Midlands Business Journal • JULY 16, 2021 •
5
Health & Wellness A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
July 16, 2021
Midlands companies find renewed focus on health, wellness among employees by Dwain Hebda
The various challenges brought on by the pandemic are still reverberating throughout Midlands businesses. Local business leaders say this has put renewed attention and emphasis on topics surrounding employee health and wellness. “The COVID-19 pandemic shifted priorities for individuals and businesses alike,” said Melinda Sorenson, director of workplace wellbeing and membership for The Wellbeing Partners. “From our Esser perspective, gone are the days of work-life separation. Now, it’s work-life integration. This puts employers in a unique position to take a more pointed interest and concern for their teams’ well-being across eight dimensions: financial, spiritual, occupational, emotional, social, physical, intellectual and environmental.” As a result, Sorenson said, employees are increasingly looking for more out of their employers in the way of access to health and wellness resources. “Locally, we are hearing employers standing up for additional employee resource groups and resourcing for mental health and caregiver support,” she said. “There are many options from a cost perspective to share with employees. The Wellbeing Partners recently launched a webpage dedicated to resources for mental health needs — for support, access and contacts, free to the community in English and Spanish. “We realize that having conversations about the ways in which we, our loved ones, and our colleagues are struggling, also carries its own emotional weight. The more we root ourselves in community, increasing social and emotional well-being and seeing life from a broader perspective further away from our individual egos, is a meaningful contribution we can offer to our communities.” Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska engages this mindset in the services it provides for employee health and welfare, said Dr. Debra Esser, BCBSNE chief medical officer. “We recognized the immediate toll
Melinda Sorenson, director of workplace wellbeing & membership at The Wellbeing Partners. (Photo by Monica Sempek) the pandemic had on employees,” she “We also encouraged employees to said. “We worked quickly to meet their take advantage of our employee assistance individual needs, while also providing program which offered free, prerecorded ongoing support. Our senior leadership webinars on a range of topics including communicated regularly with employees tips on working from home, mental health through company-wide emails, providing best practices and short-term, confidential updates, resources and expectations for counseling services.” our workforce. Esser said even as conditions have im-
proved, the work is far from over despite vaccines becoming more widespread and infection rates dropping. “We will continue to remain flexible in how and where work gets done,” she said. “We understand that remote work is here to stay and we’re focusing on the best ways to keep people engaged and collaborative, even if they are physically apart.” Lee Handke, CEO of Nebraska Health Network, gave such efforts and those like it Handke within the business community high marks in keeping health and wellness top of mind among employees. “Employee wellness has seen an incredible shift over the past two decades,” he said. “What started as simple fitness benefits has evolved into comprehensive strategies to address the health and well-being of employees and their families.” Handke said the health care industry and providers have responded to this inContinued on next page.
Health & Wellness — inside JULY 16, 2021
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK ’S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 47 NO. 29
Hauptman O’Brien increases south Omaha reach by Richard D. Brown
Meridan Business aims to help small business with NetSuite application. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 Kuhl builds career at Medical Solutions on helping others maximize their talents. – Page 4
oln inc Car e L J- h LB ealt H
Lincoln health care facilities share latest in services. – Page 24
Hauptman O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, a 34-year-old Omaha firm specializing in personal injury law, is expanding its presence in Sarpy Country, where it has been growing its Bellevue office over the past 18 years. That location at 11507 S. 42nd St., Suite 101, is being augmented by the firm’s newest neighborhood office that was opened in 2019 at 4939 S. 24th St. in historical downtown south Omaha. “Our goal is to make more people aware of our convenient neighborhood offices and how our attorneys can help them,” said Managing Partner Melany S. O’Brien. “Eventually we could expand to four or five offices.” The two newest offices are staffed by Michael W. Khalili, a bilingual attorney who graduated in 2008 from Seattle University School of Law. One of Khalili’s specialties is Continued on page 23.
Managing Partner Melany S. O’Brien aiming for increased accessibility of services. (Photo by Roger Humphries)
Jadomte’ Mobile Nail Bar brings salon on wheels concept to Omaha area by Michelle Leach
One may be inclined to assume new mobile services businesses are an outgrowth of the pandemic; however, Sabrina Mahupete had the foresight to form Jadomte’ Mobile Nail Bar well before COVID-19 was an inescapable, daily reality. The effects of the crisis have only underscored the value that patrons find in the salon-on-wheels, which its founder ultimately aims
to franchise in the future. “Funny story is, I literally just started getting my nails done a month and a half ago,” said Mahupete last month. “I’ve never really been a beauty-conscious person, but all of my friends are.” Nails and related services came to the forefront in Mahupete’s life after she was laid off her from her job in the railroad industry in October 2018. Two Continued on page 23. Owner and Creative Director Joe Horacek emphasizes quality over quantity at print shop. (Photo by David Kubicek)
Lincoln’s Little Mountain Print Shoppe takes classic approach to screen-printed products by Gabby Hellbusch
Founder and owner Sabrina Mahupete eyes making her mobile nail bar a franchise brand and household name. (Photo by Monica Sempek)
For more than a decade, Little Mountain Print Shoppe has made good on its promise to deliver timeless products while focusing on craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, said owner and Creative Director Joe Horacek. What began as a small operation in Horacek’s basement back in 2010, has since evolved into a storefront that is steadily pushing out new and unique products, as the team
continually looks to perfect its craft. “2020 was our best year yet, as we were up 30% from the year before,” he said. “But, we don’t want to get too big and would always rather focus on quality over quantity. We don’t follow the trends, but instead stay true to who we are and remain committed to our original idea of delivering a classic ‘less is more’ approach.” Horacek, literally meaning Continued on page 30.
