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THE FORCE BEHIND NEBRASKA’S TECHNOLOGY BOOM
The data center sector in Nebraska has grown significantly over the last decade, both in job growth and economic impact. With over a dozen data centers in the state, mostly in the Omaha area and driven somewhat by state incentive programs, a study prepared by Mangum Economic for NetChoice estimated that in 2021, the total economic ripple effect that the direct investment generated was approximately $1.2 billion.
Broken down further in terms of employment, 5,290 jobs were created with $355 million in associated employee pay and benefits, and there are 4.3 additional jobs supported by the data center in other businesses for each operational job inside the data center. In short, data centers are more than infrastructure they are hubs for job creation.
Data centers create employment opportunities and are catalysts for broader economic growth, supporting ecosystems of suppliers, service providers, and construction. The exponential growth of the data center industry has contributed to the expansion of companies throughout its supply chain. From construction and fabricators of steel used in data center projects, to HVAC manufacturing and portable sanitation companies, the data center industry fuels economic growth in countless companies across a variety of industries.
As a fiscal hawk, I am always interested in the Nebraska numbers. These statistics are staggering and go beyond job growth. We all know in 2025 Nebraska faced a budget crunch, but without the economic impact of data centers, that revenue forecast would have been much bleaker. Estimates from a few years ago projected the indirect economic activity from data centers in Nebraska resulted in $17.8 million in tax revenue collected by the state of Nebraska. That is real money and has only grown since estimated by Mangum Economics in 2022.
An additional $18 million was collected by local governments from that 2022 data, which helps fund education, public safety, road infrastructure, and other priorities, and at the same time, lessens the pressure of rising property taxes.
Google alone contributed over $1.1 million to Nebraska’s GDP from 2021-2023, supported over 13,000 annual jobs, and invested $1.3 million into communities surrounding their data centers.
While this is not an endorsement necessarily of incentive packages, the reality of state competition proves that states like Nebraska must thoughtfully consider the continuation of incentive programs to attract and retain data center investment. A report by Cushman and Wakefield states, “A majority of states throughout the U.S. now offer state-level incentives, often sales- or property-tax abatements for long-term investment.” Just like our state tax rates, businesses and industries, like data centers, carefully evaluate the overall business climate, including incentives, before making location decisions.
In the Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and Ohio offer some sort of data center incentive program. Neighboring Iowa also offers a data center incentive program to encourage data center development. In recent years, competition between states to attract data centers has ramped up significantly. States are recognizing that in order to capture the economic impact that data centers bring, along with the tax revenue previously mentioned, some sort of sales or property tax abatement program may be necessary.
The Mangum Economics/NetChoice study projects that Nebraska can conservatively experience a 10% compound annual growth rate of data centers for 2025 through 2035. If those projections hold true, in 2035, the contribution to Nebraska’s economy due to the data center sector will grow to $4.8 billion in economic output activity. This includes 2,670 operational data center jobs and an additional 11,370 jobs supported elsewhere in our state economy. That equates to $1.1 billion in pay and benefits for Nebraska workers.
The investments made by data centers in Nebraska have significant benefits to the state and local communities. When policymakers and business leaders support the state’s growing data center industry, we can create jobs, support local and state coffers, increase our competitiveness, and strengthen the overall economy in the Cornhusker State. B2B OMAHA
FROM THE GUEST EDITOR
Jim Vokal is Platte Institute’s CEO. He can be reached for story suggestions and pitches at jvokal@platteinstitute.org. Or email editor@omahapublications.com.
Since
FEATURE
BANKING
INNOVATION
STORY: TIM TRUDELL
PHOTO: SARAH LEMKE
DESIGN: NICKIE ROBINSON
DR. LEE DUNHAM
With roots tracing back to the economic collapse in 2008, when the Great Recession impacted the banking industry and kicked off the Bitcoin movement, Creighton University launched one of the nation’s first fintech finance and technology majors.
It would take another decade before the idea would begin percolating in the thoughts of Dr. Lee Dunham, who created the major as part of Creighton’s business school.
“I actually happened to be on sabbatical in 2016 and went to Australia,” Dunham said. “While I was there, I saw a lot of money being invested by the federal government into fintech, helping startups and the like, really trying to promote sort of an ecosystem for young entrepreneurs to try to start companies and really be in the forefront.”
At its core, fintech is nothing more than basic online banking opening an account over the internet, linking an account to a smartphone to conduct or monitor transactions but it’s evolved to much more.
“What happened was you had a lot of companies starting to really digitize their transactions and their platforms, more so than you know,” Dunham said. “You’re not logged on to a browser to maybe trade a stock. You can just do it with an app. Just really had the technology integrate with finance, and it’s actually now integrating with a lot of other industries, but finance was sort of the benefactor, being the first one.”
Dunham saw how creating an academic program based on combining finance and technology could help Creighton take the next step to becoming an even bigger national player.
Already a top-15 finance program nationally, it seemed a natural fit to create a fintech course, Dunham said.
“We needed to evolve, and my experience on that sabbatical led me to think we should probably do something in fintech, so we created the degree,” he said.
While Creighton has long turned out successful finance graduates, adding technology to their resumes made them that much more attractive to employers, Dunham said.
“There’s never been a criticism that the finance students who come out of Creighton are lacking textbook knowledge,” he said. “They don’t have that problem. The problem was, the world is becoming more data-driven, and the tools that are used to make decisions, even at lower levels entry-level jobs they’re just not quite ready. And so that was another sort of thesis for why we needed to move into taking a finance major and making it a little more tech-friendly, and basically providing the students who graduate with any sort of finance degree, finance or fintech from Creighton, have a package of tools, tech-wise, to be able to be better decision-makers when they get to their companies in their first jobs.”
Though fintech became a graduate program around the United States, it was unheard of at the undergraduate level, so Creighton’s decision to create the program opened doors for students and the school itself.
Creighton’s finance department staff began developing the major in 2017. Following an almost two-year administrative process, the new fintech major was launched for the 2020-21 academic year. The first year saw about five or six seniors change their major to the new program, Dunham said. Then, enrollment mushroomed, with about 40 graduates a year now.
“In a business school, we might have 300 freshmen come every year,” Dunham said. “And, so, if you multiply that by four, it’s 1,200 kids. In a graduating class of, say 250 to 300, that’s a pretty good number.”
Whether it’s a traditional finance major or BIA business, intelligence, and analytics students can obtain either a fintech degree or a double major of finance and BIA, popular with some Creighton students, Dunham said. For the most part, they’re getting approximately the same curriculum, albeit with a few exceptions, he said.
Michael Buckley, an Omaha Creighton Prep graduate, thought a fintech degree was the perfect ticket to launch his career. “I saw this as a unique opportunity that would kind of offer me a more diverse skill set,” Buckley said. “With everything I’ve been hearing about how businesses are starting to adopt new technologies and how the landscape is changing, I figured that this combination of finance, technology, and data are the areas shaping the future of business. Having experience in all three would open up a lot of doors.”
Creighton’s fintech program offered him an opportunity to learn beyond the traditional business concepts, he said.
CONT. PAGE 08
WITH EVERYTHING I’VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT HOW BUSINESSES ARE STARTING TO ADOPT NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND HOW THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING, I FIGURED THAT THIS COMBINATION OF FINANCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND DATA ARE THE AREAS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS.
-MICHAEL BUCKLEY
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“I don’t think there’s anything that really prepares you to just dive head-first into learning some of the software and programming languages that we learned,” Buckley said. “I think it requires an analytical mindset, and definitely a lot of critical thinking skills. I think it gives you a lot of skills, like soft skills, that give you an ability to think critically and analytically. More than anything, I think it’s a major that’s very adaptable in that sense.”
The 2023 graduate credits his involvement with a practicum in partnership with the First National Bank of Omaha for giving him an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and knowledge in finance technology.
The product development practicum taught the four students involved how to think like founders, and create and deliver a product as a start-up, he said.
“It wasn’t about having a million-dollar idea from the get-go, but kind of like surveying, collecting
data, and finding what’s going to solve problems for people,” Buckley said.
Following two years with an investment management firm, Buckley now handles mergers and acquisitions for Koley Jessen law firm, where he said he anticipates incorporating his fintech background into new opportunities for the firm.
Jeff Milewski has the unique advantage of being both a Creighton grad and an instructor with the school’s fintech program.
Milewski, who is the chief executive officer and founder of Stable Coin investment company in San Francisco, teaches a blockchain course, offering Creighton students a high-level look at strategy, understanding how technologies work. Students review Harvard case business analyses examining how disruptive technology innovations that significantly impact industries and markets, creating new opportunities and
business models is introduced to a market and how traditional companies adapt, he said.
“It’s like financial technologies that are disruptive crypto and AI how do we analyze those technologies, and are they going to create new financial services compared to just digitizing old financial services?” Milewski said.
The fintech program has made Creighton “cuttingedge,” Milewski said. Whether a graduate pursues an innovative position with a traditional outlet or sees an opportunity to create a start-up, the fintech program has prepared them for a successful career, he said.
“You have crypto aspects growing, and then you just have digital products kind of disrupting traditional financial participants,” Milewski said.
“You have a pretty interesting space, and fintech has become a commonplace type of term. We built a pretty good understanding of where the space is going to go.” B2B OMAHA
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MARKETING & GROWTH STRATEGIES
HOW TO BREAK THROUGH IN A CROWDED MARKET
COLUMN:
MIKE CASSLING
PHOTO:
MIKE CASSLING
WHETHER YOU’RE LEADING A HEALTHCARE STARTUP OR RETHINKING YOUR VALUE PROPOSITION IN ANOTHER COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY, THE PLAYBOOK IS SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE. -MIKE CASSLING
In today’s fiercely competitive market, carving out a niche is not just a sound business strategy it’s a survival skill. Whether you’re a founder launching your first startup or an executive reimagining an established company, you have to stand out to be heard. But the truth is, successful businesses aren’t necessarily the loudest; they’re the clearest. They know exactly who they are, who they serve, and how they deliver value.
After decades inside the healthcare and business sectors, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when a business finds and owns its voice, and I’ve learned that winning in a saturated market comes down to five key principles.
1. Clarity Is Your Competitive Advantage
Startups often rush to market with a groundbreaking solution, but struggle to articulate why it matters. They will quickly focus on their logo or website so people can find them but when people arrive, the message isn’t clear. Clarity is more than branding. It’s about aligning your value proposition, messaging, and market fit with surgical precision.
Clarity builds trust. And in business, trust creates traction.
2. Understand the People You’re Trying to Help and Put Them First
In industries like healthcare, where new innovations abound, having a great product isn’t enough. You must understand the people you’re trying to help. This rings true in any business sector.
You’re not just competing with other vendors. You’re competing for time, attention, and belief. Start by listening. What are they up against? What keeps them from doing their best work? The goal isn’t just to sell, it’s to solve. You want to become part of their solution, not another item on their already full to-do list. Ultimately, your value must exceed the effort it takes to adopt your solution.
Remember: your customer is the hero of the story. Your job is to help them win.
3. Don’t Just Sell a Product, Deliver a Solution
In healthcare, and in many industries, the best innovations are the ones that make people’s lives easier. If your product creates more confusion, it won’t be embraced. That’s why I encourage companies to think beyond the product and deliver a solution.
Anticipate the next challenge and get in front of it, again and again.
Consider wrap-around services: implementation support, workflow integration, training, and ongoing maintenance. The entrepreneurs who win are the ones who answer the question before it gets asked. That’s how you move from interest to impact.
4. Narrow Your Focus to Widen Your Reach
One of the hardest lessons for any growing company is learning to say no, because it feels counterintuitive. But real growth happens when you focus when you stop chasing everyone and start connecting with the right people.
Want to grow? Don’t try to be everything to everyone and don’t waste time worrying about what others are doing. Get narrow. Go deep. And let your niche become your edge.
5. Find a Sounding Board
Launching and scaling a business is hard. In healthcare, where adoption is slow, the stakes are high and change is a guarantee, so it can feel like pushing a boulder uphill.
CONT. PAGE 12
FROM PAGE 11
Every founder I’ve worked with has benefitted from having the right people in their corner strategic partners, peers, marketing pros, advisors. People who help you see clearly when you’re too close to the fire. People who have walked the road before and know how to navigate the turns.
Find someone who will be your sounding board to help sharpen your strategy, tell your story and get in front of the people who need your solution most.
The Bottom Line for Omaha’s Business Leaders
Whether you’re leading a healthcare startup or rethinking your value proposition in another competitive industry, the playbook is surprisingly simple:
• Be crystal clear on your mission and audience. • Build around real customer needs.
• Wrap your product in a complete service solution.
• Stay focused.
• Surround yourself with people who know the terrain.
You don’t need a huge budget to grow your business. You need a compelling story, an airtight strategy, and a willingness to understand. Because in any crowded market, the ones who listen are the ones who are heard. B2B OMAHA
Mike Cassling is the founder and executive chairman of CQuence Health, formed in 2011 to provide strategic guidance, professional service, and investment capital to healthcare companies.
Mike is active in the Omaha community as vice chair of the Aksarben Foundation, vice chair of Omaha Performing Arts, and serves on the board of directors for The Salvation Army and CyncHealth. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and he is the founding chair of the Nebraska Tech Collaborative.
Nationally, Mike serves on the board of directors for the Independent Institute, and he recently closed out a three-year tenure as chair for The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board. In his capacity there, Mike was awarded the Salvation Army’s Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service, the highest mark of appreciation available to non-Salvationists.
Mike is an Omaha “40 under 40” alumnus, was recognized in 2014 and 2010 with an Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and is a Westside High School Hall of Fame honoree. Mike has two daughters, Megan and Kaila; his wife, Elizabeth, has two sons, Gage and JT.
www.planitincevents.com
ECONOMIC TRENDS
STORY: LUCY MASON DESIGN:
NICKIE ROBINSON
A STEM GROWTH IN THE MIDWEST
OMAHA’S SURGE IN JOBS, WAGES, AND NATIONAL RANKINGS
ccording to CoWorking Cafe, STEM occupations are expected to grow by 10.5% between 2022 and 2032. From 2019 to 2025, Omaha saw a 19.5% increase in STEM jobs, a trend that is expected to continue. From architecture and engineering to healthcare, nearly every area of STEM is expanding into the city’s workforce.
Compared to the rest of the country, Omaha ranks third among mid-sized metro areas for STEM growth, according to CoWorking Cafe. Omaha’s unemployment rate is lower than that of Durham-Chapel Hill, which ranks above Omaha, and the city also has a higher percentage of growth of average annual income. However, Omaha has a lower growth of STEM density. Of the top five cities in the mid-sized metro areas for STEM growth, Omaha leads in average annual income growth at 35.92%, marking a 36% increase between 2019-2024 the highest wage growth in STEM over the past few years. Nationally, the annual average STEM salary is $97,000 while the average STEM salary in Nebraska is $111,734.
Next to the top three largest metro-ranking cities for STEM growth, Omaha has a lower unemployment rate than all of them, standing at 1.4% compared to San Jose’s 2.8%, Boston’s 2.7%, and Washington, D.C.’s 2.4%. While many factors go into this, including size of the cities in relation to each other, Omaha despite being smaller has the highest average annual wage growth and a comparable job density growth. Though it isn’t the highest in job density or lowest in unemployment, Omaha’s wage increase surpasses the largest metro-ranking cities for STEM growth.
Looking at the projected percentage growth by STEM job types, Omaha surpasses the national growth rate by 0.5% in STEM fields and
DATA PULLED AND COMPILED FROM COWORKING CAFE, OMAHASTEM.COM, BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, AND GOVDOCS.NEBRASKA.GOV
MID-SIZED METRO RANKINGS OF BEST PLACE TO LIVE FOR A STEM CAREER
DURHAM-CHAPEL
continues to rank higher in particular areas of STEM growth. Most notably, architecture and engineering sit at an 8% growth rate in Nebraska while being at 5.2% nationally, while healthcare practitioners and technical jobs show an 8% growth rate nationally and a 9.6% growth rate in Nebraska. In contrast, postsecondary teaching is growing 11.4% nationally, but only 3.3% in Nebraska.
While tech industries are expanding inward from the coasts and Omaha continues to thrive in the healthcare sector anchored by institutions such as UNMC the effects are particularly interesting and are beginning to show through other occupational statistics. For example, food service is the top
projected growth occupation in Nebraska, followed by personal care, computer and mathematics, and healthcare. This trend can be correlated to a population increase driven by tech and healthcare job growth in Omaha.
By contrast, farming and fishing work show a -0.36 growth rate, the lowest point on the chart. While agriculture remains the number one industry in Nebraska, current growth rates and Omaha’s STEM boom suggest STEM will remain an increasingly vibrant segment of the state’s economy for the foreseeable future.
B2B OMAHA
PROJECTED PERCENTAGE GROWTH BY STEM JOB (2022-2032)
PERSONAL CARE
VOICES OF INDUSTRY
DAN HARBEKE OF GOOGLE
THE NON-TECH GUY IN A TECH COMPANY
STORY: TAMSEN BUTLER
PHOTO: SARAH LEMKE
DESIGN: NICKIE ROBINSON
As the regional head of external affairs and public policy for Google, Dan Harbeke covers Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. His work with Google is varied and is oftentimes at the forefront of technological developments, discerning how they impact the community. Harbeke’s focus, however, lies in both external affairs (or, as he describes it, “everything Google is doing in the community across this region”), and public policy (“the work we’re doing with our lawmakers and state legislators”).
With Google’s impressive expansion within the last decade, it’s no surprise that Harbeke stays busy in his role. His work reaches beyond the regions where Google is physically present in offices or data centers. “Even where Google doesn’t have data centers and offices, policy and legislation might affect Google nonetheless,” Harbeke explained. “And that doesn’t mean people aren’t using Google products and services.”
How does a public policy professional manage to monitor public policy for a company that is essentially ever-present globally? Luckily, for Harbeke, it involves a great deal of what he calls “ingestion of information,” which is one of his favorite aspects of his role. “It’s part of the reason I like this work so much,” he said.
He stays involved with Google partner organizations and tech partners like Tech Nebraska, of which Google was a founding member. He also works with a lobby team in Nebraska and has direct discussions with legislators. Harbeke takes those conversations and decides when things merit a bigger conversation.
Within external affairs, Harbeke is active in chambers of commerce and with any philanthropic efforts Google supports. According to Harbeke, the first half of the year is typically dominated by policy work, while the second half is largely spent in external affairs.
Balancing it all means that he is “kind of doing all that work all of the time,” he admitted, adding that his role constantly evolves. “Five years ago, it was rare that we had much tech legislation, and now it’s rare that we don’t.”
Having a positive impact is his favorite part of the job. “I’m a non-tech person who happens to work for a tech company, so I get to be on the front edge of technology,” he said. “Being on the front edge of that and having a global lens to it through Google is unbelievable.”
The impact of Google on the economy of the Omaha metropolitan area is profound. In fact, in Nebraska, “Last year was a $4.4 billion impact,” Harbeke reported, “so it has a real impact on the community.”
He also revealed that there are around a thousand “Googlers” throughout the Omaha metro, a number he said often surprises people. The Google data center in Council Bluffs is one of the largest in the world, and with the opening of the data center in Papillion in 2019 and another in northwest Omaha in 2024, the growing regional footprint of Google is apparent. In the works is a data center in Lincoln, which began construction in 2023.
“It’s not just that we have data centers here; it’s that Google is here,” Harbeke said. “There are multiple ways for Google to be involved in the community.” He added that he’s excited for Google’s measured growth within the region and to see how it helps the community.
Beyond the economic growth brought on by the presence of Google in the metro, Google’s career certificates and credentials programs have a positive impact on the economic mobility of Omahans. Nonprofit organizations also use Google programs to kickstart efforts and to operate effectively.
In 2024, Google and the University of Nebraska system announced a partnership that allows Nebraska residents to earn Google Career Certificates for entry-level to advanced-level training in tech fields at a very modest fee, helping equip residents with the skills they need to land or excel in a tech job.
And with Google Fiber making its way into the Omaha area, Google’s presence continues to expand in the region.
In the seven years Harbeke has been with Google, he’s noticed the fast-moving evolution of not only Google, but the global marketplace as well. He’s excited for the future and excited to continue to engage with the community in his role. B2B OMAHA
I’M A NON-TECH PERSON WHO HAPPENS TO WORK FOR A TECH COMPANY, SO I GET TO BE ON THE FRONT EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY.
-DAN HARBEKE
FEATURE
18
FROM FAD TO FUTURE
STORY: ANDY WILLIAMS
PHOTO: BILL SITZMANN
DESIGN: NICKIE ROBINSON
In his 30-plus years of business technology leadership, Scott Data Center co-founder and CEO Ken Moreano has seen only one other tsunami of innovation that could rival what he’s witnessing with the rapid-fire development of artificial intelligence. And he believes this something-new-every-nanosecond tech wave could have even more world-changing impact.
“This feels like when the internet first emerged and it was so early that people were saying, ‘Why do I need a website when we have the Yellow Pages? There’s no way I would ever put my financial information on a computer to actually buy something, that’s silly,’” said Moreano, who was launching an exercise tech startup in 1998 when that earlier seismic shift began. “This feels much the same, but it’s more powerful. The world has absolutely changed, and the speed of innovation in AI is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
So much so that Moreano’s conversations about AI with Omaha-area business leaders have done a complete 180 in a short period of time from the mindset that AI is the “latest fad” to leaders of prominent companies being driven to learn how they can harness the power of AI technology for business transformation.
“I’m having very different conversations today,” Moreano noted. “Those same business leaders want to know how they can invest and how they can partner, and where the viable business opportunities are for someone who’s interested in AI investment and AI strategy.”
That makes an informal discussion at a College World Series game last year between Moreano and Alec Gorynski, senior vice president of economic development for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, seem even more prescient now.
As Moreano laid out Scott Data’s collaboration with Silicon Valley innovator NVIDIA and other technology groups to build out the Aksarben Village-based center’s AI infrastructure to prepare for game-changing business applications, the seeds were sown for a Scott Data/Chamber partnership. This pairing is laying the groundwork for Omaha to become a Midwestern hub of AI innovation, adoption, and attraction.
“From a philosophical perspective, AI is no longer optional for business when you realize it’s a $214 billion global market that’s going to top over
$1 trillion dollars by the end of the decade,” said Omaha Chamber President and CEO Heath Mello. “We saw the scale and growth of what was happening in AI. We heard from our Chamber members and employers that it’s a tool we must take advantage of and deploy better for us to be more regionally competitive.
“We have to embrace this change in a variety of industries, and we want to make sure we maximize it for businesses, maximize it for employees, and maximize it for entrepreneurs. This is a new economic paradigm that we want to embrace to help our region not only adapt, but thrive and make Omaha what we call an ‘AI city.’”
Making Omaha an emerging “AI city” one that AI startup companies are attracted to, one that the best and brightest tech minds consider bringing their talent to, and one where businesses lead the AI charge in their industries was the goal of an agreement signed earlier this year between the 110,000-square-foot Scott Data Center and the Chamber.
The unique partnership offers Chamber members access to high-powered computing infrastructure, technical advising and support, educational workshops, and 1:1 consultation engagements resources that are available at a discount for small- and mid-sized businesses that normally would struggle to compete with major corporations and their substantial technology budgets.
Chamber members are benefitting from Scott Data’s significant investments in AI infrastructure that includes high-speed processors, robust power and cooling capabilities, secure co-location services, and a co-created SEEKER AI platform that offers an entry-level tool for companies that are new to the AI journey.
“Part of the pitch to the Chamber was, we believe we can provide a competitive advantage to our community,” Moreano explained. “I’ve said before, it may even be an unfair advantage because we have community interest, we have been working in this space for some period of time, and we have insight that’s probably more practical because we’ve been building and doing and we can share that insight with businesses and the community.”
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, the partnership began with industry-specific workshops through the Chamber’s established industry councils. Senior leaders from Omaha companies in the manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare sectors toured Scott Data to see the AI infrastructure firsthand, and had healthy discussions about AI applications relevant to their specific challenges and opportunities.
FROM PAGE 19
“Being able to connect with other businesses in their industry and with experts in the AI field helped them explore opportunities, not just for individual companies, but from a broader perspective,” Mello said. “As they gain exposure, gain knowledge, and innovate with each other, that’s been a vital part of the experience to create space for companies within industries to discover ways to flip the script for how their company is operating.”
Those industry-specific sessions have spawned deeper exploration with company leaders meeting 1:1 with Scott Data experts for comprehensive consulting engagements to address a critical challenge: helping businesses understand whether AI should be a peripheral pursuit in their operations or become core to their business model.
Moreano and his team are quick to point companies toward making AI central to their business strategy within proper guardrails, because they believe that approach delivers long-term value and a competitive advantage. By developing a core AI strategy that produces high-value use cases, AI adoption can bring measurable outcomes and tangible business results, rather than serve as a technological shiny object.
“We sit down as a partner shoulder-to-shoulder with the enterprise team, not replacing them but complementing them, to help build strategy and then use cases,” Moreano explained. “Then we start actually doing the work with them to make a use case real, and measure and demonstrate the return on investment.”
One compelling case in point has been Scott Data’s work with a computer-vision camera company that is using the center’s AI platform for smart parking instead of using a mobile app. The AI model learns to identify a license plate and know exactly when a car was parked or left the stall, improving the accuracy of the payment model. That same AI camera system can also be used to conduct traffic studies with precise traffic counts, types of vehicles, movements, and frequencies that could inform road improvements and maintenance schedules. “The possibilities for innovation are endless,” Moreano added.
Local business response to the AI partnership has exceeded expectations, as more than 60 companies have connected with Scott Data representatives. The engagement has been so strong that
companies consistently leave workshops or consultations with transformed perspectives on AI’s potential for their business.
“Our business leaders love it, and we have heard nothing but great feedback,” Mello said. “Some came in with lower expectations and left really excited about the possibilities for their company and opportunities in their industry. That is what can reposition the Omaha economies for the future, when businesses are able to gain that new business mindset and leverage tools in a way to increase productivity, increase their competitiveness, and drive growth.”
The partnership is also reaching beyond local businesses to spark change in Omaha’s robust higher education system and make waves on the economic development front.
The University of Nebraska–Omaha recently announced the first AI degree program in the region, while Creighton University, Bellevue University, and Metropolitan Community College all are advancing technology and AI initiatives. This educational foundation provides the talent pipeline essential for sustainable AI ecosystem development.
Leveraging Scott Data Center’s AI offerings and a better-AIequipped business community also helped the Chamber recruit and land its first new-to-market AI company much faster than anticipated. Details of the new entity will come with the company’s public announcement later this year, but this early success validates how Omaha’s budding AI ecosystem can attract external investment and talent.
“We want to be able to target the AI industry and those companies in various sectors that tie into our key driving sectors of the greater Omaha economy,” said Mello, noting Omaha’s rock-solid foundations in industries such as healthcare, financial services, agribusiness, defense, manufacturing, insurance, transportation, and logistics. “We’re developing a much stronger direct connection between AI and those core industries, and we’re able to recruit AI startups that want to be here in this AI hub.”
That high-growth cycle is just what Moreano and Gorynski were dreaming of in the middle of a rowdy CWS crowd: Chamber businesses of all sizes gain access to leading-edge AI expertise, strategy, and profitable solutions, which in turn attracts AI companies to locate here for access to Scott Data Center’s infrastructure and the Chamber’s business network all while stellar tech talent stays home or moves back.
The Scott Data Center and Greater Omaha Chamber partnership is sketching a blueprint for how mid-sized American cities can challenge coastal technology hotbeds and
“I think there’s an opportunity because of what we’ve invested in, what we’ve built, and our knowledge to have the general population identify Omaha as being advanced in AI,” Moreano said. “That means we set the conditions where we are thought of in a similar context as a community with a vibrant technology offering. It’s less about being the leader in AI models or AI training or AI equipment, and it’s more about being an enabler for businesses to utilize AI to flourish and grow. We want to be as exposed and as bright and informed as other communities as it relates to AI well into the future. That’s an advantage for our community and what will make us a known AI city.” B2B OMAHA BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OTHER BUSINESSES IN THEIR INDUSTRY AND WITH EXPERTS IN THE AI FIELD HELPED THEM EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST FOR
leverage strategic partnerships to compete in the global AI economy. By combining worldclass infrastructure with comprehensive business support and industry-specific expertise, Omaha can position itself as a destination for AI-enabled business growth.
Ibelieve that advocacy is more than just speaking up for others. It’s about deeply knowing people, seeing their potential before they do, and intentionally creating the conditions for them to thrive. Advocacy is not a moment in my day-to-day work it is the work.
At the core of my leadership style is a simple yet powerful idea: know their story. Not just what’s on paper, but who they are, what drives them, where they feel stuck, how they prefer to communicate, and what lights them up. I learn their story by asking questions, building trust, and showing up consistently with empathy and integrity. You earn the right to lead not by your title, but by how you show up. My actions must match my words, and that starts with catching people doing things right and reinforcing those behaviors with purpose and positivity.
As a coach and leader, I center my work around emotional intelligence (EQ), staying aware of both my emotions and those around me. This requires reflection and grace. I remind myself often: we’re all human. We’re going to make mistakes. What matters is how we recover. I’ve made it a practice to openly share my own missteps with my team, not to excuse them, but to model vulnerability and growth. I often say, “FAIL just means ‘First Attempt In Learning.’”
When leaders show that mistakes are not fatal, they create psychological safety and unlock innovation.
One of the most powerful tools I use to understand people’s preferences and create that safety is DiSC (an assessment with four personality types outlined: dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness). It’s woven throughout our learning strategy. It allows me to tailor my coaching. “Does someone need space to think? Do they prefer agendas ahead of time? Do they thrive on autonomy or structure?” That level of personalization builds trust and accelerates growth. It’s not about treating everyone the same; it’s about meeting people where they are and walking with them.
That’s where servant leadership comes in. I view my role as removing barriers, surfacing talent, and advocating for people behind the scenes. That means I’m intentional about sharing the “good stuff” with leadership, crediting others publicly, looping in executives on wins, and elevating names that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Advocacy also means seeing potential before it’s polished. I have a gift for spotting “diamonds in the rough,” people with integrity, work ethic, agility, and the right mindset. I know what can be coached and what must come from within, and I’m not afraid to take a bet on someone who doesn’t check every box yet. That’s the heart of development.
To ensure accountability alongside advocacy, I created a model I call CASE:
• Clear: Set expectations early and precisely define what good looks like.
• Assess: Identify skill or will gaps through observation and conversation.
• Support: Offer the resources, mentorship, and encouragement they need.
• Evaluate: Measure impact and recalibrate with transparency and learning.
This model lets me lead with empathy and deliver results. I believe in the mantra: “Don’t mistake kindness for weakness.” Being clear and supportive is the most respectful thing you can do.
Today’s environment requires more than EQ. It demands adaptability (AQ) and cultural intelligence (CQ). Priorities shift. Budgets change. People come from a rich tapestry of backgrounds and communication styles. My adaptability shows up in how I flex my strategy without losing sight of the goal, and my CQ shows up in how I listen deeply, coach inclusively, and make sure every voice is seen and heard.
We also can’t ignore how AI is transforming the way we work and learn. I embrace it as an accelerator, but not as a replacement for human connection. AI helps us personalize learning paths, identify skills gaps faster, and scale coaching moments. But it’s still people at the center. The best tools in the world can’t replicate the power of being seen, heard, and believed in.
At the end of the day, what inspires me most is seeing someone realize they’re more capable than they thought. Coaching is about unlocking possibility. One of my favorite moments was watching a team member I had quietly advocated for behind the scenes step confidently into a stretch role. They had doubted themselves, but I had no doubt. That kind of transformation, that spark, is why I do this work.
Leadership isn’t about being in front. It’s about walking beside, shining a light on others, and helping them see the path ahead often before they even realize it’s there. Advocacy is how I lead, how I coach, and how I help others rise. B2B OMAHA
Diana Tedrow is the director of learning and development for commercial sales at Cox Communications.
I REMIND MYSELF OFTEN: WE’RE ALL HUMAN. WE’RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES. WHAT MATTERS IS HOW WE RECOVER.
—DIANA TEDROW
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
COACHING CORNER
COLUMN: DIANA TEDROW
PHOTO: SARAH LEMKE DESIGN: NICKIE ROBINSON
DIANA TEDROW
BUILDING THE NEXT ERA
THE STATEWIDE IMPACT OF THE TECH NEBRASKA SUMMIT
STORY: BRANDI LONG-FRANK
PHOTO: SARAH LEMKE
DESIGN: NICKIE ROBINSON
ILLUSTRATION: JOEY WINTON
MAIN FEATURE
As Nebraska’s innovation economy continued to expand, a new era for its statewide tech community began under the leadership of Emily Allen, who was named executive director of Tech Nebraska earlier this year.
Allen, a longtime follower of the organization, stepped into the role at a pivotal moment just months ahead of the third annual Tech Nebraska Summit, scheduled for Oct. 30 in Omaha. The summit, which launched in 2023 as a collaboration between the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Tech Nebraska, had quickly become a signature event for the region’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Allen said she was drawn to Tech Nebraska’s mission from the start. “Its comprehensive three-pronged approach convening partners, fostering a diverse workforce, and advocating for pro-growth policies deeply resonated with my career trajectory,” she said.
With previous experience at Honor Technology and Home Instead, Allen said she had witnessed how technology could drive societal change. She saw similar potential for Tech Nebraska to scale its impact.
“The leaders on our executive committee and advisory board are not only wealthy in knowledge and staunch advocates for the organization they’re also very kind people,” she said. “That matters.”
Since stepping into her role, Allen said she had prioritized listening and relationship-building across the state’s diverse tech and tech-adjacent sectors. She launched an internal listening tour and planned to begin a statewide tour to meet external stakeholders in both established and emerging markets. The goal, she said, was to understand what was working and what needed to change.
“I want to build on Tech Nebraska’s strong foundation to significantly scale,” Allen said. “I’ll be working with our board to create a clear and actionable strategic plan that ensures growth while staying true to our mission.”
Founded to accelerate Nebraska’s competitiveness in technology and innovation, Tech Nebraska has grown into a central convener of entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, and business leaders. In addition to hosting events and developing programs for its membership base, the organization played a key role in advocating for technology-forward legislation and statewide investments within the innovation infrastructure.
Under Allen’s leadership, Tech Nebraska planned to become even more proactive in policy and workforce development. One of her top priorities included expanding advocacy efforts to support entrepreneurs and earlystage startups throughout Nebraska, not just in major metros.
“We will champion policies that support scalable innovation and help startups grow their businesses here not feel like they need to leave for opportunities elsewhere,” Allen said.
She also planned to enhance the organization’s role in talent development particularly through partnerships with schools, colleges, and workforce programs to ensure that Nebraska had the skilled workers needed to support its tech growth. “We need to create better pathways into tech careers, especially for underrepresented communities,” she said.
Allen emphasized that inclusive growth wasn’t just a value, but a necessity. “Diversity and accessibility make our ecosystem stronger and more resilient,” she said.
Allen said her early vision for Tech Nebraska focused on expanding innovation, accessibility, and collaboration across industries and regions. While Nebraska had made strides in attracting tech talent and investment, she believed its greatest strength was its spirit of collective problem-solving.
“Innovation won’t be driven just by a few large players,” she said. “It will come from a culture that embraces risk-taking and provides the resources for great ideas to flourish from startups to legacy companies across every sector.”
That meant removing barriers to access and opportunity. “Accessibility is non-negotiable,” Allen said. “Everyone should have a seat at the table and a fair shot at succeeding in the tech sector. That creates a stronger, more creative, and more resilient workforce.”
She also planned to expand the organization’s policy efforts and events calendar. “We’ll be more proactive on policy and advocacy and double down on our events,” she said. “And we’ll amplify the great work happening here both within Tech Nebraska and in partnership with the Nebraska Chamber and our amazing members.”
Now in its third year, the Tech Nebraska Summit has quickly grown into one of the state’s most important convenings of tech professionals, founders, educators, lawmakers, and investors. The 2025 event, set to take place at the Omaha Marriott Downtown in the Capitol District, is expected to draw a record number of attendees from across the state and beyond.
The summit was first launched in 2023 to provide a forum for tech and business leaders to explore critical issues shaping the future of Nebraska’s economy. Co-hosted by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, the event brought together leaders from industry, education, and government to explore shared challenges and opportunities.
Allen said the 2025 summit would continue that tradition. “The Tech Summit is the ultimate expression of Tech Nebraska’s mission: convening, fostering, and advocating,” she said. “It’s when the entire ecosystem comes together under one roof.”
THE TECH SUMMIT IS THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF TECH NEBRASKA’S MISSION: CONVENING, FOSTERING, AND ADVOCATING. -EMILY ALLEN
FROM PAGE 27
She credited the partnership with the Chamber as a key advantage. “It creates connective tissue between the innovation sector and the broader business community,” she said. “It shows that technology and innovation are critical to Nebraska’s economic future.”
The event also served as a platform for critical conversations from AI and analytics to workforce development and public policy and offered unique networking opportunities for stakeholders across industries.
“It’s a chance for the community to celebrate our wins, learn from one another, and set the pace for the coming year,” Allen said.
This year’s summit, according to organizers, was designed to engage the entire tech ecosystem from startup founders and software engineers to students, educators, policymakers, and capital allocators.
“We’re creating an even more dynamic and engaging experience this year, with some cool ‘surprise and delight’ moments throughout the day,” said Brody Deren, chief strategy officer at Trility and a partner in the event’s development. The 2025 summit also aimed to improve statewide representation. “This summit isn’t just for Omaha or Lincoln it’s for every Nebraskan who has a stake in the future of technology and innovation,” Deren said.
Deren said the 2025 event was focused on moving beyond lectures or one-off conversations. “We want to make sure the summit is a space for real collaboration that continues after the event wraps,” he said. That included developing sessions with practical, actionable takeaways and ensuring follow-up opportunities for attendees to stay engaged through yearround programming.
Among the topics expected to take center stage: artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, cybersecurity, ag-tech, health-tech, cloud computing, startup funding, and inclusive tech policy.
Deren said the agenda would reflect both the diversity of the audience and the broad economic impact of innovation in Nebraska.
“We’re bringing in presenters who can go beyond theory and speak to real-world applications in sectors critical to our state’s economy,” he said. “It’s a phenomenal agenda.”
Allen said one of her top priorities was making sure the momentum generated at the summit would translate into tangible outcomes.
“This theme of ‘what comes next’ is something I’ve worked on and wrestled with for years,” she said. “You go to an incredible event, you leave inspired and then the glow wears off.”
WE WILL CHAMPION POLICIES THAT SUPPORT SCALABLE INNOVATION AND HELP STARTUPS GROW THEIR BUSINESSES HERE—NOT FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO LEAVE FOR OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE.
-EMILY ALLEN
To avoid that drop-off, Allen said Tech Nebraska would invest in follow-up programming, including its Tech Talk series, new member-only gatherings, and a slate of 2026 events and advocacy priorities already in development.
“We want this summit to be the starting line for these conversations,” she said. “And we’re building the intentional spaces that allow those relationships and ideas to continue.”
She added that a successful outcome for the summit wouldn’t be measured by registration numbers or post-event surveys alone. “I would measure success by what we were able to ignite and inspire by the new faces we brought into the fold, by the partnerships that were formed, by the policy ideas that were sparked,” Allen said. “The Summit should be the origin story for countless next steps.”
With fresh eyes on the state’s innovation landscape, Allen said Nebraska had an opportunity to position itself as a regional and eventually national leader in tech and innovation.
But that didn’t mean following a Silicon Valley blueprint. “We can distinguish ourselves by leaning into our strengths,” Allen said. “We have a rich history in agriculture, a strong sense of community, and an incredible startup and venture scene.”
Allen emphasized that Nebraska’s advantage would come from creating accessible pathways to tech and innovation across all corners of the state not just in its urban centers.
“By finding unifying themes that resonate across Nebraska and focusing on what makes this state unique, we can build a compelling case for why this is the place to launch or grow a tech or innovation business,” she said.
That philosophy, she noted, would guide Tech Nebraska’s strategy long after the summit. “We’re building something that isn’t just about one event or one city,” Allen said. “It’s about creating lasting infrastructure, culture, and opportunity for the entire state.” B2B OMAHA
Event Details
2025 Tech Nebraska Summit
Date: Oct. 30, 2025
Location: Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District
More Info: technologynebraska.com/event/2025-tech-nebraska-summit
ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEYS
LEGACY IN THE LEDGER
TECH, NIL, AND THE RISE OF NIYOU
STORY: BRANDI LONG-FRANK
PHOTO: SARAH LEMKE
DESIGN: NICKIE ROBINSON
In just eight weeks, Valery Shafack, chief executive officer of NIYOU, and his classmates at Creighton University built a startup during a business accelerator course. From concept to pitch, they aimed to disrupt the name, image, and likeness space with a product that combined personal connection, data-driven strategy, and scalable tech.
“At the time, there were already platforms like OpenDorse that had set the standard for NIL transactions, but we saw a lack of authenticity and genuine relationships in the space,” Shafack said.
NIYOU was built to support the 99% of athletes who didn’t have national deals, but still had influence within their local and regional communities. Rather than focusing solely on exposure, Shafack and his co-founders focused on legacy.
“NIYOU started as a concept grounded in trust, connection, and impact,” he said. “We didn’t want to just facilitate transactions. We wanted to help athletes grow their brand with intention.”
The company’s internal framework, their brand guide, broke an athlete’s public presence into four core pillars: content, connection, curation, and contribution. The guide helped athletes refine their storytelling, social engagement, and community involvement.
“We wanted to take something intangible and make it into something measurable and repeatable,” Shafack said. “Not just for this year, but for life after sports.”
As the idea gained traction, NIYOU’s technical infrastructure evolved. Shafack credited the class’s instructor, Nathan Preheim, for being the catalyst who empowered the students to think like founders from day one. “He pushed us to refine our thinking quickly and move like operators,” he said.
The team developed systems that pulled in athlete content performance data, allowing brands to assess the return on investment for NIL deals. While early-stage NIL activations often focused on likes and reach, NIYOU sought to offer deeper insights.
“We’re working toward advanced metrics that go beyond vanity numbers,” Shafack said. “We want to show a brand how an athlete’s story drives clicks, conversions, or awareness.”
NIYOU uses tools like Google Sheets and Gemini to plan, organize, and track campaigns. Gemini’s AI capabilities also support strategic brainstorming and pitch development.
“I used Gemini to generate pricing models, outline brand copy, and even build out business plans,” Shafack said. “It saved hours and gave us a foundation we could edit collaboratively.”
Real-world testing played a critical role in the company’s development. NIYOU partnered with brands like Invisalign and Dayspring to test influencer campaigns and build athlete case studies. With every campaign, the team tracked performance using Meta Business Suite, Google Analytics, and internal metrics to evaluate success.
“Some of it was qualitative,” Shafack said, “like whether a campaign felt aligned with an athlete’s values. But we also tracked engagement, impressions, and website traffic to get a full picture.”
He emphasized that athletes shouldn’t have to choose between authenticity and analytics. The two can coexist especially when guided by purpose.
“A lot of athletes, especially younger ones, just want to post what feels true to them. Our job is to help them monetize that in a way that makes sense, without diluting their voice,” he said.
The tech wasn’t just for athletes, either. Brand representatives using NIYOU could access dashboards and reports, making it easier to justify NIL spending and plan future campaigns. Shafack said the goal was to eventually integrate with demand-side platforms to help brands automate decisionmaking based on performance.
As NIYOU matured, so did the team. Shafack credited former chief operations officer Kylie Karsky for setting new compliance standards and streamlining NILGO and OpenDorse reporting. He also acknowledged Landen Fogle, a student at the Raikes School at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, for optimizing back-end systems and enhancing operational efficiency.
“Sam Perkinson and Landen have played such pivotal roles. Even as they begin to transition out, their impact is part of the company’s DNA,” Shafack said.
While still in its early stages, NIYOU has plans to grow in the Southern and East Coast markets. For Shafack, the next phase of development includes onboarding new teammates and refining the tech stack to support scale without sacrificing personalization.
“I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but even more excited about where we’re headed,” he said. “Our mission remains the same: elevate athletes, empower brands, and do it all with purpose.”
By integrating artificial intelligence, analytics, and athletefirst values, NIYOU offered a glimpse into the future of NIL a future where relationships are as measurable as they are meaningful. B2B OMAHA
NIYOU STARTED AS A CONCEPT GROUNDED IN TRUST, CONNECTION, AND IMPACT. WE DIDN’T WANT TO JUST FACILITATE TRANSACTIONS. WE WANTED TO HELP ATHLETES GROW THEIR BRAND WITH INTENTION.
-VALERY SHAFACK
HUMAN RESOURCES
COLUMN:
NICOLE MURRY
PHOTOS:
SARAH LEMKE
DESIGN:
NICKIE ROBINSON
NICOLE MURRY
BUILDING YOUR HUMAN FIREWALL
A CULTURE-FIRST APPROACH TO CYBERSECURITY
Your team is your company’s strongest defense against cyber threats. Not your firewalls, not your antivirus software your people. In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity success hinges on creating a workplace culture where everyone feels empowered to be a guardian of your organization’s digital safety.
When Good People Fall for Bad Tricks
It doesn’t take a hacker in a basement to cause a cybersecurity breach. Often, it just takes a convincing email and a good employee trying to do the right thing.
One local company lost $17 million in a single email scam. The attackers didn’t break through sophisticated security systems. Instead, they simply pretended to be the CEO and sent convincing emails to the company’s controller, requesting urgent wire transfers for a “confidential international deal.”
What made it work? The scammers understood human psychology. They flattered the employee, created urgency, and made the request seem like a special assignment. Cybercriminals aren’t just tech experts, they’re master manipulators who understand how we think and feel.
With phishing scams now accounting for 79% of account takeovers, our biggest cybersecurity challenge isn’t technical, it’s human.
Why Everyone Needs to Be Part of the Solution
Building a security-conscious culture isn’t just IT’s job anymore. HR professionals are uniquely positioned to lead this charge because they
understand people, shape workplace behavior, and guide employees through their entire company journey.
Consider new hires, who are especially vulnerable during their first few months. Research shows they’re 44% more likely to click on malicious links, with over 70% falling for phishing attempts in their first 90 days. They’re eager to please, less familiar with company processes, and more likely to comply with requests from senior leadership without question.
This vulnerability highlights why security awareness needs to be woven into the fabric of how we welcome, train, and support our teams.
Creating Psychological Safety Around Security
The most effective security cultures share one crucial element: psychological safety. Employees need to feel comfortable questioning unusual requests, even when they come from executives. This requires intentional effort from leadership.
When managers react poorly to being questioned about suspicious requests, they inadvertently train employees to “comply first, think later,” and that’s exactly the opposite of what we need. Instead, leaders should celebrate employees who speak up about potential threats and create an environment where healthy skepticism is valued over blind obedience.
Practical Steps to Build Your Security Culture
Start with Day One: Make cybersecurity part of your onboarding process. Share relatable examples and clear guidelines that help new team members understand why security matters and how they can contribute from their very first day.
Make Training Feel Human: Move beyond generic presentations to interactive, role-specific training that feels relevant to each employee’s daily work. Use real scenarios and create opportunities for discussion and questions.
IN TODAY’S DIGITAL LANDSCAPE, CYBERSECURITY SUCCESS HINGES ON CREATING A WORKPLACE CULTURE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS EMPOWERED TO BE A GUARDIAN OF YOUR ORGANIZATION’S DIGITAL SAFETY. -NICOLE MURRY
PAGE 33
Celebrate Security Champions: Recognize team members who report suspicious emails or questionable requests. Consider creating a peer-driven program where employees can become security advocates within their departments.
Build Cross-Department Partnerships: Collaborate with leadership to create consistent, easy-to-understand policies. For smaller organizations, foster company-wide conversations to ensure security becomes part of your everyday culture. When everyone speaks the same security language, it becomes easier for employees to make good decisions.
For small businesses without dedicated HR staff, tools like MurryConsult’s “HR in a Box” can help with onboarding infrastructure, policy building, and training, which makes it easier to build security awareness into your people processes from day one. You can also follow me on LinkedIn, where I give tips and tricks on all things HR related.
Resources to Get You Started
Several excellent resources can help guide your journey:
• The Better Business Bureau’s Cybersecurity 5-Step Approach offers practical guidance tailored for smaller organizations.
• The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) provides reporting tools and threat intelligence.
• The National Cyber Security Alliance’s campaigns offer awareness materials for teams at every level.
Your People, Your Greatest Asset
Tools and technologies will always be important, but they’re only as strong as the people using them. When you invest in building a culture where cybersecurity feels like a shared responsibility rather than someone else’s job, you transform your entire organization into a human firewall.
Organizations that foster open dialogue and healthy skepticism where team members feel empowered to ask questions regardless of hierarchy are better positioned to avoid costly mistakes.
By treating cybersecurity as a cultural value that connects to how you hire, train, and lead, you’re not just protecting data; you’re empowering people to be part of something bigger. And in our interconnected world, that collective awareness might just be your most valuable security investment.
Because when it comes to cybersecurity, culture isn’t just part of the solution: It is the solution.
B2B OMAHA
Nicole Murray is a human resources consultant at MurryConsult LLC. For more information, visit murryconsult.com.
2025 Omaha
Macroeconomic Forum
oct. 3 • 8 a.m.-4:50 p.m.
UNO’s College of Business 6708 Pine St.
CFA 2025 Fall Meeting
oct. 5 • 5 p.m. – oct. 7 | 1 p.m.
Omaha Marriott Hotel 222 N. 10th St. —centralfabricators.org
Silicon Prairie Startup Week oct. 6-11
Lincoln and Omaha —siliconprairienews.com
The Power Conference oct. 10
CHI Health Center 455 N. 10th St. —your.omahachamber.org
Nebraska DECA Fall Leadership Conference
oct. 14 • 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Creighton Heider College of Business 602 N. 20th St. —nedeca.org
Coffee and ConnectionsWest Gate Bank
oct. 15 • 7:30-9 a.m. 17617 Manderson St. —business.westochamber.org
Start-up to Success Small Business Conference
oct. 17 | 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
DC Centre Banquet Facility 11830 Stonegate Dr. —nebbiz.org
EVENTS & ENGAGEMENT NETWORKING CALENDAR
Mountain Plains Business Conference oct. 17-18
University of Nebraska Omaha 6001 Dodge St. —openspaces.unk.edu
Tech Nebraska Summit 2025 oct. 30 • 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District 222 N. 10th St. —technologynebraska.com
2025 Safety Conference and Expo Nov. 4-5
Professional Development Training / Safety Conference and Expo 3111 Oak View Drive 12520 Westport Parkway —safenebraska.org
Interface Omaha 2025 Nov. 6
CHI Health Center 455 N. 10th St. —f2fevents.com
Board Mixer: Connecting Young Professionals with NonProfit Boards Nov. 6
Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center 6400 University Drive South —your.omahachamber.org
Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands Nov. 6
La Vista, NE —nonprofitam.org
In the Boardroom: Daniel McCollum, Founder & CEO of Torrent Consulting Nov. 11 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Virtual Event on Zoom —eouseastbridgeevents.com
Speed Networking: Omaha Marriott at Regency Nov. 13 | 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Omaha Marriott Regency 10220 Regency Circle —your.omahachamber.org
Leadership Lab (Foundations) Nov. 13 | 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Midland University 11213 Davenport St. —your.omahachamber.org
MAC Merit Badge College at Camp Cedars Nov. 15
Camp Cedars 2911 County Road 15 —mac-bsa.org
B.A.I.L: Banker Accountant
Insurance Legal Nov. 18 | 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Nebraska Enterprise Fund 2112 N. 30th St.
Outland Trophy Semifinalists Announcement Nov. 19
Legends Patio Grill & Bar 6920 Pacific St. —showofficeonline.com
State Education Conference Nov. 19-21
CHI Center, Downtown Omaha 455 N. 10th St. —ncsa.org
ECS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
A FAMILY-OWNED IT FIRM HELPING BUSINESSES GROW WITHOUT DISRUPTION
For many business leaders, technology feels like a constant uphill battle slow systems, costly downtime, and the looming threat of cyberattacks. At ECS Technology Solutions, headquartered in Olde Towne Elkhorn, Nebraska, the mission is clear: take IT headaches off the table so leaders can focus on running and growing their businesses.
From Community Roots to National Reach
Founded in 2004 by Bryan Thompson as Elkhorn Computer Sales & Service, ECS has grown from a small-town IT shop into a trusted provider for businesses across more than 20 states. Today, under the leadership of Bryan’s son, James Thompson (President), and daughter, Lisa Mahin (Vice President), ECS combines the heart of a familyowned Nebraska company with the reach and expertise of a national IT services firm.
While ECS now serves companies from New Jersey to California, the company’s largest concentration of clients remains in the Omaha metropolitan area proof that its growth has never come at the expense of its local roots.
Innovation, Trust, and Family
At the center of ECS’s success are three core values: Innovation, Trust, and Family.
• Innovation: ECS stays ahead of evolving technology so clients don’t have to. By anticipating change rather than reacting to it, ECS helps businesses remain resilient and competitive.
• Trust: Every relationship is built on transparency and reliability. Clients know they can depend on ECS to deliver consistent, measurable results.
• Family: More than a value, it’s a philosophy. As James explains:
“We don’t see clients as partners we see them as family. Their success is our success, and we invest in their growth like it’s our own.”
This people-first approach has allowed ECS to maintain long-term client relationships while expanding its national footprint.
Technology That Fuels Growth
Unlike many IT firms that focus only on technical fixes, ECS delivers solutions that directly impact business performance and growth:
• Strategic IT Planning: Technology shouldn’t just keep the lights on it should drive growth. ECS helps businesses align IT investments with long-term goals, ensuring every dollar spent on technology supports efficiency, scalability, and profitability.
• IT Operations: Scalable infrastructure management ensures businesses have reliable systems that grow with them whether they’re startups building momentum or established enterprises expanding into new markets.
• Cybersecurity: Protection against ransomware, phishing, and compliance risks. ECS helps businesses reduce disruptions, safeguard sensitive data, and maintain the trust of their clients.
A Personal Touch in a Digital World
Vice President Lisa Mahin says the most rewarding part of her work is seeing clients evolve:
“Watching businesses grow from startups to industry leaders is why we do what we do. We’re not just fixing technology; we’re helping build futures.”
That philosophy is reinforced by ECS’s commitment to community. From supporting local businesses to investing in Omaha’s economic growth, ECS never forgets its Nebraska roots even while serving a nationwide client base.
Looking Ahead
As technology evolves, so does ECS. With a focus on innovation, trust, and family values, the company is positioning itself not just as an IT support provider, but as a long-term ally for business growth.
For companies struggling with IT challenges, the ECS team poses a simple question:
Is your IT holding you back or helping you grow?
LISA MAHIN AND JAMES THOMPSON
KEEPING YOUR MONEY SAFE: COBALT CREDIT UNION’S COMMITMENT TO SECURITY COBALT CREDIT UNION
At Cobalt Credit Union, your financial security is our top priority. In an increasingly digital world, we understand the importance of safeguarding your personal and financial information.
We invest in advanced fraud detection systems that monitor account activity 24/7. If something looks unusual like a charge in another state or a sudden large purchase our team takes immediate action to protect your account.
Our mobile and online banking platforms use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure only you can access your information. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference in preventing unauthorized access.
We also offer card controls through our mobile app, allowing you to freeze or unfreeze your card instantly, set spending limits, and receive transaction alerts in real time.
Beyond technology, we believe education is key. Our team regularly shares tips on how to recognize scams, avoid phishing attempts, and create strong passwords. If you ever have a concern, our staff is here to help.
Your trust means everything to us. That’s why we go above and beyond to protect what matters most your money, your data, and your peace of mind.
COBALT CREDIT UNION
WWW.COBALTCU.COM
402.292.8000
ProsperSpark
OMAHA-BASED DATA & AUTOMATION EXPERTS EMPOWERING BUSINESSES TO DO MORE
ProsperSpark, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Elkhorn, bridges the gap between small to midsized businesses and enterprise-grade analytics and automation. With a growing team of 25 vetted U.S.-based consultants, ProsperSpark has delivered impactful solutions to over 500 clients across sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, nonprofits, education, and regional enterprise.
ProsperSpark helps businesses reclaim time and drive results whether that’s automating spreadsheets in Excel, building Power BI dashboards, streamlining workflows through Airtable, or launching AI-powered insights. Their work is outcome-based: clients see faster decisions, lowered costs, and scalable expertise when they need it. Most ProsperSpark clients begin seeing measurable operational improvements within 30 days of project kickoff accelerating decisionmaking and reducing wasted time.
Backed by BBB accreditation, top Google ratings, full insurance, and strict vetting standards, ProsperSpark combines local presence with national-caliber trust and reliability.
ProsperSpark empowers businesses here to compete smarter, move faster, and grow stronger without the overhead of hiring full-time analytics teams.
ProsperSpark
WWW.PROSPERSPARK.COM
HELLO@PROSPERSPARK.COM
402.303.7052
ROBIN LARSEN
BRANDON ZOBEL
M-SNAPZ
EFFORTLESS EVENTS, LASTING SMILES
I’m a former teacher who transitioned to entrepreneurship, founding M-Snapz to provide seamless, professional photo booth experiences that make Omaha events more engaging and hassle-free. My background in education built strong skills in thorough preparation, clear communication, and creating great memories and lasting impressions abilities I now use to deliver outstanding service for every client. I start by listening to your vision, then use my creativity to customize every detail from themes, backdrops, and branding to bring your event’s goals to life. I provide hands-on involvement from booking to breakdown, ensuring everything runs smoothly with no surprises and customer service that’s easy to work with keeping things efficient and enjoyable.
I’m involved in Omaha’s business community as a West O Chamber member, supporting local efforts like the Omaha Firefighters Gala, Elkhorn Days, girls-in-sports initiatives, and the Junior League’s Savor the Night building partnerships that strengthen our local network.
M-Snapz offers versatile photo booth experiences: booth-only, digital sharing, on-site prints, or a digital-print combo all personally branded for your organization and ready for instant social sharing. I arrive early to set up and align with your team, ensuring user-friendly operations that keep energy high and give every guest personalized attention. The result: Fun, on-brand moments that boost your marketing, enhance attendee experiences, and add real value right here in Omaha.
M-SNAPZ
402-819-8963
MSNAPZPHOTOS@GMAIL.COM
M-SNAPZ.COM
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JACKIE MULDER
TWO BROTHERS CREATIVE
LESS ISN’T LAZY & HUSTLE CULTURE CAN’T MAKE YOU HAPPY
You’d think I would have been on top of the world— hosting a top-rated morning radio show and a number-one television program, and building a business that saw unprecedented growth in its first five years.
But the reality is this: hustle culture broke me.
Hustle culture drove me into the ground. It pushed me to burnout, sent me spiraling back into addiction, and pushed me to the edge of my mental health. It shattered relationships and left me in isolation.
I felt trapped by my own creation.
I share this because it’s likely you’ve felt something similar—70-plus-hour workweeks, energy drinks in place of meals, little sleep, burnout, addiction, or mental health struggles. Seven out of 10 entrepreneurs are experiencing this, so why the f**k are we not talking about it?
It’s time to break the stigma, speak openly, and humanize this issue.
The toll of hustle culture is staggering. 72% of entrepreneurs report mental health issues, compared to just 32% of the general public. Entrepreneurs become addicted to the hustle, the grind, and it destroys us like any other addiction.
The consequences don’t stop there. Entrepreneurs are three times more likely to face substance abuse and addiction than the general population. Relationships also suffer—one in three entrepreneurs gets a divorce. Hustle culture isolates us. It pulls us away from friends, partners, and children until we’re left with nothing. And here’s the cruel irony: after all those sacrifices, the business itself is often still a mess.
If we are broken, our businesses will be broken.
I eventually hit my own breaking point. I did the hardest thing any entrepreneur can do: I asked for help. To my surprise, I received more support than I ever imagined. Stepping back forced me to focus on my health and—for the first time—prioritize myself. And the business? It actually started working better without me! When I wasn’t the bottleneck, systems improved and the company grew stronger.
The fear many of us share is that if we step back, the business will collapse or cash flow will dry up. I thought the only option was either the business dies or I do. I put in more hours and hustle than anyone, but the harder I worked the less happy I was (and the more issues the business faced).
What I’ve learned is that rest, recovery, and balance aren’t weaknesses. They are our greatest strengths when we embrace them. I’m an addict and an entrepreneur, but the truth is, if you’re an entrepreneur, then by definition you are an addict, too, because we place the business above everything else in our lives, including our own health and wellness.
If you feel like you’re failing or falling behind while everyone else looks like they’re cruising without problems, know this: they’re not. We all struggle in ways we don’t show.
Stop trying so hard, take a step back, and watch everything fall into place as it should.
Stop the Hustle Culture grind and answer this question: Are you ready for something different than this?
The secret is out—you can have it, and it’s incredible!
Need some help? Just ask for it: matt@entrepreneuraddict.com
TWO BROTHERS CREATIVE
8790 F ST., SUITE 712 OMAHA, NE 68127 531.232.9811 TWOBROTHERSCREATIVE.COM
MATTHEW TOMPKINS
REDEFINE SPACE Allsteel Beyond Walls
Redefine your office with Beyond Walls by Allsteel. These innovative wall systems offer acoustic privacy, modern design, and adaptability for evolving workplaces. Perfect for creating collaborative or quiet spaces, Beyond Walls combines functionality with sleek, sustainable style. Let All Makes help you build smarter, more flexible environments. VISIT ALLMAKES.COM TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION