaders in and around the Millard community, or showcase your business to potential customers.

That Pottery Place has provided Omaha a fun space to create unique gifts and personal keepsakes since 1997. From piggy banks to figurines, dog bowls to dinnerware, they have hundreds of pieces for customers to transform into a work of art. To reserve a spot or to order a to-go kit, call (402) 392-1166 or visit thatpotteryplaceomaha.com to learn more. You can also check out the Facebook page (@thatpotteryplaceomaha) for updates.

“It’s a great way for businesses to connect with new clients and socialize and network with others,” said MBA President John Drazic. “Especially considering the kind of year we had in 2020, this event opens opportunities to enjoy a better year of business communications and promotion.”

Millard Business Association was formed in 2003 by a small group of Millard-area business owners and associates who recognized and developed opportunities for effective business networking and community development. The MBA is also highly involved with Millard Schools and the community. For more information, visit millardbusinessassociation.org. For details about the 2021 MBA Business Expo or to register for a booth space, contact Todd Baumbach at (308) 440-7041 or email him at Toddeb1225@gmail.com.

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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BUSINESS NEWS KylenHunt & Co. Launches in Omaha KylenHunt & Co. launched in Omaha in 2020. The company was started by Kylan Hunt and his wife Rebecca to help individuals and companies achieve their dreams by teaching them to understand themselves, others, and the universe of sales. Their goal as a company is to be a small piece of the puzzle that lays the foundation for others to grow their businesses. Through different tiers of personalized coaching, online course offerings, as well as in-person training and classes, KylenHunt & Co. equips entrepreneurs with vital tools to navigate a 21st century sales environment.

After years in agriculture and sales, Kylen decided to take a leap of faith and became certified as an executive director with the John Maxwell Team in 2015. His leadership certification and background create an interactive and thought provoking experience for members. Kylen believes that the success of any business relies on its most valuable asset: people. The main objective is helping others define their purpose, develop their strengths, and discover new skills. At the end of the day, Kylen wants to be able to say that he lived the motto of KylenHunt & Co., which is to Seek Truth, Gain Wisdom, and Serve Others.

KylenHunt & Co. is Omaha's next business and leadership development company. To learn more, visit leadershipfarming.com or contact connect@kylenhunt.com / (402) 916-1988.

Business Ethics Alliance Announces Meeting and Conference Schedule for 2021 The Business Ethics Alliance recently announced their schedule of events for 2021, including Ethics Luncheons, Executive Breakfasts, Mind Candy Dialogues, and the annual EthicsSpace Conference.

On tap for Thursday, February 18 and Thursday, May 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., their 2021 Ethics Luncheons provide an excellent opportunity for leaders at all management levels of organizations to get to know others in the community who put ethics as a cornerstone of doing business, all the while getting pertinent ethics education from subject-matter experts. Meantime, Business Ethics Alliance Executive Breakfasts are scheduled for 7:10 to 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23 and Tuesday, September 21, where chairs, owners, founders, and executive-level leaders of organizations gather for applicable, strategic ethics content from distinguished speakers and presenters.

Mind Candy Dialogues in 2021 are scheduled for 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20 and Tuesday, June 22. These meetings help individuals jump-start their day by participating in lively discussions about business-ethics issues pulled straight from the headlines.

Current news events encourage spirited conversation in a unique and interactive forum. Finally, the Business Ethics Alliance’s 2021 EthicsSpace Conference is on tap for Tuesday, November 9 at the CHI Center and virtually. The all-day conference will focus on select ethics topics for people of all career levels and job titles to discuss in-depth, including presentations from a variety of associated experts.

The Business Ethics Alliance is a beacon of business ethics in Omaha.

They cast a small but mighty light through lots of ethical companies working together to do the right thing. For more information, visit businessethicsalliance.org/events or call (402) 280-2235. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

MarbleLife Omaha Offering State-of-the-Art Cleaning, Polishing, and Restoration Services MarbleLife® Omaha is offering state-of-the-art marble c l e a n i n g, p o l i s h i n g, a n d restoration to local businesses and homeowners, along with cleaning and restoration for stone, granite, tile, terrazzo, travertine, concrete, interlock, and vinyl surfaces. MarbleLife is a world leader in surface restoration and helps individuals in Omaha and around the world keep polished, professional, and beautiful homes or businesses. They restore countertops, floors, patios, showers, walls, and more in buildings of all types, including homes, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, parks, and offices.

What’s more, they use special products that nourish your marble, reverse the stripping done by improper cleaning products, and ensure the marble’s pores are clean, bacteria-free, and sealed in to make it shine. Regular and proper treatment of marble, granite, concrete, or other surfaces is imperative to its longevity and beauty. MarbleLife Omaha encourages anyone with dull or worn-looking services to reach out for a free consultation.

MarbleLife has been providing marble, granite, terrazzo, limestone, travertine, and tile restoration services to businesses and homeowners throughout North America for more than 25 years. For a free estimate or to lean more, call (402) 407-4848 or visit marblelife-omaha.com.

Budget Car and Truck Rental Adds 2021 Trucks, Cars to Long-Term Rental Program Budget Car and Tr uc k Rental of Nebraska—based in Omaha—is constantly adding to the selection of vehicles available under its new LongTerm Rental Program, with some of the latest arrivals including the 2021 Ram 2500 Limited 4x4 Crew Cab, the 2021 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 Crew Cab, the 2021 Ford F-250 Platinum 4x4 Tremor Crew Cab, and the 2021 BMW X3 M40 I. While traditional car rental is the foundation of the business, Budget Nebraska is always innovating and recently launched the Long-Term Rental Program, which serves as an alternative to leasing or even purchasing a car. The program is the perfect solution for individuals and businesses with long-term transportation needs who may not want to make a long-term commitment.

Although Budget Rent a Car is an internationally recognized brand, many people may not know that Budget Car and Truck Rental of Nebraska is actually a 33-year-old, local family business owned

by A Betterway Rent-A-Car group and run by Omaha resident Rob Durrett. Budget Nebraska has seven locations serving Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island, and the company’s real differentiator is its fleet which includes only the newest, fully-loaded vehicles. A dedicated Rental Agent Concierge provides a high level of customer service throughout the entire Long-Term Rental process, and customers can choose from a wide selection of cars, pickup trucks, passenger, and cargo vans. Rates start as low as $599 per month and are inclusive of a generous mileage allowance and preventive maintenance.

For more information about Budget Car and Truck Rental of Nebraska’s Long-Term Rental Program, visit BudgetNebraska.com/ long-term-rental or call (402) 898-7250.

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BUSINESS NEWS B & K’s ExSeptional Ones Academy Celebrates One Year Providing Early Childhood Education

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This month, B & K’s ExSeptional Ones Academy is celebrating their one-year anniversary providing excellent and God-centered early childhood education and care to Omaha.

Brian and Keana SeptMatthews opened the child care academy during the pandemic to provide a safe, loving environment where kids ages 6–13 can partake in engaging education and learn important social skills.

What sets ExSeptional Ones Academy apart is that they are Childcare Aware Certified for all branches of the military, as well as accept Title XX, and they provide care for all socio-economic statuses.

The academy follows Nebraska’s Early Learning Guidelines while instilling the love of Christ in the heart of each child. Their curriculum covers all developmental domains, including language and literacy, cognitive development, physical development, social-emotional development, and creative arts. The academy is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offers discounts to members of the military, first responders, police officers, and teachers. They follow all Nebraska guidelines to control the spread of COVID-19.

B & K’s ExSeptional Ones Academy is a family-owned childhood education center located at 12717 S 28th Ave., STE D, in Bellevue. They can be reached at (531) 365-6806 / exseptionalconsultingbiz@gmail.com. To learn more, follow them on Facebook or Instagram (@exseptionalones).

Teams.Coach Opens New Office in Omaha Teams.coach recently opened an office in Omaha—at 8790 F St.—to provide strategic coaching for businesses and organizations of all types and sizes to get them focused on the things that will give them positive returns and an effective team culture. Owner, Executive Coach, and Business and Creative Strategist Michael King began his coaching career as an executive pastor in a church, through which he was involved in coaching a network of hundreds of church leaders across the country. After getting his master’s degree in leadership and executive coaching from Bellevue University, Michael grew his business from one-on-one coaching to a full portfolio of coaching options for anything from a single entrepreneur to large teams of 500 and up.

“Everything rises and falls on leadership,” he said. “I’ve worked with high-level leaders and when it comes down to it, leadership is leadership; pressure is pressure; results are results; and health is health—and the health of the leadership ultimately determines the scope and the path and the impact of the team that it’s involved in.

I work with leaders to help clarify their vision and execute to get results that they’ve never imagined possible.”

Teams.coach uses a proven coaching process called the T.E.A.M.S. Methodology, which comprises Targets, Engagements, Action, Momentum, and Synergy components to help leaders build the best culture and results. The best teams are the ones who tell the best stories, and the leaders who lead these teams are the leaders who lead with highest levels of innovation, authenticity, transparency, clarity, and approachability. For more information about making your business vision flourish, visit teams.coach or contact Michael at Michael@teams.coach to set up a call for a free strategy session with him. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS 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.

We will provide each child with a safe, loving environment with engaging and stimulating learning.

(531) 365-6805 @ExSeptionalOnes

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 of their 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).

King Insurance Recommends Making a Home Inventory Update Your New Year Tradition New Year resolutions come and go, but King Insurance is recommending that you make one important task a New Year tradition: Conducting a home inventory.

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think ‘resolution’ but the New Year is a perfect time to reflect and assess your home and possessions to ensure that your current insurance continues to cover your updated needs and belongings. To make it easy, King Insurance offers a free Home Inventory Checklist at kingins.com and suggests that you start by simply standing in the middle of your living room and taking a 360-degree video. Take on this project with your kids and spend value-added time talking with them about family keepsakes.

Consider these four reasons to make a home inventory your annual New Year tradition: 1. New gifts you’ve received might not be covered by your current insurance.

2. A lot can change in one year (don’t we know that after 2020!).

3. A current home inventory makes filing a claim easier.

4. Conducting an update is free and easy.

King Insurance is an independent agency that focuses on providing insurance solutions tailored to the needs of commercial and personal clients. For more than 40 years, King Insurance has worked with a group of financially sound, reputable insurance companies to provide clients the best coverages at competitive prices. To discuss your personal insurance needs or learn more about King Insurance, visit kingins.com or call (402) 597-5224, ext. 113. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Governor Pete Ricketts Recognizes Berry Law for Receiving Medallion for Hiring Veterans Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts recognized and congratulated Berry Law and three other companies in the state for earning Medallion awards from the U.S. Department of Labor’s HIRE Vets program. In a small ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol on Thursday, December 3, the governor officially awarded the Medallions to Berry Law, ALLO Communications, Persevus, and Executive Airborne Solutions for making concerted efforts to attract and employ Veterans.

The HIRE Vets award is the only federal employment award that recognizes business efforts to successfully recruit, hire, and retain Veterans in the workplace. This is the third year that the award has been presented. Berry Law and Persevus won Platinum Medallions—the highest honor granted—and ALLO and Executive Airborne Solutions received prestigious Gold Medallions. The Medallions are based on metrics for veteran hiring and retention based on the size of the business, along with company efforts to integrate and mentor veterans.

“Veterans are our country’s greatest natural resource,” said Berry Law CEO John Berry. “We reach out to hire veterans, not just to honor their service but because they are generally great at providing an immediate positive impact to the team. The same skills and values that allowed them to succeed in the military can directly translate into civilian success.”

Berry Law was founded in 1965 by legendary Attorney and 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. Reach the Veterans line at (888) 883-2483 or visit their Veterans website at ptsdlawyer.com. For more information, visit jsberrylaw.com or call (402) 446-8444.

FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 11

BUSINESS NEWS BBB Recognizes 2020 Community Heroes with $900 to Food Bank for the Heartland

CCA Home Care Releases 2021 ElderCare Resource Handbook

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently recognized nine 2020 Community Hero organizations from metro Omaha—Bel Air Fashions, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NE, Dirty Doodles, Heartland Family Service, Hurrdat, Midwest Matchmaking, Noddle Companies, Papillion Windows and Siding, and Pegasus Travel— with a $100 donation in each company’s honor to the Food Bank for the Heartland. 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 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.

CCA Home Care, formerly Care Consultants for the Aging, has released its 2021 Omaha ElderCare Resource Handbook, often referred to as “the bible” of the elder care industry. The Handbook is an all-inclusive listing of services, programs, and other resources available for the aging in the Omaha Metro area. By understanding the services, resources, and options that are available locally, CCA Home Care hopes to help seniors and their families make informed decisions about senior care that have the potential to enhance their quality of life and independence.

The ElderCare Resource Handbook includes information and business listings for Government, Financial, Legal, Medical Support Services, Home Health Care, Living Options, and Senior Services.

The book is separated into sections that easily assist in identifying important community resources for all elder care needs.

To get your Handbook at no cost, contact Blake Thomas at the CCA Home Care office by calling (402) 398-1848 or by emailing info@OmahaHandbook.com. To have a book mailed to your home or business, you may order online at OmahaHandbook.com and pay a $5 postage-and-handling fee via PayPal.

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BUSINESS NEWS Advance Tax Solutions Opens Doors in Omaha, Grand Opening Held in December

Yield Champions Promotes Pro Ag 1 Training Program to Grow Ag Profits

It’s that time of the year again, and in 2021, Omaha area residents have access to a new tax service—Advance Tax Solutions—to meet their tax-preparation services. On December 9, 2020, Owner Martine Quartey held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for Advance Tax, at 6311 Ames Ave. She brings the community more than 20 years of professional tax experience working under a big-box tax firm; she has one other staff member and plans to hire a third person soon.

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, ag-industry 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:

“I decided to open my own tax firm in the middle of a pandemic,” Martine said. “I am a black-owned, female-owned, and veteranowned business here to serve the community with their tax needs.

We are open seven days a week, with drop-off services available 24 hours a day.”

To book an appointment with Advance Tax Solutions, contact Martine at (402) 972-0557 or advancetaxvip@gmail.com. You must wear a mask for in-person meetings, though virtual services are available for those who prefer. For more information, visit advancetax.business.site.

• 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 peracre basis. Their mission is to equip agricultural producers to 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.

Universal Group Offers Compliance Toolbox to Help Manage and Grow Local Businesses Universal Group, LTD is offering business owners a comprehensive compliance toolbox that includes OSHA regulations; a Family and Medical Leave Act advisor; a human-resources hotline and resources including customized handbooks, job descriptions, salary calculators; and an interactive Learning Management System that facilitates employee and manager training with professionally produced training courses. In an environment where more people are working from home, Universal also offers an employee wellness program designed specifically for remote employees.

Universal Group’s goal is to educate business owners about their insurance needs. Their compliance toolbox helps make obtaining and interacting with insurance coverage highly convenient, so the Universal agency, brokerage, and consulting firm can provide customers the power of choice from top-rated national and regional insurance-carrier partners.

By remembering their roots in Omaha—which date back to 1889—Universal Group, LTD brings the combination of tradition and highly technical insurance skills to their clients and remains dedicated to professionalism, regular client contact, and ongoing education about the many changes in the insurance field. Universal Group can protect your most precious assets, as they offer personal and business insurance, in addition to employee benefits and industry specialties including contractor, dealership, garagerepair shop, manufacturing, and trucking insurance. For more information about all of their offerings, visit universalinsgroup. com. To learn more about Universal Group’s compliance toolbox, call (402) 399-8721 or email hello@universalinsgroup.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

GROW WITH A NEW CHECKING ACCOUNT.

Start the year off right by opening a checking account that’s right for you!

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BUSINESS NEWS HBE Merges with Marvin E. Jewell & Co. to Create Enhance CPA Firm’s Services

Contour Construction Launches New and Improved Website

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.

Not only is Contour Construction committed to elevating the level of quality in the construction/ w o o d w o r k i n d u s t r i e s , t h ey care about their clients’ entire experience—from inquiry to project completion—which is why the company recently updated their website. The new and improved site neatly displays Contour‘s services, past projects, employment opportunities, testimonials, and company history. A couple of the impressive final products in their portfolio include Flywheel, Sakoon Day Spa, J Gilbert’s Steakhouse, Countryside Community Church, and Blackstone Flats.

Contour Construction is proud to be women-owned. Founder Kimberly Remmereid started the company in 2015. As a City of Omaha Certified Tier II Emerging Small Business, Contour can meet the needs on a variety of projects where there is a percentage-based goal. Contour has a team of experienced project managers and estimators who are available to assist you with your commercial construction projects. When a project comes into Contour, it is assessed and assigned to a person so that the client has one-on-one personal contact with someone from start to finish. They also have a team of high experienced and skilled carpentry supervisors and lead carpenters. To learn more, visit the updated website at contourconstruct.com or call (402) 238-2362.

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.

VALENTINE’S DAY IS COMING UP AND LOVE IS IN THE HAIR Whether you’re looking for a change in color, a dramatic new cut, or some highlights to shake things up, you’ ll be falling in love with your new hair.

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BUSINESS NEWS Crown Services of Omaha Relocates Staffing Services to New Office

Outlook Enrichment Extends Reach to People with Vision Loss Through Pandemic Funding

Crown Services, Inc. of Omaha has moved its staffing services to a new location at 7635 Pacific St. Operations officially began in the new building on November 27, 2020. William Lockhart, branch manager in Omaha, is excited to continue growing his team and maximizing the additional square footage of the new office to best serve clients. He has already brought on additional office staff.

Outlook Enrichment, a nonprofit providing resources and support to help those with vision loss remain independent, provided services to more people than ever in 2020, which marked a year of resiliency among the individuals it serves and the programs it offers. While some agencies closed their doors or suspended or limited services, Outlook Enrichment maintained is staff and provided access to resources for people with vision loss through support from the Community CARES COVID-19 Response and Recovery Grant, Payroll Protection Program, and Stabilization Grant for charitable organizations.

Funding in 2020 supported Outlook Enrichment’s shift to a casemanagement model by providing its adaptive-technology training program, support groups, and educational seminars to people with vision loss via virtual formats. That allowed the nonprofit to extend its services to people outside of its Omaha headquarters into rural parts of Nebraska, throughout Iowa, and beyond the Midwest. In some cases, Outlook Enrichment even loaned out equipment needed for clients to continue training, and also provided emotional and transition support, in addition to financial assistance to individuals and families in need.

In Nebraska, more than 38,000 individuals faced the pandemic with limited vision, with nearly one third of them living in poverty. Outlook Enrichment needs your help to continue assisting neighbors living with vision loss through their adaptive-technology training, culture, recreation, and peer-support programs. For more information or to donate to the cause, visit outlooken.org/donate.

Crown Services, Inc. was founded in 1968 as a small, family-owned staffing company in Columbus, OH. Over the years, offices have opened throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Crown Services specializes in light industrial, office, administrative, and healthcare staffing. If you’re looking for the next step in your career, visit www.crownservices.com or contact (402) 553-6115 / omaha@crownservices.com.

Volano Solutions Becomes Volano Software as Founders Look to the Future Volano Solutions announced it has changed its name to Volano Software and launched a new website: www.volanosoftware. com. The name change was made to more accurately reflect what the company does, and the website was designed to be more informative and user-friendly to clients and prospective clients while also letting the firm’s personality shine through.

Founded in 2007 by Rod Smith and Don Stavneak, Volano has been delivering database, website, and mobile apps, reporting systems, and other custom software services to Omaha-area clients. The company has grown from its two founders to over 20 employees and is continually expanding.

Volano has worked with over 100 clients since its inception including Triage Staffing, Iowa Western Community College, AGP, and American Fence Company. Each project is unique to the client, meeting specific needs, typically in a time of new opportunity or to fix a problem or inefficiency.

Along the way, Volano has created its own software products as well.

Vortex is a "jump start" platform that reduces the risk profile and time to complete a software project, which in turn reduces the customer’s cost by 30%. Vortex was launched in 2019 and is now the core of dozens of new systems. Volano also created a SaaS product called Action Card in 2014. Action Card helps organizations achieve operational consistency and efficiency across all of their locations. Action Card has grown to 60 clients that manage over 10,000 locations in 25 countries. Volano continues to maintain and augment the Action Card software.

Like many companies, Volano has temporarily moved its meetings online to keep clients and employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once safe again, clients and employees alike are eager to return to Volano’s collaborative space in the Mastercraft Building at 1111 13th St. in Millwork Commons. Smith and Stavneak have the only staff-centric software development firm near downtown Omaha. While physical location is not necessarily the deciding factor for clients, the founders note that clients do like to meet in person and stop into the office. Of course, the office itself is fun and complete with games, a popcorn machine and drinks.

Volano Software is a software development company based in Omaha that helps companies untangle business challenges to make work flow.

Volano develops custom software that improves business processes, saves time and money, and makes people happy. For more information, please visit www.volanosoftware.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

365DailyHustle Helps Women Set Goals that Will Outlast Standard New Year Resolutions Given that most people lose traction and focus on their New Year resolutions and goals by March, 365DailyHustle is helping women reset, readjust, and refocus their 2021 health-and-wellness goals. They are now enrolling women for the March Reclaim Your Best Self 12-week group coaching program. The goal of the program is to help women uncover what’s stopping them from achieving their health-and-wellness goals.

After losing more than 90 pounds herself, 365DailyHustle Owner Karissa Williams understands what it takes to lose weight and keep it off. The Reclaim Your Best Self group program combines her years of coaching, personal experience, and expertise into a fun online, open-coaching format that you can do from the comfort of your own home or office. If the buzz of your New Year resolutions has already worn off and you’re ready to commit to the best version of you, this group can help you get there.

More specifically, the 90-day Reclaim Your Best Self group coaching will help women create and achieve powerful health and wellness goals; learn which foods, habits, and activities nourish rather than punish them; know how to honor their hunger and fullness in all areas of their lives; learn how to create powerful visualizations that will help them achieve the life they dream of; understand how self-sabotage can set them back; learn how to relax and manage stress, and much more.

In addition to online group coaching, 365DailyHustle offers signature coaching programs, including one-to-one VIP coaching and corporate training. For more information or to enroll into the March Reclaim Your Best Self group or any other service, visit 365dailyhustle.com/ group-coaching or contact Karissa at (402) 880-2142.

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BUSINESS NEWS Center Sphere Launches New Online Member Platform to Put Network in Members’ Hands

Best Care EAP February Virtual Training to Focus on Gratitude During Toxic Times

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 Omaha Network is currently made up of nearly 50 chapters and has access to members nationwide. For more information, visit www.CenterSphere.com or connect with Omaha Area Director Lona Anderson at LonaAnderson@CenterSphere.com or (402) 650-5380.

Best Care EAP’s next free virtual training is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17, from 9 to 10 a.m. “Gratitude: The Key to Thriving in Toxic Times” will address how to cultivate more resiliency through turbulent times, focusing on the practice of gratitude. A growing body of groundbreaking research shows that gratitude is as much as skill as it is a feeling— one that has the power to heal, energize, and transform lives.

Practicing gratitude soothes anxiety and widens outlooks, thus opening the door to creative problem solving. It elevates moods, improves confidence, and strengthens relationships. The February Best Care EAP program delves into the hard science underlying this soft skill, revealing what it is, how it works, and the simple adjustments to thoughts and habits required to master it.

Best Care EAP offers emotional/mental health support to your employees, helping them focus on their jobs when problems in their personal lives become overwhelming. Best Care also offers a number of professional-development options, performance coaching, and leadership training to help your organization be the best that it can be. Each month, Best Care trainers feature a free webinar on a hot topic in the workplace. To register yourself or your team for the Gratitude program, please email EAP@ BestCareEAP.org, call (402) 354-8000, or visit Eventbrite.com and type “131060139405” into the search bar.

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Limitations of Accessible Overlay Solutions Disabled access is a growing conversation, especially when it comes to software and technology. Many companies have turned to website overlay solutions to make their digital content accessible. More often than not, however, overlays do not fix the problem and people with disabilities still face challenges navigating an overlay on a site. This is not a solution; it’s an antiquated attempt to consider accessibility without really doing so. It’s also no guarantee against an ADA lawsuit.

What is an accessible overlay solution?

An accessible overlay solution is an automated software that acts as a layer between assistive technology and a website. This is a cheap solution because companies do not have to change the overall source code, which saves time and money. As an added layer to a website, an overlay will only address some accessibility issues, mostly the easy stuff. Any fixes that do happen only apply to the overlay layer, and a user has to find a button before they can even use this mode.

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Four reasons why overlays are a problem: • P romotes a separate but equal approach—overlays do not allow people with disabilities to access a site in the same way as non-disabled peers.

• May repair some specific experiences but don’t account for issues with the actual site. This may leave simple issues such as unlabeled controls and images presented in a way that is difficult for the user to understand.

• Users can’t obtain access to important information because overlays often require them to learn different technology that does not meet their needs.

• It provides an inferior fix—more and more companies are facing legal suits because of lacking accessibility. Since overlays fail to provide all information on the regular site, they are not an equal solution.

It’s crucial that companies provide equal experiences for all consumers.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) must be followed, and the best way to ensure this is to rely on accessibility consultants with a foundational understanding of accessibility and WCAG.

Do what you do best and let us take care of the rest.

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As a consulting company, Outlook Business Solutions can run audits on your site. We can give feedback and repair issues.

Access to information is important for all people, disabled and nondisabled alike. Reach out to Outlook Business Solutions today to ensure your website can be used by everyone.

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

MIDWEST GERIATRICS/FLORENCE HOME HEALTHCARE CENTER Meet Vanessa Schmidt, the director of finance at Midwest Geriatrics/Florence Home Healthcare Center.

Tell us a little about your business. - Midwest Geriatrics, or MGI, is an Omaha-based, nonprofit organization. Housed in Florence Home, we are the proud management team for Florence Home Healthcare Center, Royale Oaks Assisted Living, House of Hope Alzheimer’s Care, House of Hope Assisted Living, Senior Health Foundation, and Gerimed and Unimed Pharmacies. Our founder, Reverend Charles Savidge, had a vision to enhance the lives of seniors by providing quality, affordable care. While many things have changed since then, including the buildings, the neighborhood, the staff, the residents, and the families, one thing remains the same—our mission to inspire the individuals we serve to live life to the fullest.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - My biggest challenge professionally has been networking with other professionals. As an accountant, my mind is more analytically built. For years, networking events were very intimidating. Now, I enjoy getting to know people. Although, like any other introverted individual, I am exhausted after a full day of meeting new people.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- My most important achievement professionally would be passing my Certified Public Accountant exams. This certification requires an extensive amount of time and energy.

Tell us a little about your family. - My family is very important to me. My husband and I have four beautiful children. Our oldest is in first grade and our youngest is learning to stand! They bring a lot of energy and joy to our lives.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? The biggest turning point in my life was when I completed my master’s degree. Up until that point, I was torn between two different career paths. I was fortunate enough to gain experience in the accounting field as well as the collegiate coaching field. Ultimately, accounting was a great fit, and I can still coach on the weekends.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Going on a walk outside. No matter what season it is, there is beauty outdoors to experience and enjoy. In the winter, the walk may be up a snowy hill, just to sled down with my kids. Spring and fall walks are so beautiful with all the different colors. Early morning summer walks are enjoyable to jump start the day.

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

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - It would definitely be to fly. I am imagining something like Wonder Woman.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - Juggling a soccer ball or swimming laps.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I would be a marine biologist. My childhood dream was to swim with dolphins and other marine animals. Unfortunately, biology was not my forte in school.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - I am currently reading the Hangman’s Daughter series by Oliver Potzsch.

Although, my favorite childhood book was The Trumpet of the Swan

by E. B. White.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Brother Sebastian's Steakhouse.

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

- (402) 827-6000; vschmidt@shf.org; www.omahaseniorcare.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

TONY

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Tony Mendiola BATH FITTER

Meet Tony Mendiola, commercial sales consultant for Bath Fitter in Omaha.

Tell us a little about your business. - Bath Fitter has been in business for over 35 years catering to the needs of businesses that look to enhance and refresh tubs and showers economically. Cost, time, and the degree of interruption are all important to us. We believe we have perfected the bathtub remodel process. Our team has done projects in the Omaha area for Creighton University, senior living, assisted living, property management companies, and several apartment complexes.

How did you get started in the business? - Our National Recruiter found my resume, reviewed it, and invited me to apply. The rest fell into place, and I started with this excellent company in September of 2020.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - I would say getting the name “Bath Fitter” out to the Omaha Business Community.

A lot of cold calls, emails, drop offs, and introductory meetings. Our simple, smart way to renovate baths has enhanced the value of bathroom renovation projects for commercial and residential properties alike.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? - I was awarded the “Crystal Award for Excellance” for turning over an Employment Office here in Omaha and generating $1.5 million in sales.

Tell us a little about your family. - I am divorced so just me, myself, and I in the Omaha area.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I try to golf, read, and go on walks in the summertime, among other activities.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I'm good at cooking.

Who inspires you? - Knute Rockne, Teddy Roosevelt, and Mickey Mantle.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - MGySgt (USMC) Nate Hiller once told me: “Never put yourself in a position where you are told you cannot do something, always be proactive and perform your best.”

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

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce.

Which talent would you most like to have? - I'd just like to continue obtaining as much knowledge as possible. You can never be smart enough to succeed in your personal and business life.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I love consultative sales, human resources, and recruiting.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - The Sword of Shannara, the first book of the Original Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks. I read it when I was 16 and have read the subsequent books ever since.

What is your favorite movie? - Rio Bravo with John Wayne. The duet with Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson make the movie.

What is your favorite TV show? - Blue Bloods.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Margarita's.

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

- (402) 690-2147; TMendiola@bathfitter.com; www.bathfitter.com/ us-en/location/omaha. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

ROBERT

Robert Durrett

BUDGET CAR AND TRUCK RENTAL OF NEBRASKA Robert Durrett is the vice president and general manager for Budget Car and Truck Rental of Nebraska.

Tell us a little about your business. - We are a privately owned franchise operating under the Budget Car and Truck Rental name in seven different markets across the country: Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, Wichita, Kansas City, Nebraska, and Salt Lake City. Here in Nebraska, we have multiple locations in Omaha, Lincoln, and one in Grand Island.

We purchase, rent, and sell vehicles—adjusting inventory to meet rental and car sale demand is both challenging and fun. It is rewarding to have the autonomy we do to essentially run the company as if it were our own, and be in control and responsible for all aspects of the business.

Our owners have built a successful company by “staying out of the way” and letting each GM run his or her own show. That philosophy takes a lot of trust, and from top-down we, in turn, treat this company like our own.

How did you get started in the business? - After graduating from Clemson University with a business management degree in 2000, I started with our company in Atlanta, GA as a manager trainee. I have worked for our company in Atlanta, Wichita, and Omaha.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Navigating through all the changes the rental car business has gone through, certainly most recently the effects of COVID-19. It will be very interesting to see what happens with business travel in future years, as we have all become accustomed to working from home.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? Becoming a VP and GM in our company for the first time in Wichita, KS in 2007, which validated all the moves and hard work I put in.

Tell us a little about your family. - I am married to Carolyn. We have two girls—Cora (4), Cate (2), and are expecting a baby boy in May 2021.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? Moving to Omaha in 2012. I met my wife that same year, and we have been very happy here in Nebraska. I am not a Midwesterner by birth, but I would rather live in this part of the country than anywhere else.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Watch sports.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I spent the last three years of high school in Montreal, Quebec. It was a very memorable (and cold) experience.

Who inspires you? - My wife. She is kind, supportive, intelligent, driven, and does so much for our family.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Take ownership and pride in everything you do, no matter what you’re doing. If you create a sense of urgency when there really isn’t one, then you will never have any problem performing under pressure— you only know one way to do things, and that’s 100% all the time.

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

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Sports management. A classmate of mine from my high school in Montreal (only 83 people in my class) is currently the GM of the Atlanta Braves. It is fun to follow his career path as a sports executive.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - World Without End by Ken Follett.

What is your favorite TV show? - Seinfeld.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - M’s Pub. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 547-3020; robd@budgetnebraska.com; www.budgetnebraska.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JESSICA

Jessica Renner

ENERGY STUDIO Meet Jessica Renner, project manager at Energy Studio.

Tell us a little about your business. - Energy Studio assists architects, engineers, and building owners in maximizing the energy efficiency of their buildings. Day to day, I build and analyze energy models for buildings of all types and complexities, including labs, schools, and office buildings. I provide feedback to project teams about their buildings’ current energy performance and identify bundles of energy conservation strategies to help meet energy goals.

How did you get started in the business? - I graduated from the Architectural Engineering program at the University of Nebraska.

I interned and spent my formative engineering years as an HVAC design engineer at Leo A Daly. It was fun to see how the concepts I was learning in school were applied in the real world, and it’s safe to say, that I was hooked on engineering.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- I’ve been at the Energy Studio for over seven years and have had different roles since I joined. It’s rewarding to be part of a company that started as three people to one that has doubled in size and opportunities. Also, last year, I was honored as one of Engineered Systems’ 20 Women to Watch in HVAC for my contributions to the industry.

Tell us a little about your family. - I’ve been married to my wonderful husband Isaiah Renner for a little over a year and a half. We have a 14-year-old beagle who sleeps about 20 hours a day.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? The year I turned 29—I changed my job, watched a long relationship end, and bought my first house in Omaha. It was when I started living for myself instead of listening to other people tell me what my life should look like.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Go on a walk outside, watch bad TV, or help on my husband’s food truck.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I've done a little touring as a musician.

For the very first tour, my best friend Tara and I packed a duffel bag of clothes and our musical instruments into my car and played 12 shows in 16 days on the East Coast.

Who inspires you? - My boss and mentor, Amanda Bogner, who founded Energy Studio when she was 30 years old. I appreciate the positive example she sets by splitting her time between work, family, and a position on our city’s public power board of directors.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Just say yes and you’ll figure it out afterwards.” – Tina Fey If you could have a super power, what would it be? - The ability to stop time, Zack Morris style.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I’m very passionate about ASHRAE, a professional society for HVAC engineers that I have been involved with for 14 years. This has given me access to speaking opportunities, leadership development retreats, and networking connections that I otherwise wouldn't have had.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - My husband is the owner/ chef of the Dire Lion Grille & Chippy, Omaha’s only English-style food truck, so you know my answer has to be him!

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

- (888) 503-7591, Ext. 103; Jrenner@energystudioinc.com; www. energystudioinc.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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JAY

Jay Faylor

PINNACLE BANK Meet Jay Faylor, vice president at Pinnacle Bank.

11432 Davenport St, Omaha, Ne 68154 531-213-2742 | www.storiescoffeecompany.com

Tell us a little about your business. Pinnacle Bank is a community bank owned by the Dinsdale family.

We are a large enough bank to compete with the big banks, but by staying true to our values and by putting the customer first, we are able to offer our customers the best banking experience possible. Each of our banks are led by managers who make local decisions and run their banks with their own communities in mind.

In my position, I work with business owners in a wide variety of industries to help them grow their organizations.

How did you get started in the business? - I took a part-time job in college working as a bank teller. After college, I moved back to Omaha and began working for Pinnacle Bank.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for bankers throughout the country. It’s been tough to see businesses struggle throughout the pandemic. Luckily, Pinnacle Bank was able to help thousands of small businesses through the SBA’s Payment Protection Program (PPP).

Tell us a little about your family. - My wife Carolyn and I have been happily married for two years! We are both from Omaha originally and are lucky to have several family members still living in the area.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, going to concerts, and playing golf. I had my first hole-in-one this past summer, which was definitely an exciting (and expensive) day on the golf course!

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I love to cook! My wife and I both enjoy trying new recipes. I smoked my first turkey for Thanksgiving and prime rib for Christmas. Both were excellent!

Google and YouTube are definitely helpful when looking for a new recipe.

Who inspires you? - My parents are both big inspirations for me.

They have both worked hard throughout their careers and always set a good example for me.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands. I’ve been involved with the organization for several years and will be their Service League President in 2021. In high school, I volunteered at a local middle school and really enjoyed the experience. I knew once I got a little bit older that I wanted to continue to help children.

What is your favorite movie? - Lonesome Dove…it’s really long though!

What is your favorite TV show? - Seinfeld. I watch reruns and still laugh.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Omaha is lucky to have so many great restaurant options! Rivera’s, Twisted Cork, and the Boiler Room are all personal favorites. All have excellent food!

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 697-5992; Jay.Faylor@pinnbank.com; www. pinnbank.com.

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

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Tell us a little about your business. - We are an independent insurance agency serving our customers’ insurance and Shop and compare at risk management needs. We offer business, personal, workman’s comp, ilovemywater.com iLoveMyWater.com and health and life insurance. Our roots are in Omaha, but we now have offices in Arizona, Atlanta, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Wyoming.

TEMS WAT E R S OF N E R S · DRINKING SYS TE How did you get started in the business? - I went to work for my dad, Mike Headlee, in 1996, selling life insurance with Northwestern Mutual.

I quickly realized that selling just life and health insurance was not for me as I wanted to branch out into property and casualty insurance which 2020AquaSystems_3_68x2_41.indd 1 3/19/20 is what lead me to where I am today.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Learning how to run a business and not let the business run me.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? When I purchased Loring & Company in 2013 with $3 million in sales and grew that to over $40 million within the seven states that we serve today.

Tell us a little about your family. - I am married to my best friend Jess, and we share five adult kids together and a new grandson, plus four furry kids.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? When I realized that owning a business included responsibilities outside of the day-to-day tasks, meaning I am now responsible for the livelihood 15825 W Maple Rd. 402.408.2878 and success of our employees. Being in this position has given me a 4102 Twin creek dr. ste 116 402.905.9673 platform to help shape our employees and motivate them to further their careers and succeed.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I save my days off to take trips—whether it be within the U.S. or out of the country, I love experiencing new cultures, food, and seeing new things.

Who inspires you? - My dad. He taught me a lot about selling and being a leader and a positive influence to those around me.

What is your favorite quote? - “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them." – John Maxwell If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Generous.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - I want to absorb everyone else’s talents/superpowers.

Which talent would you most like to have? - Fly a plane.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Being a venture capitalist.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - We give to a variety of nonprofits throughout the year, including but not limited to: Together, Ronald McDonald House, Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Looking for a great alternative to leasing or even purchasing?

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What is your favorite TV show? - Curb Your Enthusiasm.

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10:58 AM

PERSONNEL NEWS Immanuel Welcomes Emily Tonniges to Head Community Foundation

UNICO Group Congratulates Tom Greco on Retirement after 35 Years in Industry

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 effor ts 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.

UNICO Group recently congratulated Tom Greco on his retirement after he provided superior service to the insurance industry for 35 years. Tom began his career in insurance in 1985, when he joined his late father, Michael Greco, in running Greco Insurance Agency in Papillion, NE. In 2009, Greco Insurance was acquired by UNICO, establishing UNICO’s Omaha office.

During Tom’s tenure in the insurance industry, he served as an insurance advisor, president of “Big i” Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska (IIAN), on the Board of Directors for the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce, and as a Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) instructor and shareholder at UNICO. Tom’s favorite part of his career was explaining to his clients the importance of having a sound insurance program before experiencing a loss to ensure that, in the event of a loss, the client’s business and family were protected. The industry will miss Tom for his involvement and leadership in the “Big i” of Nebraska, as will the many students he taught through his CISR prep classes—but you’ll still find him at the “Huskateers” tailgating spot before Husker football games!

UNICO Group is a full-service insurance agency headquartered in Lincoln, with services ranging from telecommunications to workers’ comp, employee benefits, personal insurance, financial planning, and humanresource solutions. For more information about UNICO Group, call (402) 434-7200 or visit unicogroup.com.

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. Two of its key programs include the Resident Assistance Fund and the Helping Hands Assistance Fund, both great benefits for Immanuel residents, participants and employees. To learn more, visit immanuel.com/immanuel-foundations/community-foundations.

Fernanda Nungaray Joins Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation Team Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (MLCDC) is pleased to announce that Fernanda Nungaray has been promoted to a Program Coordinator.

Fernanda began as an intern at MLCDC in 2020 and graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha in December with a bac helor’s degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Family and Community. She was also a Buffet scholar while attending UNO. During her internship, Fernanda embraced the mission of MLCDC and the opportunity to work with a low- and moderate-income population in Omaha, the majority of whom are women who want to start a business to achieve financial stability and provide for their families. She played an important role as an intern for the agency to provide the technical assistance to all participants in a timely manner. As a Program Coordinator, Fernanda will provide support to financial education, industry training, and the leadership and entrepreneurship programs in MLCDC and will maintain the client database. Fernanda is excited for this opportunity and looks forward to contributing to the growth of the Omaha community.

MLCDC is a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing bilingual technical assistance to low- and moderate-income populations to achieve financial stability through entrepreneurship.

In March 2020, MLCDC launched a financial education program to support individuals affected by COVID-19. To learn more about MLCDC, visit midlandslatinocdc.org or call (402) 933-4466.

24 Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

First Responders Foundation Welcomes Mike Corrigan as Treasurer of the Board The First Responders Foundation recently welcomed Mike Corrigan as the new treasurer of its Board of Directors.

Mike is the VP Commercial Relationship Manager with Access Bank, where he has worked for five years with new and existing commercial businesses. The Board is pleased to have Mike’s expertise on the Board and looks forward to working with him for more than just that: Mike is uniquely qualified for this position because he is also a first responder! He is currently a part-time police officer in Yutan and is a former police sergeant with the Bellevue Police Department.

“Having the opportunity to be a part of an organization where we can honor the men and women who are first responders and assist the front lines in so many different ways is exactly the team I want to be part of,” Mike said. “I know the sacrifices that are made daily, and any support or resources our team or Foundation give goes a long way.”

Mike grew up in the Omaha area, attending Creighton Preparatory High School and the University of Nebraska Omaha. From there, he attended the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Academy.

Mike made the switch to banking in 2015 to work with his family.

In his spare time, he enjoys all things outdoors, from fishing and hunting to biking and camping.

The mission of the First Responders Foundation is to serve and honor all first responders, veterans, and their families, build appreciation and respect for their work, and enhance public safety. For more information, visit firstresondersfoundation.org or call (402) 218-1234. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS Metro Omaha Builders Association Announces 2021 Board Members

West Gate Bank Elects Jared Hollinger to Board of Directors

Metro Omaha Builders Association (MOBA) recently announced its 2021 board members and Board of Directors. Board members for 2021 include: President – Greg Frazell, G. Lee Homes; Vice President – Brett Clarke, Frontier Builders; Immediate Past President – Ryan Krejci, Ideal Design Custom Homes; Treasurer – Dan Wellendorf, Builders Supply Co.; Secretary – Deb Benak, Centris Federal Credit Union.

Directors include: David Hartman, Core Bank; Matt Kronaizl, Sierra Homes; Marc Stodola, Charleston Homes; Dave Tewes, Thomas David Fine Homes; Kent Therkelsen, KRT Construction; Jason Troshynski, Grace Custom Homes; Dave Vogtman, The Home Company.

Chartered in 1946, the Metro Omaha Builders Association represents the interests of local housing professionals through advocacy, education, and builder related event promotion. It is a not-for-profit organization that was established to promote and protect various aspects of the home building industry. MOBA members are builders/ developers and their trade partners who are dedicated to preserving integrity and lifestyle through high professional standards and sound business practices in the industry. MOBA is well known for producing the Street of Dreams, the Omaha Home Show, Remodel Omaha Tour, and the Parade of Homes. For more information, visit www.moba.com.

West Gate Bank ® is pleased to announce the addition of Jared Hollinger to its Board of Directors. Hollinger is the principal and cofounder of Eleven Talents, LLC, has more than 18 years of experience guiding real-estate investments of all types, and has successfully navigated the real-estate economy with holdings in single-family, multi-family, agricultural, commercial, retail, and tax liens. During his career, Hollinger has been involved with the purchase and disposition of more than 4,000 properties of various asset classes. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. Hollinger also coaches a variety of youth sports and is an active member of St. Columbkille Catholic Church, where he serves in parish leadership.

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 on attorneys Jerusha Hancock 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 works from Berry Law’s Omaha office Mike Wilson 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

West Gate Bank® is a family-owned community bank with locations in Lincoln and Omaha. Visit westgate.bank for more information.

CSI Hires Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Promotes Program Director from Within Child Saving Institute (CSI) recently welcomed Alicia Theilen, the Mental Health Services team’s first psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (NP), and promoted Katherine Hubbard to Director of Early Childhood Education.

The addition of an experienced psychiatric NP like Alicia allows CSI to expand the behavioral health offerings for children in need, and it will benefit from Katherine’s experience advocating and directing quality early childhood education.

Alicia brings more than 16 years of Alicia Theilen training and clinical experience in pediatric home healthcare, neonatal intensive care, emergency medicine, post-partum, medical/ surgical, and oncology. She holds a master’s degree as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and currently is working on her postgraduate certificate in psychiatric mental healthcare.

Using her passion and expertise, Alicia will listen to children and families without judgment, help them develop attainable goals, and work to decrease the stigma of mental health. Her practice is located Katherine Hubbard at 4545 Dodge St., and you can schedule appointments by calling (402) 553-6000 or emailing CSIReferrals@childsaving.org.

Katherine joined CSI in the Early Childhood Education Center in 2009. With a bachelor’s degree in child, youth, and family studies from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, she quickly took on an early childhood specialist position as a lead teacher and, in 2013, was promoted to site director. Katherine assumed the Director of Childhood Education role in January and oversees the Dodge Street campus (45th and Dodge) and the Spellman Child Development Center on the College of Saint Mary campus.

For 129 years, Child Saving Institute has been dedicated to the prevention, intervention, and healing of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment. To inquire about enrolling your child in either CSI early childhood education locations, email earlychilded@ childsaving.org or call (402) 504-3670.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Hannah Hundley Marks Three Years with Strictly Business

True North Technologies Welcomes Taylor Tunnison as New Communication Director

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.

"I've grown a lot personally and professionally during my time at Strictly Business," said Hannah. "I've made many connections and lifelong 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.”

Strictly Business is a reliable news sources and effective advertising tool, publishing original content in print, online, and on social media. To learn more, visit strictlybusinessomaha.com. To contact Hannah, call the office at (402) 466-3330 or email editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com.

True North Technologies, a Lincoln-based business launched 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.

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.

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 Savings Adam Engelman Bank as a Customer Service 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 contribute to the positive culture; many employees have Donna Wyatt 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 Drive (84th & Van Dorn) and can be reached by phone at (402) 474-1400.

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Seldin Company Promotes Seth Perkins to Executive VP of Property Operations Seldin Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Seth Perkins to Executive Vice President of Property Operations. Seth has been part of the Seldin team for more than 13 years and has more than 20 years of experience in property management, including extensive knowledge in both affordable and conventional property operations. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Management from Peru State College, previously served as Senior Vice President of Property Operations for Seldin, and holds Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS), Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP), and Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) designations.

Seth will oversee the Seldin portfolio, including about 18,000 units throughout eight states. He will be directly responsible for overseeing the startup of all new properties coming into the portfolio, as well as property marketing activities, accounting, operations, facilities management, financial analysis, and budget performance. In his new role, he will report directly to Chief Operating Officer Michele Nathaniels.

“Seth is a great fit for this role because of his excellent leadership skills and extensive knowledge of the industry,” Michele said. “He is respected by his colleagues and team members and is a remarkable employee. I am confident he will continue to be successful in this position.”

Seldin Company is a leading property management firm with deep roots throughout the Central United States. Headquartered in the heart of the Great Plains in Omaha, Seldin was founded in 1923 and engages in management and expansion of multifamily apartment communities. To learn more about the company, visit seldin.com or call (402) 333-7373. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS

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Big Birge Celebrates 3 Work Anniversaries Big Birge Plumbing Co. recently celebrated work anniversaries for three hardworking members of their crew, including the second anniversary for accountant John Sc hlumberger, third anniversary for plumber Dennis Herr, and the fourth for plumber Adrian Sanchez.

John Schlumberger is not your average accountant. Of course, he’s a whiz with numbers and anything that has to do with Excel files, but he is also a highly talented master motorcycle mechanic. He is honest, loyal, and committed to doing the right thing. John brings organization and structure to the Big Birge office that they didn’t even know they needed before his arrival!

Before joining Big Birge Pluming, Dennis Herr owned his own plumbing company in South Dakota but moved back to Omaha to be nearer his children and grandchildren.

At Big Birge, he is recognized for his ‘git ‘er done’ passion, his charisma, and, lovingly, for his 70’s hair style. He is extremely honest and has been known to save customers lots of money by teaching them to solve issues on their own. He is one of our top-rated plumbers on the team and they feel lucky he chose to work there!

• Business Insurance • Workers Compensation Insurance • Personal Insurance • Employee Benefits Universal has added services to help customers manage and grow their own businesses, among those a suite of benefits that include compliance tools—OSHA regulations, a Family and Medical Leave Act advisor; human-resources hotline and resources, including customized handbooks.

Employee Wellness plan delivered online!

John Schlumberger

Dennis Herr

Adrian Sanc hez may be one of the youngest on the Big Birge crew, but he is also among the hardest-working. He has a strong work ethic and is extremely loyal.

He’s been with the company since 2017 working toward his Omaha Journeyman Adrian Sanchez Plumbing license and loves working as part of a team. Adrian is a happy-golucky guy that people just can’t help but love to be around.

Every member of the Big Birge Plumbing crew is highly trained, licensed, passionate, and dedicated to handling any and every plumbing need their residential and commercial customers face.

For more information or to schedule a plumbing service, visit bigbirgeplumbing.com or call (402) 575-0102.

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know and Who Knows You! At Strictly Business, we strive to recognize local businessmen and women for their significant awards, promotions, achievements, and/or efforts in partnership with other organizations and the Omaha community. If you know of someone who meets these criteria and wish to include their news in our publication, please call (402) 466-3330, email editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com, or submit your news online via www.strictly-business.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Omaha Home for Boys Elects Janis Yergan to Board of Directors Omaha Home for Boys (OHB) is honored to announce the election of Janis L. Yergan to its board of directors. Janis has several years of experience working in healthcare administration and currently is the vice president of network development at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.

She holds a master’s degree in business administration from Benedictine College and a bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology from Cal State University.

Janis brings more than 25 years of experience in managed care, physician integration, marketing, communications, integrated delivery systems, and program development to OHB. She’s no stranger to the nonprofit sector and has previously served as the board chair for the Denise Roberts Breast Cancer Foundation, as well has having served on the boards for the YMCA, American Heart Association, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City, Youth and Family Center of Los Angeles, and Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands.

“I am honored to ser ve on the board of directors at an organization with such a rich history of helping youth in Nebraska,” Janis said. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members to help OHB grow to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.”

The Omaha Home for Boys equips youth, young adults, and families with the skills needed to become self-sufficient and productive members of the community. To learn more, call (402) 467-7000 or visit ohb.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Midlands Community Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Scholarships

NAMI Omaha Announces February 4 Affiliate Meeting on Zoom

Midlands Community Foundation is now accepting applications for several of our charitable funds. They are the Alex Shives Sc holarship, Kaiti Williams Memorial Sc holarship, Mark and Rose Delaney Memorial Scholarship, Mary Beth Harrold Scholarship, Papillion Softball Woolhiser Memorial Scholarship, and Sarpy County Bar Association Scholarship.

NAMI Omaha announced that their next Mental Health NAMI Affiliate meeting will be held virtually via Zoom on Thursday, February 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. The guest speaker will be Brad Meurrens, Public Policy Director for Disability Rights Nebraska. He will discuss the mental health bills before the Nebraska Legislature in 2021 and how to affect change in mental health in Nebraska. Advanced registration must be done through Zoom (Meeting ID: 895 6628 9161).

Alex Shives Scholarship is a scholarship available to a graduating senior from either Papillion LaVista or Papillion LaVista South who has participated on the boys or girls golf team at either high school.

The scholarship fund will distribute one, one-time $2,500 scholarship to the student. In addition, applicants must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or above, show financial need, and show exemplary community service and active volunteerism.

Kaiti Williams Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship available to graduating female student athletes from the Papillion LaVista South High School who are pursuing a higher education and are participating in sports at the collegiate level. The scholarship fund will distribute one, one-time $1,000 scholarship to the student.

In addition, applicants must have participated in high school sports for a minimum of two years, be in the top 25% of their class, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, and show evidence of community service.

Mark and Rose Delaney Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship available to current or incoming high school students at a high school that is operated by the Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools.

The fund will award one, one-time $500 scholarship to the student.

Applicants must show financial need, be involved in non-academic, extra-curricular activities and be in top 50% of their class.

Mary Beth Harrold Scholarship is a scholarship available to a current female graduating senior from the Papillion LaVista School District who plans to pursue a business or entrepreneurial degree.

The scholarship fund will distribute one, one-time $500 scholarship to the student. In addition, applicants must participate in DECA or FBLA and be in the top 50% of their class with a minimum 3.0 GPA. They must show financial need and be involved in non-academic and extra-curricular activities.

Papillion Softball Woolhiser Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship available to graduating female seniors from the Papillion LaVista School District who have played recreational or select softball for the Papillion Softball Organization for a minimum of three (3) years.

The scholarship fund will distribute two, one-time $500 scholarships (one to Papillion LaVista High School and one to Papillion LaVista South High School). In addition, applicants must be in the top 50% of their class with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Sarpy County Bar Association Scholarship is a scholarship available to students studying criminal justice, criminology, sociology, psychology or pre-law. The fund will distribute two, one-time $1,500 scholarships.

Applicants also must show financial need, exemplary community service and active volunteerism, maintain at GPA of 2.5 or above and be in the top 50% of class.

Scholarship Funds can be established at Midlands Community Foundation to help local students pursue their dreams and goals at colleges, universities, and trade or technical schools after high school graduation. These funds allow donors to give back to the community through their name or the name of a loved one while also receiving tax benefits. Visit www.midlandscommunity.org for specific scholarship guidelines and/or applications.

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

NAMI Omaha is a nonprofit organization composed of consumers, family members, professionals, and friends who have come together to share and take comfort in the commonality of their experiences and to educate members of their communities about serious brain disorders. Along with providing education, literature, support, workshops, conferences, and more, NAMI Omaha actively advocates at the local, state, and national levels to improve the services for and the lives of those affected by mental illness and their families.

For more information on NAMI Omaha, visit namiomaha.org or call (402) 345-8101 / (877) 463-626. For helpful articles about mental illness, follow NAMI Omaha on Facebook (@NAMIOmaha).

The Beat Goes on February 25 to Support Jennie Edmundson Cardiovascular Program Mar k your calendar to support the Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Foundation C a r d i o v a s c u l a r Pa t i e n t Care Fund by participating in the vir tual Dance to the Beat fundraiser on Thursday, February 25. The purpose of Dance to the Beat is twofold: The first goal is to raise funds to help cardiovascular patients cover some of the uninsured costs of their care, such as transportation and medication. The second is to raise awareness of the importance of exercise, nutrition, and other factors that improve cardiac health.

“Without the support of our sponsors, we couldn’t accomplish either goal,” said Jennie Edmundson Foundation Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Tara Slevin.

The care team at Methodist Jennie Edmundson’s Cardiovascular Center is part of an advanced cardiology services network that stretches throughout southwest Iowa and the metro Omaha area to deliver timely, individualized procedures, treatments and therapies, along with education aimed at preventing heart disease. The team includes three cardiologists: Robert Armbruster, M.D., Joseph Ayoub, M.D., and Thomas Brandt, M.D. Together with cardiac-care nurses and other medical professionals, the cardiologists actively partner with the caregivers at other hospitals throughout the region and with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) first responders who answer the 911 calls every day.

The Jennie Edmundson Hospital Foundation is indebted to the longtime support they have received from large and small communities across southwest Iowa and the Omaha metro area.

To learn more about participating in the virtual Dance to the Beat event February 25 or to make a donation to their cause, call (712) 396-6040 or visit jehfoundation.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS Virtual 2021 AHA Omaha Heart & Stroke Ball Scheduled for Thursday, February 18

Mosaic Expanding Team to Provide Full Continuum of Services for Clients Needs

The American Heart Association’s 2021 Omaha Heart & Stroke Ball, an annual black-tie event, is scheduled on a virtual platform starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 18. Chaired

by Dr. Jeff and Theresa Carstens and presented locally by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and CHI Health, 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.

Mosaic is expanding its care team in Omaha to provide the full continuum of services for its clients, including people with disabilities, mental and behavioral health needs, and autism, as well as aging adults. Services are tailored to meet individual needs and goals, allowing people to live as independently as possible. Openings for the growing team currently include a Registered Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse, Certified Medication Specialist, and Direct Support Associate.

“The Heart Ball would not be possible without our volunteer leadership, who raise important funds to support our lifesaving mission,” said Nebraska Omaha Heart & Stroke Ball Director Kelsey Ridder.

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/ omahaheartball or email Kelsey.Ridder@heart.org.

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, scheduled 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

Services available through Mosaic include 24-hour residential support, autism services, behavioral health and autism, day services, mental and behavioral health services, Mosaic at home, services in the community and homes, and supported living. The Mosaic team is a team of problem solvers and connectors who are passionate about services and partnerships that create meaningful lives in caring communities, giving a voice to people’s needs.

Mosaic harnesses data and processes technology to provide high-quality services to as many people in need as they can, and adding another nurse, medication specialist and support associate will help them continue to build relationships to drive outcomes for communities, funders, families and, most important, the people they serve. If you’re interested in learning more about Mosaic or joining the team, visit mosaicinfo.org or contact Tabatha Ingram at (402) 235-8203 / tabatha.ingram@mosaicinfo.org.

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.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Vision Maker Media Celebrates 45 Years of Empowering Native Voices Throughout 2021

Goodwill Omaha Running Date Night Challenge Contest Set for February 1–14

In 2021, Vision Maker Media is 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.

Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy will be beginning their annual Horse of the Year Race this year on February 1. The 2021 race, set to run from February 1 to April 30, will collect donations for each of their therapeutic horses; the horse with the most raised at the end will be crowned the 2021 Horse of the Year! Donations will be used the help subsidize the annual cost of providing exceptional health care, nutrition, and training for HETRA’s special equine herd. Each horse has a goal of raising $4,500—the annual cost of caring for a single horse. The 10 horses participating in the race are: Coby, Jewel, King, Mack, Monty, Ty, Waldo, Yahzi, Stormy, and Blue. These incredible horses work hard throughout the year to take care of their patients—let’s show them some love in return! For more information on the Horse of the Year event or how to donate, contact HETRA Development Specialist Joshua Howell at jhowell@hetra.org.

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.

Iowa West Foundation Awards MLCDC $50K Grant for Childcare Programs in Council Bluffs Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (MLCDC) recently announced that it was awarded a $50,000 one-year grant from Iowa West Foundation, which will allow MLCDC to invest in training opportunities for Latina women who want to open an inhome daycare in southwest Iowa.

This training is part of MLCDC’s Industry Training Program and helps low- and moderate-income women achieve self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship. Many of the nonprofit’s training-program participants are underemployed and do not have English as their first language.

The COVID-19 pandemic created unique challenges for MLCDC clients, most notably the suspension of onsite classes at the center. In March 2020, however, MLCDC transitioned to virtual trainings, allowing more individuals to receive training while remaining compliant with the health regulations and social-distancing measures. With the help of the new grant, the Industry Training Program can provide resources to the Latinas in Iowa who are dedicated to being licensed childcare providers. This grant will help increase the number of Latino Childcares in Council Bluffs and will promote high-quality childcare services. Training includes everything from creating a business plan to childcare development, marketing plans, technical assistance, and small working capital.

Many people know of the Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation as a place where individuals receive training to open childcares, but the mission at the heart of the organization is to provide training opportunities to low- and moderate-income individuals to achieve financial stability and economic growth through entrepreneurship. For more information, visit midlandslatinocdc.org or call (402) 933-4466.

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The Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) is comprised of a team of dedicated instructors, occupational, physical, and mental-health therapists, a band of dedicated volunteers, and 25 wonderful therapy horses. They work to change lives One Stride at a Time for children and adults living with disabilities, as well as veterans and their families. To learn more, participate, or donate, call (402) 359-8830 or visit hetra.org.

NAM Announces Virtual Nonprofit Board Masters Training Series February 8-12 In an effor t to help members of nonprofit boards strengthen governing skills and get a thorough understanding 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.

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 Assistance League of Omaha Opens New Thrift Shop, Larger than Former Location

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

The Assistance League of Omaha (ALO) has opened the new location of its thrift shop at 8502 West Center Rd. Much larger than its former location, it is brimming with wonderful bargains in women’s clothing, men’s clothing, many accessories, books, wonderful decorator items for the home and so much more. You will always find something new and fun when you browse this new shop that features many interesting and unique items.

Because of COVID concerns, for now they are only open on Wednesday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All safety precautions are taken to protect you and ALO staff members.

In the future, they will be back to their regular schedule of being open four days a week. Please plan to stop by and check out this great new shop. Proceeds from sales goes to support Assistance League’s six different philanthropic programs.

Assistance League of Omaha is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit service organization whose members identify, develop, implement, and fund ongoing philanthropic programs to serve specific needs of local children and adults in the Greater Omaha area. Their signature programs are Operation School Bell®, Assault Survivor Kits, Operation Recovery, Operation Bear Hug, Operation Literacy and ACT/PSAT Review Sessions. Donations and grants are appreciated. Learn more online at www.alomaha.org.

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!

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha Names 2021 Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Despite challenges from the pandemic, Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue rescued and redistributed over 1.3 million pounds of healthy perishable food to feed the hungry in 2020. This is a 25% increase over the previous year’s total.

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha recently announced its Board of Directors for 2021, including George Achola, a board member since 2017, as the new chair of the board.

Achola is Vice President and Counsel for Burlington Capital Real Estate. He is joined on Habitat Omaha’s Executive Committee by Vice Chair Levi Scheppers, Chief Executive Officer, OrthoNebraska; Treasurer Rollie Johns, Chief Financial Officer, CSG; and Secretary Caren Woodruff, Founder and Coach, QuarterLife Coaching.

Returning board members include: Drew Collier, retired from Union Pacific; Jon Costello, Bellevue Public Schools Foundation; Bob Dalrymple, retired from Bank of the West; Javier Fernandez, Omaha Public Power District; Julie Fritz, community volunteer; Dr. Cynthia Gooch-Grayson, Metropolitan Community College; Jeff Gordman, Jeff Gordman Advisory LLC; Buck Heim, Kutak Rock LLP; Marcos Hernandez, U.S. Bank; Dan Houghton, Buildertrend; Ryan Iwansky, D.A. Davidson Companies; Keith Jankuski, CHI Health; Teri Mercer, McCarthy Capital; Brian Miles, Bridges Trust; Laura Nelson, First National Bank of Omaha; Gustavo Oberto, Lindsay Corporation; Dan Patterson, Cobalt Credit Union; Mark Rodgers, Core Bank; Jaison Samuel, Thrivent Financial; Angel Starks, Nebraska Realty; and Lucas Weatherly, Olsson.

To address the need for quality affordable housing in our community, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha builds and renovates homes, repairs existing houses, takes down blighted structures, and advocates for better laws and systems. They also work with individuals and families to help them acquire the access, skills, and financial education necessary to become successful homeowners. For more information, visit habitatomaha.org or call (402) 457-5657. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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.

Saving Grace Rescues and Redistributes 1.3M Pounds of Food

Using a fleet of refrigerated trucks and professional drivers/food handlers, Saving Grace picks up excess nutritious food from a network of food donors including grocery stores, caterers, event venues, schools, wholesalers and restaurants. The produce, dairy products, meats, prepared and prepackaged meals, grain products, and other healthy foods are delivered the same day, free of charge, to 40 nonprofit partner agencies for use by their clients.

As normal food pickups fluctuated early in the pandemic due to business closures and food supply disruptions, Saving Grace offered its unique logistics and distribution system to help other organizations with food delivery. As a result, Saving Grace is partnering with Catholic Charities to transport USDA Farmers to Families food boxes beyond what that agency can use for its pantries to other nonprofit organizations. During the summer, Saving Grace worked with the Food Bank of the Heartland and Millard Public Schools to transport food boxes from Millard South High School to nine other schools for distribution to those in need.

Additionally, Saving Grace provided transportation to connect produce from community gardens with local nonprofits.

Since operations began in October 2013, Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue has rescued 5,367,709 pounds of perishable food. This translates to 2,680 tons of food that has been kept out of the landfills.

To learn more, visit savinggracefoodrescue.org. Call (402) 2156718 to reach the office or (402) 913-6776 if you are a business or nonprofit interested in working with Saving Grace.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Open Door Mission Asks Community to Host Seats & Feet Undergarment Drives Open Door Mission recently launched a Seats & Feet campaign, asking the community to host donation drives to collect new undergarments and socks for men and women experiencing homelessness. Any group, business, or family can host a drive, collecting brand new underwear and tube socks, which are among Open Door’s current urgent needs. All sizes are welcome, but they especially need XL and larger. To make it easy for you to host your own Seats & Feet drive, Open Door Mission has provided step-by-step instructions and help on their website. You can even host a virtual drive from the comfort and safety of your own home by shopping Open Door Mission’s Seats & Feet Amazon Wish List.

Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission that meets the needs of individuals and families while inspiring HOPE for lasting change.

Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 917 safe shelter beds to homeless men, women, and children, serves nearly 4,750 nutritious meals, and provides preventive measures to more than 1,000 people living in poverty. For step-by-step instructions to host your own Seats & Feet drive, visit opendoormission.org/urgent-needs/seats-andfeet-drive. For more information, contact Kristen Dineen at kdineen@ opendoormission.org or (402) 829-1538.

HETRA to Launch Annual Horse of the Year Race February 1 Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy will be launching their annual Horse of the Year Race this year on February 1. The 2021 campaign, set to run from February 1 to April 30, will collect donations for each of their therapeutic horses; the horse with the most raised at the end will be crowned the 2021 Horse of the Year!

Donations will be used the help subsidize the annual cost of providing exceptional health care, nutrition, and training for HETRA’s special equine herd. Each horse has a goal of raising $4,500—the annual cost of caring for a single horse. Of the 20-plus horses in the HETRA Herd, 10 are participating in the race: Diamond, Galaxy, Georgie, Honey, Jewel, Leroy, Rainbow, Red, Waldo, and Yahzi. These incredible horses work hard throughout the year to take care of their patients—let’s show them some love in return! For more information on the Horse of the Year campaign or how to donate, contact HETRA Development Specialist Joshua Howell at jhowell@hetra.org.

The Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) is comprised of a team of dedicated instructors, occupational, physical, and mental-health therapists, a band of dedicated volunteers, and 25 wonderful therapy horses. They work to change lives One Stride at a Time for children and adults living with disabilities, as well as veterans and their families. To learn more, participate, or donate, call (402) 359-8830 or visit hetra.org.

CenterPointe Becomes Part of Zero Suicide Initiative to Make Suicide a ‘Never Event’ C e n t e r Po i n t e i s p r o u d t o announce they are par t of the Zero Suicide initiative, developed out of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center of the Education Development Center (EDC). EDC wor ked 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.

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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. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS Stephen Center Celebrates Valentine’s Day with Hearts that Heal Drive for Donations

ENCAP Expands Food Distribution Hours for Bellevue Food Pantry

With the help of community partners, Stephen Center is celebrating Valentine’s Day by encouraging the public to show some love to the homeless through the Hearts that Heal donation drive, February 8-19.

Some of the items that Stephen Center needs donated are paper towels, toilet paper, over-the-counter medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen), cough drops, coffee, cereal, feminine-hygiene products, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes.

Easter n Nebraska Comm unity Action Partnership (ENCAP) recently expanded the food distribution hours for the Bellevue Food Pantry, located at 1908 Hancock St. The food pantry will now be open on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and every first and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon. In order to keep compliance with COVID-19 regulations, ENCAP requests that pantry visitors place their ID and proof of address in the mail slot, and staff will bring their food basket out to them. ENCAP staff will be wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines, and they kindly request that all pantry visitors also wear masks for safety.

For questions about ENCAP’s Bellevue Food Pantry or its new hours, please call (402) 292-2961.

“We’re in the long, cold part of winter right now,” said Stephen Center Executive Director Michael Wehling. “Stephen Center relies on donations of hygiene items, coffee, cereal, and more to care for hundreds of people on our campus daily.”

Located in South Omaha, Stephen Center serves the homeless, addicted and those in poverty. The campus includes a homeless emergency shelter, inpatient/outpatient co-occurring treatment and permanent supportive housing for disabled and low-income individuals. In 2020, Stephen Center provided services to 1,278 men, women and children and served more than 200,000 meals to people experiencing homelessness, addiction and poverty. To participate in the donation drive, drop off items at Stephen Center’s donation dock, 2723 Q St., or at a drive host site (visit stephencenter.org/hearts for a list). A virtual drive, allowing people to shop from home and ship directly to Stephen Center, is also available at the same link.

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 outing, themed days at work, paid lunches at work, etc.

“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. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP) is a nonprofit community-based organization that has been providing social and human services to people facing poverty since 1965.

For more information or to donate, call (402) 453-5656, visit encapnebraska.org, or follow them on Facebook (@encapnebraska).

Nebraska’s Animal Loving Advocates Rescues 96 Dogs and Cats Just in Time for Christmas Nebraska’s Animal Loving Advocates (NALA) saved 96 animals in December—just in time for Christmas.

Over the course of a week, Founder Angie Hospodka and volunteers provided shelter, medical coverage, nutrition, and love to these desperate animals and will work to find them safe, forever homes. Nearly 70 of the dogs and cats came from an Arkansas-based organization that was overwhelmed in the wake of the closure of a humane shelter in the area, and NALA agreed to help out. The Omaha-based NALA rescue organization saves animals from across the country and could not exist without the tireless efforts of volunteers and the generous contributions from donors, as NALA has 80 volunteers and no paid employees.

The mission of Nebraska’s Animal Loving Advocates is to revolutionize the way people think about animals and animal rescue. NALA educates people about the NALA Founder Angie Hospodka dangers of puppy mills and the realities helps unload cats and dogs that need forever homes. of backyard breeders, in their effort to provide loving homes to all the dogs and cats they encounter, including the feral, the unwanted, the damaged, and the lost. NALA believes that every living creature not only deserves love but also has so much love to offer in return. NALA approaches this mission through their core values of love for all living things and faith that our culture can change, and together we can create a world where rescues are no longer needed. If you are interested in adopting, fostering, volunteering, or donating, please visit www.nalarescue.org.

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Choosing AR Solutions for Your Collection Needs There are several considerations to be made in selecting a collection agency. The beauty of selecting to work with AR Solutions is that you're getting a family-owned business you can know and trust while receiving all the amenities of dealing with a large company. Aaron Newell Founder is the president and CEO of AR Solutions.

Give us a brief synopsis of what your company does.

AR Solutions collects past due receivables for their clients. AR Solutions also has a niche division that specializes in medical collections. With our knowledge of insurance and medical billing it makes us very successful explaining that to the consumers. We take a unique approach to collecting for our clients. We are able to collect with urgency while, at the same time, and preserve our client’s reputation as well as the dignity of the individual we are collecting from. This philosophy is very successful. Currently, AR Solutions is collecting an average of two to three times the national recovery percentage.

What do you think makes you different from other companies similar to yours?

Our philosophy on how to collect and the customer service we provide to our clients.

We are able to customize collection processes as needed by each client. Given all the complex laws we have to negotiate, it is a constant learning process to operate in business and be successful. We ALWAYS have our clients best interests in mind to insure that we uphold their integrity, professionalism, and reputation. There is not a college curriculum to teach the collection business, so it is all learned from experience, seminars, continuing education, etc.

What do you like about doing business in Omaha?

The great people of Omaha!

What kind of community organizations/groups is your business involved with?

American Collectors Association, Nebraska Collectors Association (past president and currently on the Legislative board), and I'm member of First Free Evangelical Church.

What is your business philosophy or mission statement?

Our value statement is very simple: If you have integrity, nothing else matters; if you do not have integrity, nothing else matters.

Our mission statement is: We exist to provide the most professional, ethical, and innovative collection solutions for our clients.

What changes have you seen in the industry and your company in the past few years?

There is not enough space in this magazine for the changes in the collection industry in the past few years. It is an ever-evolving, moving target. We make it a point by being on the legislative board with the Nebraska Collectors Association to have the latest industry law, trends, and information. Nationally, the collection industry has been working closely with the Consumer Financial Protections Bureau (CFPB) to get a complete understanding of the industryk, and they have been very receptive of the industry knowledge and using it to draft the new regulations.

What do you see happening with the business in the next five years?

I see more need for agencies like ours to recover past due receivables for businesses to keep them viable. 2020 was VERY hard on a lot of small businesses and without collection agencies recovering their past due receivables it would be substantially more difficult for them.

What has been your most important achievement as a business?

Providing a great service for all our clients. As I look back to 2005 when I founded AR Solutions, it still amazes me how far we have come in 15 years. We started with two employees in a 130-square-foot office space and now have 12 employees and an attorney on staff, as well as a legal team to support them.

What is one goal for your business that you have yet to accomplish?

To continue to grow and leave a lasting impression on the collection industry. Also, to show the positive impact collection agencies infuse back into the economy.

For more information about AR Solutions or to receive a free consultation:

(402) 817-3929 | www.arsolutionsinc.com 34

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#PrintProudDigitalSmart

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

Ambius Hygiene Essentials Collection Serves Up Safety for Employees Returning to Work

T h e A m e r i c a n Re d C r o s s i s 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.

If you’re a business owner preparing for employees to return to work, now is the time to consider using the Hygiene Essentials Collection from Ambius. For as little as $5 per day, you can provide two, no-touch hand-sanitizers, a four-state HEPA13 air purifier, and your choice of clean, fresh diffused scents to keep your business smelling inviting and soothing. Complete the experience with a selection of plants to create true barriers for social distancing and functional space designs. Part of their full-service Hygiene360 approach, Ambius can save you time and effort, ensuring that your hygiene program is done right the first time, your equipment is maintained, cleaned, and disinfected often, and consistent standards are maintained.

The no-touch hand sanitizers provided come with safe, gentle, dyefree foam sanitizer, deliver up to 2,000 uses per cartridge, and kill 99% of germs, viruses, and harmful bacteria. The four-state HEPA13 and carbon filtration cleans the air four times per hour in areas of up to 700 square feet, removing up to 99.7% of harmful, airborne contaminants as small as 0.03 microns—including COVID-19 and other viral aerosols, dust, pollen, smoke, mold, bacteria, odors, and volatile organic compounds. Finally, the Ambius AQ270 nebulization system neutralizes odors and provides consistent, lasting, and uniform diffusion of scent. Choose from pink grapefruit, fresh clean, cucumber mint, mandarin zest, mint energy, or white tea fusion.

For more information about Ambius or their Hygiene Essentials Collection, visit ambius.com or call (402) 999-4825.

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.

FAMILY, Inc. Marks Children’s Oral Health Month with Dental Awareness Activities With the knowledge that an estimated 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dentalrelated illnesses and one in five U.S. children go without dental care, FAMILY, Inc. is using National Children’s Dental Health Month in February as a platform for spreading awareness about the importance of dental care for children of all ages. Although the pandemic has forced postponement of FAMILY, Inc.’s annual Give Kids A Smile Day, they have scheduled the first mobile dental screenings in Mills County, IA on February 16, and their Southwest Iowa’s Children’s Health Coalition is planning to host their 4th Annual Oral Health Champions recognition event virtually in late February.

FAMILY Inc.’s Children’s Oral Health Coalition was launched in 2015 to focus on increasing awareness that all children should see a dentist by the age of 1. In the six years since then, they have witnessed a distinct increase in dental practices that are willing to do examinations on children under 3 years old, as well as an upswing in networking about the topic in community groups, and more dental referrals of newborns to 3-year-old children from medical professionals. In 2021, the virtual event will be during the last week in February. The organization also is producing an educational video to send out to schools to help teach children and parents how important dental health is to overall health and remind them that it is safe to visit their dentist and crucial to maintain oral hygiene routines.

FAMILY, Inc. provides public-health and family-support services to women, children, and families in Pottawattamie and Mills counties.

For more information, visit familyia.org or call (712) 256-9566. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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

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HEALTH NEWS Allure Health & Med Spa Offers Free Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Consultations

Nebraska Methodist College Sees Overwhelming Turnout for Free CNA Training

Allure Health & Med Spa, located off of 144th and West Center Road, is offering free bio-identical hormone replacement therapy consultations.

Allure's expert hormone providers are the best in Omaha. If you're past the age of 30, it's likely your hormones are out of balance. This leads to insomnia, poor chronic low energy, hot flashes and night sweats, mood swings, anxiety and depression, poor concentration, migraines and headaches, low sex drive, vaginal dryness, weight changes, muscle and joint pain, dry skin brittle/thinning hair, among others.

In December, it was announced that Nebraska Methodist College committed to offering free CNA training for 100 people wishing to become nursing assistants and aid the community amid the rise in COVID-19 cases. CNA workers will help the healthcare system cope with the recent influx of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The opportunity was offered to Midland University students in hopes of bringing more CNAs to Fremont, as well.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy uses plant-based hormones as part of a custom treatment plan to manage symptoms associated with hormone imbalance common during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Low testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone are common and lead to life altering symptoms and health decline. Replacing lost hormones is essential to good health and preventing disease!

In addition to bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, Allure Health & Med Spa also offers aesthetic services, injectables, laser treatments, and microblading and cosmetic micropigmentation. Discover the Allure difference and see the difference in you by visiting allurehealthmed.com to book an appointment or call (402) 881-3638.

Rockbrook Village Welcomes Neurotherapy Center of Nebraska Rockbrook Village is excited to announce the addition of Neurotherapy Center of Nebraska, a brain performance center.

Owner Erica Kube holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Counseling and a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and Biology. She is Board Certified in Neurofeedback through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA). Erica has over 10 years of experience in qEEG, neurofeedback and biofeedback and is a Certified Professional Counselor and a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner.

Neurotherapy Center of Nebraska’s methodology is based on the latest research in neuroscience and the brain’s ability to adapt, change and renew itself. Neurotherapy is a medication free approach to mental and physical health which addresses dysregulation in the brain. Erica explains, “It begins with brain mapping which identifies the areas of your brain that are working well and those that could be functioning more effectively.

Neurotherapy trains your brain for peak performance through cutting edge therapies that are safe and scientifically supported.”

Neurotherapy Center of Nebraska is located at 10909 Prairie Brook Rd. and is open for business Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please contact Erica at (402) 933-2916 or visit their website at neurotherapynebraska.com.

Rockbrook Village is Omaha’s premier shopping center for homegrown finds. More than 50 specialty shops, restaurants, and service businesses await you. All of them share the shopping center’s lifelong commitment to serving the community. So, whether you are shopping for locally made goods, places to eat at, or requiring neighborhood services, there is nowhere else to be but here! Learn more at rockbrookvillage.com.

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The program has seen an overwhelming response from students wishing to make a difference in the lives of others. It was originally open to 100 students, but because of the tremendous interest, the opportunity was expanded to seat 150 students. All free courses were filled quickly. All free training courses began in November and December, with approximately 50 students completing training each month, December through February.

The program will lead to potential employment within the Nebraska Methodist Health System. Students will gain experience and kickstart their careers in healthcare. For more information on getting your career in healthcare started, visit www.methodistcollege.edu.

Boys Town National Research Hospital Receives $2.6M from Ryan Foundation Boys Town has received $2.6 million in donations from the Ryan Foundation towards their National Research Hospital in Omaha. Boys Town National Research Hospital will use the donations to further their health care research and continue their internationally-recognized clinical programs focusing on childhood deafness, developmental language disorders, and related communication disorders. The donation is part of $4 million in aid the Ryan Foundation sent to several Omaha nonprofits and individuals in the community who have been impacted by COVID-19. The nonprofits chosen were of special importance to Dr. Wayne and Eileen Ryan—the late founders of Ryan Foundation; Boys Town was a place of worship for the Ryans and supported its efforts to expand into health care and research.

“The generous support from the Ryan Foundation has allowed Boys Town National Research Hospital to expand the impact of our research program into an exciting new area of research that fits with our organizational mission,” Director of Research at Boys Town Ryan McCreery said. “With these funds, Boys Town scientists will be able to develop new genetic tools to help identify and treat conditions that our physicians and scientists encounter every day.”

Other Omaha organizations that received donations from the Ryan Foundation are: the New Cassel Foundation, St. Vincent De Paul Society, Spirit Catholic Radio Network, and the Children’s Respite Care Center.

The Ryan Foundation has also donated to various organizations in other states that support health, research, and community well-being. Boys Town is eager to use these funds from the Ryan Foundation to provide care for at-risk children for years to come.

Boys Town believes that every child deserves a future, and to fulfill that dream provides compassionate, high-quality care to at-risk children, focusing on the love, support, and education they need to thrive. Boys Town National Research Hospital offers a broad range of hospital and clinical services, backed by 40 years of research, to provide the most innovative care to their patients. Learn more at boystown.org or on Facebook (@BoysTownMission). #PrintProudDigitalSmart

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Omaha's Most Affordable Home Care Option for the Elderly CCA Home Care is the area's most affordable home care option for the elderly. They are committed to providing care for senior clients who may be disabled, in hospice care, or need more assistance as they age. CCA Home Care screens and refers Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who not only provide professional and hospitable service, but also genuinely care about the clients’ health, happiness, and safety. From home health care, assisted living, companionship, medical and non-medical care, to general care and household support, they are able and happy to create a personalized regiment of care for you and your needs, all at a lower than average cost to you.

Total charge for CNA assistance through CCA Home Care is $21.50-$28.50 per hour depending on the length of visit and cares needed while CNA is present.

With locations in Omaha and Lincoln, CCA Home Care serves a wide range of seniors from different areas with diverse backgrounds. Through their Caregiver Registry, they will consider your needs, requests, and budgets to find the right caregiver for you. CNAs are experienced to care for seniors with a variety of health concerns such as dementia and Alzheimer's, and are more than willing to help you with whatever you need.

Caregiver Registry

"We have had some excellent caregivers when we call on short notice! Office staff are friendly and quick to respond. Because our set up is a little different, I appreciate that they take the time to fully communicate to the caregivers what the expectation is prior to arrival." -Erin R.

• Refers interviewed, screened, and qualified caregivers • Provides quality care at affordable rates • Places caregivers between 1 hour to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week (the hours are flexible and can change as your needs change) • Matches caregiver skills and personalities with client needs and requests • Meets with the client and/or their family, case manager, or representative before the care begins in order to better understand the client’s needs and desired care • Assists in finding replacement caregivers if requested by the client • Available 24 hours a day to assist you, because CCA Home Care knows your needs are not limited to a Monday– Friday work week

402-398-1848 | CCAHomeCare.com 11640 Arbor St., Suite 103 Omaha, NE 68144 #PrintProudDigitalSmart

FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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s e s s e n Om i& s u s! t B e P r i The aha

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 childlike 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

Meet Murphy! Lori Sorensen, owner and operator of FireGuard, Inc., is the proud owner of Murphy—a six-year-old Maltipoo who loves life! Murphy comes to work with Lori every day and is loved on by all employees. He welcomes customers with his wagging tail and brings smiles to everyone he meets.

FireGuard, Inc. provides full life safety services to all commercial business/facilities: healthcare, education, industrial, restaurants, property management, hospitality, retail, construction, and more. The FireGuard team inspects, maintains, and repairs fire alarm systems, kitchen hood systems, fire extinguishers, fire sprinkler systems, backflows, and special hazard systems. FireGuard also has a specialized team dedicated to the design and installation of fire alarm systems. They are committed to the highest standards of quality in the products they sell and the services they provide. For additional information, please call FireGuard’s main line at (402) 592-1999 or visit www. fireguardusa.com. FireGuard looks Lori Sorensen & Murphy forward to serving you!

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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.

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 Omaha 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 in the next feature!

Dana Russell, RN is the health services director at Prairie Meadows Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Omaha. Dana is the wife to a very supportive husband and the proud mother to four children and a seven-year-old Boston Terrier named Maverick. Last year, Dana and her family welcomed Maverick into their home—driving six hours one way to Missouri to get him. His favorite treat is peanut butter, and he is really fast when playing chase.

Boston Terriers are known as the “gentleman” breed of dog due to their black and white tuxedo look. He has champion bloodlines so he would be eligible for shows, but Dana’s family chose to have him for companionship.

Maverick comes to see the residents at Prairie Meadows, and he is always gentle and loving with them. This brings a lot of smiles to the residents daily and has them reminiscing about past times they had with their furry friends.

Prairie Meadows is proud of employees such as Dana who love and live selflessly.

If anyone would like more information about the Meaningful Moments Programming Prairie Meadows offers, please call (402) 391-2790, email don.woods@jeaseniorliving.com, or visit www.jeaseniorliving.com/seniorliving/ne/omaha/prairie-meadowsDana Russell & Maverick alzheimers-special-care-center. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”

- Rodger A. Caras Elizabeth Pooley is the owner and founder of Square Donut in Omaha. Her dog Fly, or “Girldog” as Elizabeth calls her, is a 17-year-old Miniature Australian Shepherd. Elizabeth added Fly to her family when she lived on the farm and ran Pooley’s Pumpkin Patch in Bennington.

They both loved farm life, and Fly was known for herding the chickens and the kittens instead of the cattle. Fly’s loyalty to Elizabeth has been steadfast through the years. Even now, she will very rarely listen to or do anything for anyone but her. Fly’s favorite things at her age are now food and naps.

Square Donut opened in March of 2020, right at the onset of COVID. As the owner of a new start up dealing with a global pandemic, Elizabeth soldiered through these hurdles in addition to a few others: her mother was in the ICU for over four months. As this was all happening, she had a house fire. Elizabeth, her family, and Fly were displaced for over five months between hotels and an apartment— creating a makeshift office out of a closet in the apartment. Today, Square Donut is experiencing huge success, and Elizabeth and her mother are both back in their homes and doing very well. Square Donut continues to bring Omaha amazing, artisan donuts that melt in your mouth. Visit the shop at 15825 W Maple Rd., go online to www. squaredonutomaha.com, or call (402) 359Elizabeth Pooley & Fly 1555 to make an order!

This is Daisy, a three-year-old Havanese who is very smart and loving. Daisy will follow several commands, such as “go lay in your bed” and will go to any of her three doggy beds. She has a silly personality and chases anything that runs, especially her human “siblings”.

One of her favorite things to do is to get in on the football games when her family is playing in the yard. She always wants to be in the same room as her family, so don’t shut the door on her or she’ll let it be known that she wants to be with her family. Daisy’s owner is Tiffany Falconer, the district manager for Ambius—global leader in creating healthy places to work, learn, and play.

Ambius is an interior landscaping company serving the Omaha and Lincoln areas and also offers Hygiene360, including hand-sanitizer units and air-purification systems, to keep your business clean, safe, and hygienic. Their plant professionals can help keep your plants looking happy and healthy, and their services include live and artificial indoor plant displays for businesses, complete office-plant services, ambient scenting, commercial holiday decorations, greenwall design, installation, and maintenance, and more. Given all of the research showing that the presence of plants has positive effects on human psychology, Ambius believes that bringing more plants into your home and business is a smart choice in the Tiffany Falconer modern era. Learn more at ambius.com or by calling (402) 999-4825. & Daisy #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Kelly Schroeder, MD is the owner of VENUS Vein Clinic in Omaha. Ozzy is her two-yearold German Shepherd with a gorgeous, goofy, and wellintended protective nature.

She adopted Ozzy when he was only eight weeks old. From day one, he has been her constant shadow. Whether it’s playing with toys or protecting his mom from the tiniest threat, Ozzy is a great big teddy bear. He loves running fast in open spaces and then cuddling on the couch.

VENUS Vein Clinic is the area’s only vein clinic lead by a Board Certified Venous and Lymphatics Physician. At VENUS, they strive to spread the word that achy leg pain, restlessness, or ankle swelling is not only NOT a normal way to feel, but it’s also easy to correct and is often covered by health insurance. At the end of the day, your legs should not feel differently than your arms. If they do, or they keep you awake at night, you may be among a third of other adults who suffer with vein disease. Imagine feeling like exercising in the evening or going for that extra walk with the dog because you no longer have discomfort in your legs or swelling. VENUS Vein Clinic takes care of it all for you. For more information or to schedule a consultation to see if your legs can feel better, go to venusveinclinic.com or call Kelly Schroeder & Ozzy (402) 979-VEIN(8346).

This handsome dog is Nas. He has a soft heart and kind soul. He adores humans and all animals. He loves playing, being outside, and cuddles. He’s the face of Fetch! Pet Care, owned by Vanicsa and Mike Czarnick, and the heart of their home. Vanicsa and Mike adopted Nas, a pitbull mix, from the Nebraska Humane Society. He’s about a year and a half now, and he has the cutest gestures. He literally frolics when he walks or runs, especially when he’s excited! He’s a bull in a china shop, though—only his personality is delicate! Nas is a lot like a child, he wants whatever you have and, if you’re eating, he wants to eat too.

Fetch! is a local, inclusive pet concierge service offering premium in-home care for your beloved animal(s). They have a wide range of services from walks, play-time, feeding, daycare, puggy visits, almost-overnight stays, boarding, medication administration, waste removal, and taxi services. They also customize packages for special occasions like weddings and maternity time.

Fetc h! matc hes families with a Pet Care Professional and then a consultation is scheduled with the family to approve the match. The selected Pet Care Professional will be the sole provider of services going forward, offering a familiar face each visit. The Fetch! app offers real-time tracking of visits, text message exchange with the Pet Care Professional, and pet report cards. To learn more, visit www. fetchpetcare.com or contact Vanicsa at vanicsa.czarnick@fetchpetcare. com / (402) 709-3037.

Mike & Vanisca Czarnick & Nas FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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Anne Branigan leads the membership and event efforts at the Greater O m a h a C h a m b e r.

In nor mal times, she supports all the folks who are out and about in the community, serving members and hosting networking and professional development events. Luckily for Anne, working from home means more working with Pearl. A loyal office mate who enjoys scratches behind the ears, tummy rubs, and multiple workday naps, Pearl has reminded Anne that it’s alright to slow down and enjoy the moment.

Despite the c hallenges presented by the pandemic, the Greater Omaha Chamber hasn’t reduced the quantity or quality of programming for their members. Along with the upcoming YP Summit, the Chamber is continually hosting great networking, professional development, and volunteer opportunities to support the Greater Omaha business community. It’s their goal to grow the prosperity of all. Go online to www.OmahaChamber.org to learn about the Chamber and Anne Branigan & Pearl why membership matters.

Meet Kyle Kern, owner and the ultimate guide for River Life Airboat Tours, and his partner in crime Fia! She is a fun-loving, energetic Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. Kyle got her in March of 2018 from Heartland Classic’s located just outside of Oakland, NE. He just wanted a friend to always have around, plus she doesn’t shed so she is a great inside and outside dog. Fia spends her time chasing all kinds of wildlife up and down the river. She also enjoys airboat rides on hot summer days. Kyle and Fia have a good time together, welcoming groups to their nice retreat on the Platte River.

Kyle Kern & Fia

River Life Airboat Tours is a great way to spend quality outdoor time with your family and friends. You’ll skim across the waters of Nebraska at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Each ride is an adventure in itself!

Every ride offers the chance to see some of Nebraska’s unique wildlife, including bald eagles, deer, beaver, and more. River Life Airboat Tours offers several exciting boating packages to choose from. They even have a riverside BBQ and party area.

Tours are available seven days a week, just go to www.riverlifeairboattours.com for availability.

Jennifer Neid is the community relations director for Ovation Heartwood Preserve and, like many during the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her family got a new puppy. Max joined the Neids at the end of November and is almost four months old. He is an Australian Labradoodle and is going through puppy training right now. Jennifer and her family can’t wait until summer to take Max on their camping trips and see if he likes to swim!

Pat Killeen is the owner of Engineered Controls and Control Depot in Omaha and Lincoln. Pat and his wife Angie have always enjoyed having pets in their life. Over the past 16 years, they have had four little Shih Tzus—Brandy, Maggie, Buster, and Peanut.

When they were growing up, they were Pat and Angie’s bundle of joy. However, over the past few years, one by one, the pups started passing away due to old age. So, three years ago, they added Coco to the family. Coco is a female Shih Tzu and is one of the most loving pups they have ever had. She is always happy to see them, and she is everything that a dog can be with her people-loving, tailwiggling, and face-licking. Since Coco was brought up around other dogs that have since passed away, Pat and Angie felt it only natural that Coco should not be alone...so they just recently added a new little brother to the family! His name is Benny and he is 12 weeks old. It wont be too long that Benny will find his way into many Facebook photos.

Ovation Heartwood Preserve Senior Living is currently under construction and is on track to open later this year. The property will offer high-end residential living and experiences and innovative technology options that allow guests to communicate with family, friends, and the world around them. Jennifer hopes to bring Max to the community on occasion and introduce him to some of the residents! Learn more about Ovation Heartwood Preserve by visiting ovationheartwoodpreserve.com or call Jennifer Neid & Max (402) 999-7900.

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Established in 1994, Engineered Controls offers a complete turnkey building control solution including system design, new construction, and owner-direct retrofit sales, installation, repair service, and preventive maintenance work for smart buildings. Similarly, Control Depot is a stocking distributor of Building Control and Automation products serving contractors, major institutional buyers and end-users needing IoT products for a wide variety of applications. To learn more, visit www.engineeredcontrols.com / controldepotinc.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

“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

Pat Killeen & Coco

BUILDING MAINTENANCE 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, or family safe and comfortable, while maintaining maximum efficiency, reducing energy use, protecting and preserving your assets, maintaining staff efficiency, 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, re-skins, 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.

Total Property Oversight If you understand the importance of building maintenance but the demands are too overwhelming for you to keep up with, you might want to contact Seldin Company about property management. They have a facilities department that offers complete property oversight for your multifamily development’s physical assets, including inspections, project management and contracting. They also provide general landscaping and what they call the property “10-second look”.

“This is crucial, because businesses and homeowners often decide where they are going to live or operate their business in the first 10 seconds of their visit, so it’s important to make a great first impression,” said Seldin VP of Facilities Joe Cordle. “When maintenance doesn’t stay current, the property can start to decline and become very difficult to keep up with. A water leak not fixed over time, for example, can lead to major property damage, including structural issues.”

During the last year, Seldin’s facilities and Joe Cordle property teams have learned new ways to Seldin Company get their jobs done while maintaining residents’ health and safety as their top priority throughout the pandemic. They are making effective adjustments to operations to keep everyone safe.

“It’s important to provide a safe living environment that owners and residents can be proud of,” Joe said. “There are rapid changes with new technologies, and it is important to keep moving forward and learning new ways to do things. Technology was a great asset during the last year. It was important to complete maintenance issues and upkeep, while limiting person-to-person contact as much as possible.” #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Why Replace When You Can Restore

Serving Omaha since 2008

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Marble and other stone refinishing • Grout cleaning and sealing • Tiled shower cleaning and caulking • Granite sealing and repair

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1016 Leavenworth Street, Omaha NE 68102 www.kpe-inc.com 888-484-4939

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OMAHA | 402.934.5559 LINCOLN | 402.438.5559 42 Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021

From the Outside In Not only does proper maintenance of the exterior of your building increase its curb appeal but it boosts your brand and, as a result, helps your business thrive. Stonebrook Exterior offers a fully integrated set of exterior services that include roofing solutions, masonry, windows, glazing, and gutters, for all structural commercial or residential properties.

“If you don’t maintain the exterior of your home or business, it shortens the life of the building,” said Stonebrook Business Development Manager TwiLea Fletcher.

“Planned inspections of all systems will provide opportunities to extend their life. The price of ‘doing nothing’ creates higher repair and replacement costs for integrated systems that fail permanently.”

You should obtain multiple analysis of your existing structure by at least two companies before proceeding with exterior maintenance TwiLea Flecther or replacement. Evaluate the results of the Stonebrook Exterior companies, then consider the company that encourages and practices value-engineering strategies, as Stonebrook does.

“We perform an extensive customer-needs analysis for each project with which we are engaged,” TwiLea said. “We take each opportunity and consider all the aspects of what the customer wants, needs, and has budgeted. Our reputation has been built from an unyielding commitment to excellence in the areas of safety, productivity, and workmanship.

Whether we are adding value by helping you select the most aesthetically impressive or environmentally-friendly exterior applications or implementing long-term strategies that will help minimize your total cost-of-ownership, we are accountable for the success of your project.”

The Power of CLEAN! If one thing has become clear in the wake of the pandemic, it is the extraordinary power of CLEAN. That includes things like removal of hard-water buildup, proper floor maintenance, and necessary cleaning maintenance, without which you could be looking at early replacement of expensive flooring, including carpet, vinyl composition tile, and the like—and the dissatisfaction of tenants or clients that visit or inhabit your building. If you’re looking for professionals for the job, we recommend considering Christenson Cleaning & Restoration in Omaha.

“To prevent the repercussions of deferred cleaning maintenance, you really need to partner with a company that’s going to take your cleaning needs seriously through open communication and proactive management, including scheduled inspections with you to ensure the satisfaction of you and your building’s occupants,” said Charlie Christenson, who owns the 35-year-old family business. “Due to the pandemic, we have been busy doing additional disinfecting at the facilities we maintain to ensure that everyone Charlie Christenson who enters enjoys not only a clean environment visually but also a safe and healthy one, thanks Christenson Cleaning & Restoration to use of proper disinfectants and procedures.”

The Christenson professionals fix and clean things before they become problems, so you’re investing in maintenance, not replacement.

Considering that a business or home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, why would you settle for less?

“It’s so important to protect your investment by spending the money to hire a company that’s going to take a proactive approach to your needs,” Charlie said. “We do that to ensure that your investment is clean, safe, and going to last for many years!”

Uncovering Deficiencies KPE Architecture – Engineering – Forensics offers forensic services that often uncover maintenance issues responsible for the property losses they are called to investigate. Two of the most common maintenance issues are foundation problems related to roof and site drainage #PrintProudDigitalSmart

(gutters, downspouts, how the ground slopes away from the building) and roof leaks in older buildings from age, wear, and lack of attention.

A company’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), electrical systems, and an energy audit and assessment of the facility can find potential problems that may need to be addressed due to safety concerns, energy costs, and systems end-of-life.

“Unfortunately, we are typically only called in by the owner or insurance company after there has been some sort of failure resulting in property damage,” said KPE Associate Principal Chad Liechti, PE. “The price of doing nothing is often higher than the cost of avoidance. You can either pay a certain amount on a regular basis to properly maintain the building or pay a large lump sum amount for repairs after a failure.

Insurance only covers property damage from a covered peril, too, so this means if your roof Chad Liechti is damaged from a wind storm and results in KPE Architecture – a leak, insurance will likely cover the damage Engineering – Forensics to the roof and interior. If you fail to perform regular maintenance on your roof, and it fails resulting in a leak, the repairs will not be covered by insurance. Do not ignore the roof of your building!”

When it comes to HVAC systems, doing nothing can cost more money, too. If not maintained, the systems can increase electrical and fuel use because they are not operating at their peak efficiency. Sometimes it’s as easy as changing filters in air handling units, cleaning coils, and ensuring the outdoor condenser is free of debris. In light of COVID, KPE recommends purchasing more efficient filters for air handlers and changing those filters at shorter intervals.

Achieving Energy Goals Commercial energy maintenance costs can skyrocket over time. Without data-driven methods to identify energy-use factors, such as shifts in occupancy and system performance can drain operational budgets.

Energy Studio professionals help facility staffs recognize sources of operational hiccups so they can adjust and get back to improved building performance. Energy Studio focuses on energy efficiency in buildings to save businesses maintenance costs and conserve their assets.

“In existing buildings, we look for all types of energy saving opportunities or diagnose degraded building performance by evaluating utility bills and building automation system data,” said Energy Engineer Alexander Skillman. “For example, a new university research building’s operation was showing unexpectedly high utility use for chilled water and natural gas. When we analyzed energy usage, we discovered unexpected data that pointed to a stuck valve causing simultaneous heating and cooling.”

Alexander Skillman Lack of maintenance can cause extreme Energy Studio equipment failures or cascading damage caused by silent operational problems. These emergencies will likely disrupt building occupants; retail, foodservice, offices, and multifamily residential can be significantly impacted by way of lost sales or dissatisfied tenants.

“Ignoring or delaying building maintenance leads to negative outcomes,” Alexander said. “Equipment and systems will operate as expected until a failure results in an unplanned emergency that requires immediate attention and unexpected expense. Over time, doing nothing certainly results in higher costs or even injury or harm to occupants. Commercial facility managers and homeowners struggle to keep maintenance costs under control so they can manage costs and achieve long-term energy usage goals.”

Safety First When it comes to maintenance, there are a host of factors that are crucial to your business, but none more so than the safety of its inhabitants. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

FireGuard, Inc. provides Full Life Safety Services to all commercial businesses and facilities, including but not limited to: healthcare, education, industrial, restaurants, property management, hospitality, retail, construction and more. They inspect, maintain and repair firealarm systems, kitchen-hood systems, fire extinguishers, fire-sprinkler systems, backflows and special hazard systems. FireGuard also has a specialized team dedicated to the design and installation of fire-alarm systems. Many of the maintenance and safety services that FireGuard provides are required by the National Fuel Gas Code.

“In Nebraska, you are required to have your fire alarm, kitchen hood, special hazard, and clean agent systems inspected twice a year,” said FireGuard Owner Lori Sorensen.

“Fire sprinkler systems, backflows, and fire extinguishers require an annual inspection. The price of not inspecting? These code-required inspections are imperative to the safety of your facility and the people who occupy them.

The cost and detriment of a potential fire in comparison to keeping up to date on these inspections is insurmountable.”

Lori Sorensen An example of the price of doing nothing FireGuard, Inc. would be the potential of your batteries failing from skipping the semi-annual inspection: “Will the fire-alarm system function as it intended to? Who will call the fire department? These are questions no one should leave to chance,” Lori said.

Restoring vs. Replacing If you’ve noticed the beautiful stone floors or the shiny shower or kitchen tiles in your home or business looking not-so-beautiful lately, you might be putting off replacing them because of the significant expense. But what if you could keep them from fading and you didn’t have to replace them at all? If you work with Lifetime Stone Restoration, that could very well be your reality.

FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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“We can make your stone floors look like new again by diamond honing, polishing, and filling holes and cracks,” said Lifetime Stone Restoration Owner Don Mlnarik. “After they are restored, we can come in on a monthly or quarterly basis to do a cleaning and onestep polish to maintain the shine. Our process for cleaning tile and grout is more aggressive than most other companies, too. We can also remove hard water buildup on counters in kitchens and restrooms, fix chips or cracks, and reseal to prevent staining.”

Don Mlnarik Lifetime Stone Restoration If you don’t keep up on maintenance, especially of a stone floor or counter, the cost to get it looking new again will always be expensive. But, Don said, if you maintain it with a routine cleaning and/or polishing, you don’t need to worry about a time-consuming and more expensive restoration process.

If your floor is already in pretty bad condition, don’t worry; that doesn’t mean it’s too late. Lifetime Stone Restoration can still get it looking like new again—and that benefits your business in a big way!

Avoiding Costly Damage and Yuck!

If your home has a septic tank, regular maintenance is a must to avoid expensive repair and the yuck factor that comes with failures. That’s where Midland Pumping Service, Inc. comes in. They offer pumping of any liquid that is not hazardous or flammable, which includes pumping of septic tanks, restaurant or commercial kitchen grease traps, and pits or holding tanks of all types and sizes that you might find in places such as auto body shops, car washes or industrial buildings. They also offer hydro-jetting, which is the use of high-pressure water to clear blockages or buildup that may occur in sewer or grease trap lines.

“The consequence of doing nothing in terms of building maintenance is that when a problem eventually occurs, such as a septic tank or restaurant plumbing back-up, it typically ends up costing more to fix than it would have cost to keep up with the maintenance,” said Midland Pumping’s

Aimee Hoffman. “A poorly maintained septic tank can cause thousands of dollars in damage in a short amount of time, and if waste escapes the unit, it can damage your property and your relationship with neighbors who have to deal with the aromas.”

Since the pandemic hit, Aimee said Midland has observed that customers who are truly committed to keeping their own operations running smoothly resisted the temptation to back off of regular maintenance to cut costs.

Aimee Hoffman “We cannot overstate the importance to Midland Pumping homeowners with septic systems to have their Service, Inc. tanks regularly pumped,” Aimee said. “This would generally be every three to five years for most households. The health hazard and the stress of having a septic backup occur in your home is obvious!”

Timeless Doesn’t Mean Maintenance-Free Natural hard stone, tile, grout, and concrete are timeless, but they can take a beating over time and become dull and deep-down dirty. MarbleLife of Omaha & Lincoln provides restoration services for these surfaces, restoring them back to their original beauty and structure by cleaning the grout, honing the stone to remove imperfections, then shining and sealing them for beauty and durability. MarbleLife also has proprietary solutions to clean and protect wet spaces, as in bathrooms and kitchens, which can gather mold and mildew over time. MarbleLife can also help you update your surfaces to modernize them without replacing them.

“The trend now is to go with darker grout colors,” said Director of Business Development William Vodvarka. “We can remove the grime and bacteria from your old white grout, then stain and seal it with a darker charcoal color or others you may prefer. Concrete is another surface we work with. We can polish and seal the concrete in the home or business to maintain its durability in a cost-effective way.”

Experts in Building Control Technology POWERED BY

As a leading Building Control contractor, Engineered Controls’ goal is to provide customers with products and services to create efficient, safe and comfortable building environments.

Engineered Controls offers complete turn-key control solutions including construction, retrofit, service and maintenance for facilities of all types and sizes.

Offices in Omaha and Lincoln, NE.

866.395.0186 | engineeredcontrols.com Building Automation and Controls I Security I Lighting I Gas Detection I Parking Management 44 Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021 #PrintProudDigitalSmart

A

Given that 20% of MarbleLife’s restoration business comes from use of inappropriate cleaners, their professionals will also teach homeowners how to use the proper cleaners on the surfaces in their homes or offices to keep them looking good between regular, professional cleanings.

When the time comes to sell your home or business, MarbleLife can also do wonders for first impressions.

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 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 Jen Keller time, does not absorb moisture, and is a lot Streamline Energy cleaner product. Of course, the baffles we Solutions install in 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.”

Insulation codes also change regularly, so if your insulation was up-tocode 10 years ago, that doesn’t mean it still is. Keeping your insulation up-to-date 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, including a complete suite of building management services and cloud-based resources designed to monitor energy and operational efficiency .

“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 Buildings that are continually maintained are Engineered Controls 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.”

As you can see, ongoing building maintenance is a lot to handle on your own. We highly recommend contacting the 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. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The Stone & Tile Restoration Experts Call today! Free Estimates. Residential & Commercial. www.MARBLELIFE-OMAHA.com

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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 Omaha 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

• 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

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one in senior living in Omaha 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.

Safe at Home According to statistics from the U.S. Census, there were more than 54 million Americans over the age of 65 in 2020. That number will continue to increase and is projected to reach 83 million people by 2050. The baby boomers are just now starting to reach age 65, and that is typically when they face challenges with mobility and safety in their home. Still, they may want to stay at home as they age. That’s where 101 Mobility comes in.

“We offer a complete line of products and equipment that is focused on keeping seniors and those with physical needs safe in their homes,” said 101 Mobility Franc hise Owner Tom Riedl. “Many falls occur in the home on the stairs, so one of the most popular products 101 Mobility offers is a stairlift, which allows a person to literally ride up and down the stairs while sitting down, thus reducing the risk of falls. It can easily be used to carry groceries and other packages up Tom Riedl and down the stairs, which can become 101 Mobility challenging for many seniors.”

Other products include scooters and motorized power chairs, which are helpful for those who are unable to walk great distances, and they can be used with an automobile lift so the customer can take their scooter or power chair with them when they travel. 101 Mobility also provides a full line of products for seniors who use a wheelchair or scooter, including maintenance-free aluminum wheelchair ramps. If a ramp isn’t possible due to space constraints, they also offer Vertical Platform Lifts, or VPL’s.

A VPL is a small elevator (often called a porch lift) that will transport a person and their wheelchair from one level to another. They can be installed in a garage, outside, or can be built into the home.

“While moving to an assisted living facility is perfect for some, there are many benefits to aging in place,” Tom said. “Many seniors have lived in their homes for years – sometimes decades. They are part of their neighborhood and community. Many people prefer to age in place, which is often more economical and less disruptive than moving to an assisted living facility. 101 Mobility offers free home consultations and home safety checklists that can be used to evaluate the home and help make a decision on what is needed to stay safe in the home.” #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Avoiding Isolation We know that COVID-19 has served up challenge after challenge for seniors. The isolation under pandemic restrictions has gotten tough enough that some seniors are staying in their homes longer than planned or even temporarily leaving senior-living communities and moving in with their families to avoid the overwhelming isolation from friends and family.

CCA Home Care (formerly Care Consultants for the Aging) has seen that trend reflected as increased demand for home care services from caretakers helping out with their loved ones at home.

“CCA Home Care is a great option for seniors, or a family member, who need help to stay independent in their homes with things like bathing and dressing,” said CCA Home Care Business Development Coordinator Blake Thomas. “Amid the current COVID-19 restrictions, CCA is finding that more seniors are staying in their homes because of the quarantine mandates and the inability to have visitors inside senior-living communities.

CCA Home Care foresees private caregivers always being in high demand because so Blake Thomas many seniors want to stay in the place they’ve CCA Home Care called home. The families of those seniors who want to stay at home also appreciate that CCA supports family caregivers who need a break now and again.”

CCA Home Care stays on top of what Douglas County is sharing about new vaccinations and trying to spread that news to their clients and caregivers as soon as there are updates. Most of all, they are doing everything they can to help their clients reduce feelings of isolation and find things to do that make them smile and enjoy life within restrictions.

Blake said there are things that the general public can do to help whether they have loved ones at home or in a senior-living community.

“Reach out to your nearest senior-living community and find out what they’re in need of,” she said. “Some may need help to run an exercise class or drop off donuts or things to decorate doors or windows. All are a little different in different communities, but offer to volunteer some time or just show up with a surprise. You’ll be surprised how much the little things can mean to a senior, especially in pandemic times!”

Keeping Life Fun Midwest Geriatrics, Inc.’s living communities are designed to resemble living spaces and entertainment options for residents. At their House of Hope Alzheimer’s Care, for example, the residents live in apartmentstyle housing with neighborhood dining areas, and they are encouraged to swing by the 50s-themed diner, sip and old-fashioned soda, and embrace the sunshine on the deck. They recently hosted a happy hour with non-alcoholic drinks, and residents enjoyed a “Cheers” to 2021. In addition, Midwest Geriatrics hosts a lot of hallway activities, independent entertainment, and schedules tons of window visits with families. It all goes down with safety guidelines followed to a tee.

“It is the hope that residents and patients never have to be in isolation,” said Midwest Director of Development and Marketing Jen Beck. “We continue to disinfect areas, screen visitors and vendors, and abide by CDC guidelines, to keep things safe for them.”

Omaha-area residents and families of loved ones living at the House of Hope have been spectacular at helping keep seniors in the community engaged throughout the pandemic, donating things like crosswords, books, and games to help occupy their time.

Jen Beck Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. Local volunteer groups have made signs and had children perform dances—not necessarily choreographed!—outside the windows for residents to enjoy. They love children and love seeing their smiles, so it’s a great way for anybody to bring joy to seniors’ lives.

“There is so much good in our community, and the reason that senior-living facilities have fought every day is because of volunteers, donors, and #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Contact us today!

402-669-9490

Let’s work TOGETHER. Oasis Senior Advisors Omaha is a senior living service that’s free for seniors and families. Your clients may need help finding the right senior living solution, and my clients are looking for services just like yours. Call me today and let’s work together!

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genuine thoughtfulness of those surrounding our healthcare providers,” Jen said. “Our staff is the reason that seniors are still engaged. Because residents are family to our staff, we make every effort to maintain their mental and physical health. It has taken a village this past year, and there seems to be light—and hugs—at the end of the tunnel!”

Specialized Nursing At Prairie Meadows Alzheimer’s Care Center, residents have access to a whole host of amenities and programming options to keep them active and engaged in daily life. Their professional staff undergoes continuous training to address the diverse needs of their residents. Prairie Meadows is the only Alzheimer’s community in Omaha that offers their exclusive Meaningful Moments® program, through which the caring staff weaves the life stories of all of their residents into the fabric of their days at the community. The result is a comforting feeling of familiarity and meaning for those seniors with dementia needs in our community. What’s more, their 24-hour specialized-care professionals undergo continuous training to address the diverse needs of residents.

“Prairie Meadows offers 24/7 specialized nursing, the Meaningful Moments ® programming, unique community-outing involvement for residents, and a dynamic staffing model for the residents we serve,” said Community Resource Director Don Woods. “To keep seniors engaged, happy, and active in our community throughout the pandemic, team members have done things such as be involved in karaoke with residents to provide a sense of personal entertainment and have residents water and care for personal plants that are Don Woods given to them. Prairie Meadows is excited to Prairie Meadows be offering the COVID-19 vaccines for their Alzheimer’s Care Center residents and staff, too.”

If you’re interested in helping bring some smiles to residents’ faces, Don suggests volunteering to decorate a resident’s window with different

crafts for the nearest holiday—for example, putting up hearts on the outsides of windows for Valentine’s Day or clovers for St. Patrick’s Day. “We work diligently every day to make sure that residents at Prairie Meadows are safe and happy, living as close to their previous ‘normal’ life as possible,” Don said. “Anyone in the community can help to spread extra smiles, too, so we welcome any surprises you can come up with!”

Igniting the Senses Understanding the particular challenges seniors have faced in the last year, senior-living communities in the Omaha region are going above and beyond to keep residents engaged and happy. Ovation by Avamere Heartwood Preserve is now taking reservations for new residents to move into its new sophisticated independent-living, assisted-living, and memory-care communities in Omaha this summer, but they have initiated a wide range of senior-engagement activities at other locations.

“Think about ways in which you can stimulate their five senses to provide your loved ones with feelings of love and connection during this time of isolation,” said Ovation General Manager Stephanie Grade. “Create a schedule for family members to ensure that your loved one receives calls regularly, and use technology to take that contact to a visual experience whenever possible.

Send them cards or notes often so they have something to look forward to when they can’t speak with you directly.”

Stephanie Grade Ovation has held “porch concerts” for residents, Ovation by Avamere delivered baskets of bounty with fresh fruit Heartwood Preserve and vegetables, and provided Ovation Care Kits with Sudoku, crossword puzzles, adult coloring books, and snacks. They also email “Engage with Ovation” vignettes with tips and educational content, such as yoga for stress relief, music performances, container gardening, real-estate news, creative design for smaller spaces,

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and the like. Their goal is to engage their senses and keep them engaged with life, even if their personal visits are still on virtual platforms.

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 Marcia Houchin participate in group activities or just prefer to Agemark CountryHouse stay in their rooms under normal circumstances.

Residences for For this reason, we will continue many of these Memory Care cart activities after COVID is over!”

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 birthdays 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!”

Aging in Place For seniors who are continuing to live at home during the pandemic, CareBuilders at Home Omaha is available to help keep them engaged and safe. They provide in-home, non-medical services—not just for seniors but for people of all ages. They are dedicated to helping clients lead dignified, independent lifestyles in the comfort and safety of their own homes. They provide experience and options that supports aging in place and maintaining independence, including safety-alert devices, medication management, electronic dispensers, Brenda Oullette and other assistance.

CareBuilders at “You are not alone,” said Executive Director Home Omaha and Owner Brenda Oullette. “We are here to help care for your loved one at home and give your family the support you need to manage the challenge of the changes you are faced with.

CareBuilders at Home understands the struggles families face, and it is our mission to provide as much love and support to not only the clients we serve but also to their families.”

The Omaha 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. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Delivering Powerful Messages of Fortitude and Products for Healthy Living Before you even walk in the door of the God’s Got Your Back store in Omaha, you know by the name of the place that you’re in for a heartwarming experience. When you enter, you feel it right away. It’s a soothing environment, clearly aimed at whole body-and-mind health and wellness. Hailing from Nigeria, Owner Judith Ngozi Obodougo opened the business with ironically perfect timing, too … two days before the national COVID-19 quarantine was enforced in March 2020.

So, the grand opening might not have been what she had hoped for or planned, but it was a bit fortuitous considering the pandemic upheaval that was to follow in the weeks and months to come. That’s because her health-and-wellness shop operates on the very tenet that you can achieve anything in life if you know, f irst and foremost, to trust in God. Most recently, Judith also launched the Calistus Multiple Myeloma Foundation in November 2020, which she created in memory of her father, who died of Multiple Myeloma in 2016. The purpose of the foundation is to educate people about

“This place is a good place to visit if you are planning to buy some pendants and jewelry in general, as well as many other Forever Living products and brand clothing. In this store, I also found Judith’s authored books, which are engrossing.” – Richard N.

the disease, help them recognize and watch out for the early stages, and to offer help and resources for those affected.

Inside the business, you’ll f ind everything from apparel with the “God’s Got Your Back” message on them to natural products in an interior healthand-beauty shop to help you achieve overall health, to colorful apparel, jewelry, and a host of other feelgood items. That includes Kit Fit and Detox Herbal tea from Arbonne, as well as hand sanitizers and other Forever Living products, Africa Map jewelry, and personalized magnets, pens, mugs, mouse, pads, and keychains.

Judith’s business grew from the message of the book she authored of the same name, God’s Got Your Back. She started by offering that book at her second one, Mom is Home, plus a selection of t-shirts, hoodies, and golf shirts that she brandished with the God’s Got Your Back message, and grew her inventory to a wide selection of health-and-wellness products—all things aimed at living a feel-good life in God’s light.

“I had the opportunity to visit this store. … The books I bought there restructured my mind to believe that God is watching over me. The people are so nice and friendly. Give it a trial, guys.

Loving it!” – Chianugo N.

“I will definitely recommend this store. Things are very affordable, and the customer service is awesome.” – Nolan Y. “A friend reminded me on how far I have gone since I came to this country. That I have achieved more than I can ever imagine. So when things go wrong I should count my blessings and thank God it happened that way … because it makes me grow and be stronger. Better things are still ahead of me. I have to go through storms to have clarity to see through the calmness when the storm is over. And I should learn to remain silent and at peace with myself. Every disappointment is a blessing (my native name, Ngozi) in disguise.”

www.ggyb.store | (402) 686-3559 | 10154 Maple Street Omaha, NE 68134 50

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

APRIL 2021 ISSUE

Calling all Women-Owned Businesses!

In the April 2021 issue of Strictly Business, we will run our biannual “Women-Owned Businesses” feature to highlight the businesses in Omaha 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 15,000 businesses in Omaha 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

FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 51 To #PrintProudDigitalSmart participate or nominate, contact: (402) 466-3330 | Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com

Omaha’s Ovation is Here N O W A C C E P T I N G R E S E R VA T I O N S Nebraska deserves an Ovation. Opening Summer 2021, Ovation by Avamere is an active lifestyle village where people will live, thrive, invent, volunteer and innovate. Ovation features exclusive wellness and fitness programs, concierge services, multiple gourmet restaurants, innovative technology and everything you need to enjoy life to its fullest.

Ovation is your reward for a life well-lived.

Reservation Showroom Pepperwood Village North 155th Plaza, Suite 573 52 573Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2021 Omaha, Nebraska 68154

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