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volume 16 | issue 4

B2B OMAHA MAGAZINE

PATRICIA “BIG MAMA” BARRON BIG MAMA’S KITCHEN & CATERING

After graduating from the School of

Culinary Arts at Metro Community College in 1973, Patricia Barron worked in the corporate world. She retired from Qwest 30 years later. JOAN LUKAS LUKAS PARTNERS

Lukas Partners presi-

dent and owner Joan Lukas says the company has been woman-owned since its founding in 1973. It provides smart public relations and fund development solutions that are continually recognized with PRSA Paper Anvil and Best of B2B awards. TEAM IRISH BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES AMBASSADOR REAL ESTATE

The mother-daughter real estate duo of Sheila Irish and Brittney

Kusmierski have a simple philosophy when it comes to their clients. “We do what’s right, and we treat people the way we would want to be treated,” Irish says. “We do our business with heart; we care about our clients. This is the largest purchase most people will ever make. We go above and beyond to make sure things go smooth through the whole process from the loan to the closing. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying/selling a $70,000 or $1.5 million house—you’re going to get the best service from both of us.” Team Irish’s cozy office nicely fits the family atmosphere of their real estate group, she adds. “Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Ambassador Real Estate is a family. We work to help each other. We’re transparent, and we have an amazing culture that Vince Leisey has created,” she says. “The employees at our company are not agents and work directly for Vince. We’re always running around 100 miles per hour, and each of us have our own lives going on, but at any given moment we’ll stop and chat and be there to support one another.” That positive environment translates to great service for clients. “From contract to closing and beyond, we’re diligent in the work that we do and the service we provide,” Irish says. “We complete not only the necessary tasks to get a deal done, but we lead our clients on a journey that they remember. And we have fun!” 331 VILLAGE POINTE PLAZA OMAHA, NE 68118 402.618.5037 TEAMIRISH4HOMES.COM

“Women are the world’s most powerful consumers, as they drive 80 percent of all consumer purchases,” Lukas says. As the largest public relations and fund development firm in the Midlands, Lukas Partners helps clients engage women and other key audiences in many ways, including effective blogger relations, news media placements, popular events, capital campaigns, and other successful communication strategies and tactics. Expertise in strategic communication planning, news media relations, social media, fund development, event management, and research help clients engage audiences through award-winning public relations and fund development. The firm helps reach the right audiences with the right messages. LUKASPARTNERS .COM

Did she head for the beach? No. At age 65, she continued working, fulfilling her lifelong dream of opening her own restaurant. “You’re never too old to pursue your dreams,” she says, “I’m going to work until I’m 100 years old. In December 2007, she opened the restaurant she had dreamt about. The menu is as deliciously rich and full of history as its owner who says: “We prepare food the way my mother and grandmother did, made from scratch with a little soul and lots of love.” And the owner keeps going, not letting age slow her down. The restaurant’s nationally known cuisine, service and down home atmosphere keep customers coming back. Big Mama’s is headed for a new location next year. Combining her restaurant and sandwich shop in the 75 North Revitalization Project, a development of homes, apartments, and condos. The menu at the new location will feature many of the foods she has become famous for along with a few new items which Big Mama is excited to introduce to her customers. BIGMAMASKITCHEN.COM