Reaanddit Reap!
OCTOBER 11, 2019
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
$2.00
VOL. 45 NO. 41
Lanoha Real Estate proposes visual impact to Omaha’s skyline
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
by Richard D. Brown
Under new ownership GrandBox develops new products, programs. – Page 2
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Wealth of data, digital processes underscore evolving customer experience, in-demand skills. – Page 6
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Graphite Lock startup takes modern approach, targets real estate market. – Page 26
Father-son team David Lanoha and Jason Lanoha — owners of Lanoha Real Estate Co. — are focused on what they term “good projects” and an overall portfolio of developments with an almost even split between single/multiple family and office/retail uses. However, Vice President Jason Lanoha admits the business, which was founded by his father in 1988, is venturing to the next level — and then some — with its proposed 1416 Dodge, a two-tower, 730,000-square-foot endeavor that will include office, parking and retail space. “We’re getting a lot of really good traction with attracting tenants since we announced our plans earlier this year,” Jason Lanoha said. “It is our commitment to provide something that will garner pride and enhance the perception of downtown Omaha.” As proposed, the development on the site of the former Union Pacific headquarters could see construction begin as early as 2022, Continued on page 13.
Vice President Jason Lanoha … Among prominent projects in Omaha is the firm’s proposed office (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville) towers and mixed-use development, 1416 Dodge.
FireSprint diversifies with investments in equipment to accommodate growth by Michelle Leach
If not for FireSprint’s $5,500 insurance check, the result of its first screen-printer getting damaged in freight, the trade-only sign printer probably wouldn’t have survived to go on, roughly eight years later, to be named among Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing companies in America, according to CEO Gene Hamzhie. “We ran out of cash in 2011,” he said. “That check got us through
the winter.” It was around this same time period that FireSprint was born; Hamzhie had originally started the shop as TargetOmaha Marketing in 2007 and brought on brother, Director of Customer Experience James Hamzhie, and longtime friend and fellow owner/COO, Mark Kistler, as partners a year later. “Prior to 2007, I had an eBay Continued on page 14. Agency Principals from left, Marcus Haith, Carly Thomas and Rob Schmitt … Rooted in family real estate businesses, insurance firms leverage combined depth of industry expertise and technological assets.
Veteran Omaha firms join forces to form Dodge Partners Insurance by Michelle Leach
From left, co-owners Gene Hamzhie, Mark Kistler and James Hamzhie … Nebraska-based Durst printer among recent major investments for one of the country’s fastest-growing trade-only printing business.
With each firm boasting a reported 60-plus year heritage in the metro, NP Dodge Insurance Agency Inc. and Peterson Bros. Insurance Inc. have joined their complementary clientele, carriers and cultures to create Dodge Partners Insurance LLC. “We both were at the point of deciding where we wanted to be
in the future,” said Agency Principal Carly Thomas, formerly a Peterson Bros. Insurance principal. “Ultimately, we decided we were stronger together.” Over the past year, Thomas indicated the companies worked together to align their teams, which are now based out of 8701 West Dodge Road in Omaha — Continued on page 24.