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02 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
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B2B Magazine is published four times annually by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: 402-884-2000; fax 402-884-2001. Subscription rates: $12.95 for 4 issues (one year), $19.95 for 8 issues (two years). Multiple subscriptions at different rates are available. No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of B2B Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER
INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS KNOWLEDGE IS MONEY FEATURES
26
LEGISLATING HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS E.D. BELLIS
32
DEPARTMENTS
KABUL COUSINS FIND COMMON GROUND
SUBZI MUNDI GROCERY STORE
34
16 HOW I ROLL
20 ENTREPRENEURS
08 IN THE OFFICE
28 ON THE RISE
24 BUY OMAHA PROFILE
POWERED BY DESIGN: OXIDE DESIGN
12 LEADERS
BOLD AND BONDED: ETHAN AND SUSAN BONDELID
DEMAND IN NEW AGE MARKET
SPECIAL SECTIONS
06 AFTER HOURS
CREATIVES FIND COMMUNITY: CALI COMMONS
INTO THE MYSTIC
BACK TO THE 1980s: AARON GUM'S DELOREAN INNOVATION EVANGELIST: JOCELYN HOUSTON
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FROM THE EDITOR
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT y grandparents owned a small grocery business in central Iowa—Shinn’s By-Lo Foods. The business was started by my greatgrandparents and sold before I was born. What I know of it is stories gleaned from my mother and her sisters—stories of them spending time at my great-grandparents’ home while my grandparents were working, stories of food that came home from the store to be used for dinner because it was time for it to be off the shelves. These stories were often told as the family used plastic coins bearing the company name that were issued as food stamps, left over from the business, as poker chips during games of Michigan rummy. Their entrepreneurship has become central to the American Dream narrative realized by subsequent generations of our family (myself included). Merriam-Webster defines the American Dream as the ideal that every U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Many people consider a part of this dream owning a business.
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The February/March edition of B2B is devoted to those whose entrepreneurial spirit is propelling them forward into their version of the American Dream. I myself smiled when reading about cousins Muhib Hassan and Niamatullah Habibzai, who came to the U.S. in pursuit of the American Dream and have been able to purchase their own grocery store. Omaha boasts several great entrepreneurs in this issue. I hope you enjoy reading about all of them. B2B
Publication: B2B Quarterly Insertion Order #: Insertion Date: Dec/Jan/Feb Color: 4/color Size: L - 5” x 7.458”
Daisy Hutzell-Rodman is the managing editor of B2B, a publication of Omaha Magazine LTD. She can be reached at daisy@omahamagazine.com.
06 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
AFTER HOURS | STORY BY SEAN ROBINSON | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
PROVIDING UNCOMMON CREATIVES A COMMON COMMUNITY CALI COMMONS
Luke Armstrong
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 07
uke Armstrong is in the midst of completing a facelift. Fair warning: he's never worked under the knife, favors knit cardigans to scrubs, and has no expertise in the medical field whatsoever. A botched procedure, this is not. Instead of erasing wrinkles and chiseling cheekbones, Armstrong is restructuring Cali Commons to become the starting point of a local renaissance. In January 2018, the organization's antiquated midtown building ceased being a pseudo-gallery and co-working office, and shifted focus to become a base for artists, makers, and performers looking for a collaborative creation space. Think of it like a club for grownups, only way cooler. "Cali Commons is now a marketplace for people who want to pursue multiple things and test ideas with other talented artists and entrepreneurs," Armstrong says. "It's about growing a common network and helping one another find some fulfillment." The corner of California and 40th streets is not new to Omaha creatives. It's been a home for them since Armstrong and his roommate, Molly Nicklin, bought what was once a grocery store and turned it into a co-working office in 2013. Like any good artist, inspiration struck and it was time to switch up the organization’s business model. This new and improved Cali Commons boasts access to shared spaces for events, cutting-edge technology that includes everything from livestreaming cameras to editing and marketing software, and a staff of agents who will help sell and promote work. Ideally, Armstrong hopes to recruit 40 to 50 members, asking they pay a $90 monthly fee for membership.
To build this network of burgeoning creators, Armstrong started a year ago by recruiting those he has met while operating Cali Commons as a gallery. Next, he and his staff began employing grassroots marketing tactics, passing out literature espousing the benefits of membership. In an effort to contact key demographics, the organization plans to attend networking events to reach more businessminded creatives, such as graphic designers or software developers. Together, the 40 to 50 members will form the Uncommon Core, a group that works together to launch engaging products, services, and experiences while growing their own income. Each member has a reserved spot on a shared gallery wall at Cali Commons, where they can display work, ideas, or innovative merchandise. "My hope is this experiment proves that an engaged group is more valuable than any individual working on their own," Armstrong says. "If it proves successful, maybe this is something that can be replicated elsewhere." Another benefit for members is the interior of the building has been designed to aid in holding myriad events, from skill-development classes and lectures to pop-up art shops. Cali Commons also hosts collaborative and competitive art nights once or twice a month. "Members have access to events, material resources, everything they need to do something new," Armstrong says. "Sometimes people just need permission to explore multiple things, and here, you'll get that." B2B Visit calicommons.com for more information.
"The greatest benefit of being a member is working in a community of like-minded creatives who aren't necessarily in the same field but share an interest in collaborating and assisting with other members' projects," says Christopher Vaughn Couse, local visual artist and member of Cali Commons.
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VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
IN THE OFFICE STORY BY KIM REINER PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
POWERED BY EFFECTIVE DESIGN OXIDE DESIGN CO. “I LOVE THIS OFFICE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ALL FIVE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM THE SPACE TO BUILD THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE THEY WANT TO COME TO WORK EACH DAY.” -DREW DAVIES
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 09
he open office space of Oxide Design Co. has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by creative types: LEGO designs are the first thing you see when you peek inside the design and branding firm’s broad, southfacing windows. Then you notice the knick-knacks, like a curiously large amount of Aquaman memorabilia, a pinball machine, and a phone booth. When Drew Davies started Oxide in 2001, he jokes that he got an office for his one-man business at the request of his wife to move his tchotchkes out of the house. But, Davies had a vision and, motivated by his passion for design, his business grew. The four other creatives Davies employs are also passionate about creating successful design. Developer Wes Piper recently wrote on their blog site, “Successful design must answer this one question: Is it useful?” The office embodies this theory. A couple of walls, the fabric on sofas in the lobby, and their logo include a bright red color; specifically, it’s true red, known as Pantone 032 in the graphic design world. “Red is our corporate color, because it’s bold and passionate and a little bit dangerous,” Davies says. “I think it also speaks to our belief in consistency as much as anything.” That red also appears in nontraditional ways around the office, such as in bathroom towels and planters.
“RED IS OUR CORPORATE COLOR, BECAUSE IT’S BOLD AND PASSIONATE AND A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS. I THINK IT ALSO SPEAKS TO OUR BELIEF IN CONSISTENCY AS MUCH AS ANYTHING.” -DREW DAVIES
Today, the firm consists of Davies, two more designers, a creative coordinator, and a web developer. Each adds to the collection of tchotchkes by personalizing their desks with their own. “I love this office because it allows all five members of the team the space to build the kind of place where they want to come to work each day.” Davies says. This also adds to the whimsical, team-oriented feeling in the office. “From the top to bottom, it’s not a terribly hierarchical place to work,” says Mandy Mowers, creative coordinator. “We’re all one team.” The small team is intentional. Its size allows Davies to remain involved in the design process. CONT. PAGE 10
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VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
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Back, left to right: Wes Piper, Mandy Mowers. Front: Drew Davies
FROM PAGE 9 “All five of us are working on the projects that come in the door,” he says. The workweek at Oxide differs from the typical creative firm, Davies says. Everyone comes in around 8:30 a.m. and leaves around 5:30 p.m., allowing time to do their own thing in the evening. It’s an intentional schedule Davies says helps the creative process.
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Oxide Design has worked with start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, and all sizes in between. Some of Oxide’s projects have included rebranding Metro Transit and Baxter Auto Group, and helping develop the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s national ballot design standards. Oxide has created unique designs for each client.
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The graphic design community has noticed. The firm’s work has been recognized by major design competitions, including The One Show, the CLIO Awards, and Communication Arts Design Annual.
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Jill Wells has worked with Oxide on a number of projects for different nonprofits, most recently for Niobrara Valley Preserve. The writer hired Oxide to design a brochure that she says was invaluable for telling the story of the place. “I have worked with Oxide for about 17 years, first at Nebraska AIDS Project and then The Nature Conservancy. Oxide is an ideal partner,” says Wells. “They listen to what you care about and then create something so beautiful and compelling—it still surprises me every time…Oxide designers care deeply about their community and it shows in their creativity, passion, and professionalism.” B2B Visit oxidedesign.com for more information.
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12 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
LEADERS | STORY BY ERIC STOAKES | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
From left: Baron Von Little Top, Ethan Bondelid, Susan Bondelid, and Luna
Susan Henricks
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 13
BOLD AND BONDED ETHAN AND SUSAN BONDELID CREATE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES “ETHAN HAS BEEN AN ENTREPRENEUR SINCE THE DAY I MET HIM WHEN WE WERE ONLY 20 YEARS OLD. HIS AMBITION AND PROACTIVE NATURE HAVE BEEN INSPIRATIONS FOR ME SINCE DAY ONE.” -SUSAN BONDELID on’t call them a power couple, but Ethan and Susan Bondelid definitely fit the mold. Through their development company, Maven Social, the Bondelids have built an impressive brand by starting up some truly creative businesses that run the gamut from hair salons to speakeasies. Their most recent startup is Monarch Prime & Bar, an upscale restaurant located inside Hotel Deco. “I’ve been opening businesses as long as I can remember,” Ethan says. “I’ve only been in the bar and restaurant business for seven years now.” Despite being a newbie, Ethan and company (along with Susan, he’s had several partners) have made a big noise in Omaha’s fast-moving and thriving hospitality industry. House of Loom was one early success, followed by The Berry & Rye. Maven Social then began the salon Victor Victoria, before opening speak-easy Wicked Rabbit, pizza parlor Via Farina, Laka Lono Rum Club, and now Monarch. “Ethan has been an entrepreneur since the day I met him when we were only 20 years old,” Susan says. “His ambition and proactive nature have been inspirations for me since day one.” A fierce attention to detail has been another key to success. Maven properties are uniquely designed and incredibly decorated down to finest minutiae, such as the rabbit coat hooks at Wicked Rabbit.
“We are about creating unique experiences,” Susan says. “Life is hard. We want places for people to go to take a breather and relax, maybe get inspired, and then take on their next day with new energy.” Vital to creating those experiences is finding the right employees to help pull it off. “I think the No. 1 challenge facing new business today is talent. And taxes,” Susan says. Why is Omaha such a good investment for new business? “For us, Omaha has always been incredibly supportive of people trying to do something, both in the arts and in business,” Ethan says. “Omaha also makes it easier to get started. Resources needed can be more accessible, and the level to entry is lower than in some markets.” It doesn’t hurt, Susan adds, that Omaha’s her hometown. “We love the people and the spirit,” she says. “We’re in the midst of a major growth and it’s super exciting. We’re right at the beginning of our potential, and everyone here has the opportunity to shape the city.” Operating a thriving business and being a couple does have advantages, but it takes commitment. “You have to know when—and always remind each other—to turn it off and switch gears for family time,” Ethan says. The Bondelids have two children, Cai and Ava. “We need to also be conscious of how it can be difficult for other team members to navigate a husband-andwife management.”
Susan says it helps that they share a basic foundation of support. “And we have each other’s backs,” she says. What advice would the Bondelids give to first-time business owners? “It depends on the business type of course, but ultimately it will always come down to the teams you surround yourself with,” Ethan says. Susan urges new business owners to seek out other business owners and ask questions. “There’s a great support network in Omaha to utilize, and we’re all hoping for the best for each other,” she says. “The more unique, successful businesses, the more we look attractive to the nation as a whole and the more we’ll grow. Also, get your important people in place, such as lawyers, accountants, insurance agents. They’ll help your business in more ways than one.” Ethan refuses to pick his favorite startup. “That would be like picking a favorite band,” he says. “They all have their share of victories and heartaches.” “House of Loom is and will always be my favorite,” Susan says. “It was my first business baby and we all poured our hearts into it, from the Victorian furniture to the menu to the unique music/cultural programming. Ethan and I learned the service industry firsthand from paperwork to barbacking to bartending. We learned the difference of using fresh ingredients in cocktails and really strived to make all peoples heard and known. We had an amazing family there. Also, it was a…ton of fun.” B2B Visit mavensocialgroup.com for more information.
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VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
FEATURE | STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS KNOWLEDGE IS MONEY
Luke Towey
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 15
t takes much more than just a good idea to launch a successful new business. From a comprehensive business plan to office space, starting a new business is no easy task. According to the Small Business Administration, only about half of new startups make it to the five-year mark. That in mind, business incubators and accelerators offer supportive methods to help convert ideas into viable businesses, boosting startups with capital, a host of support services, and mentorship in exchange for a stake in the business. Incubators guide a business from its embryonic stages and cultivate early development in exchange for a portion of the business, typically 5 to 10 percent. The time spent in an incubator depends on how long it takes the business to hatch its own workspace, or the amount of time needed to outgrow the current workspace. In many cases, one investor group funds several or all of the businesses in the incubator. Mentorships come from entrepreneurial investors and peers in the co-working space. An accelerator has distinct differences, one being that the time spent in the central workspace is usually 90-120 days. Accelerators help a relatively well-developed business speed its transition through the final stages of planning and into actual operations. The business owner receives less funding, because the support services are meant to improve the owner’s means of raising capital following the startup’s graduation from the program. Mentorships often come from entrepreneurs affiliated with the accelerator. Mark Griffis, founder/president of software development firm Aviture, is also managing partner of The Garage by Aviture, a software startup incubator. He says he sees a real need for accelerators and incubators in the community along with increased awareness of their existence and function. “There are a lot of talented people here in Omaha. But what we found when we opened the doors to The Garage a couple of years ago, we had 200 people pitching to us and out of that there were probably only three who were really actually ready to receive funding and go to the next level,” Griffis says. “There’s just a lot of education that needs to happen.” Before attempting to apply to an incubator, a startup should have a solid, marketable idea, and often, a solid business plan. The company needs to be able to show potential investors there is something to
build on. They must commit to the incubator’s regulations, which often include training sessions and other time-consuming activities. Griffis emphasizes that while funding is certainly important, the sharing of expertise can save budding entrepreneurs from harsh trial-and-error lessons and is a crucial factor in helping them succeed. “One of the key differentiators [for The Garage] is how we’ve integrated it with Aviture. In our environment we have such a diverse group of [technology-minded] individuals who can add experience to what these startups are doing. So people who are working…on the Aviture side can help can collaborate with startup guys who are trying to find their way out of the woods,” he says. “It’s not the traditional incubator with a bunch of startups cross-pollinating or creating coalitions.” Luke Towey is director of finance for Prairie Ventures, a private investment fund and cooperative of entrepreneurs and investors that, at one time, also operated a business incubator. He says that not every applicant will be accepted into an incubator or accelerator, but the business can still be successful. “It’s not that it isn’t a good idea or that it’s not something the entrepreneur could be successful with, it’s just that they might be better off getting an SBA loan, or grant money, and doing it on their own,” Towey says. Not all incubators and accelerators are commercial ventures. Steve Bors, director of the Entrepreneurship Center at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, says the college was one of the first in the state to offer a business incubator on campus more than a decade ago. “We’re here to serve southeast Nebraska. That’s our mission, and this is certainly filling a need in southeast Nebraska,” he says. “Here at the Center we will help anybody who’s interested in starting a business. They do not have to be a student. If we can’t help them, we will refer them to some other entity or other service provider who can. Our coaching services are free and then of course we have our incubator on site, which we call our Focus Suites. We have 20 offices that we make available to people starting businesses or who are early in the process.” Dale Eesley, director of the University of NebraskaOmaha’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Franchising, says educational institution-based incubators “generally don’t take any equity.”
“WE THINK ALL NEW BUSINESSES ARE VALUABLE. THEY’RE CREATING NEW JOBS WHERE THEY DIDN’T EXIST BEFORE." -STEVE BORS An entrepreneur who wants to work with a collegebased incubator should expect to rent a workspace. While corporate incubators normally require regular meetings with coaches, entrepreneurs at college incubators seek out faculty as a resource for information and coaching. “The educational institutions oftentimes aren’t set up to easily accommodate the business needs of students. It’s a nice compromise to have an offsite or a nonprofit for venture outside of the university school system. It simplifies intellectual property issues and also it gives students the contacts they need that are outside, like suppliers, customers, and investors,” Eesley says. “I hope that UNO will have [an incubator] in the near future. I’m optimistic that we’ll have space on campus in the next three years.” Bors says that while many commercial incubators and accelerators are associated with the tech industry, his on-campus incubator fosters businesses in many sectors. “We think all new businesses are valuable. They’re creating new jobs where they didn’t exist before,” he says. “I’m very proud about how diverse our program is...we have senior citizens, I think over half our businesses are female-owned, we have different ethnic groups, and different religions, etc....There is a lot of collaboration and a lot of leads shared back and forth.” Whether commercial or campus-based, incubators and accelerators exist to help businesses succeed, which creates jobs and stimulates the local economy. B2B Visit garagebyaviture.com, prairieventures.net, southeast. edu/entrepreneurship, and unomaha.edu/collegeof-business-administration/center-for-innovationentrepreneurship-franchising for more information about the organizations mentioned in this article.
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VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
HOW I ROLL | STORY BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
BACK TO THE 1980s AARON GUM'S DELOREAN
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 17
aron Gum can tell you several movies he loves, but ask about the one—the film that he most associates with his childhood—and his eyes sparkle. The clock tower… the electricity…the burn marks from the tires of Doc Brown’s DeLorean as it travels Back to the Future. “Nothing really sums up a decade, as far as pop culture goes, as much as a DeLorean,” says the freelance producer of commercials, music videos, and other media around Omaha. As a kid growing up in the 1980s, Gum always wanted a DeLorean, but he never expected to fulfill the dream. The DeLorean DMC-12—the only car ever produced by the DeLorean Motor Co.—had a limited production period between 1981 and 1983. Around 10,000 vehicles were made, and less than 7,000 are still in existence. While perusing social media in April, a photo of the vehicle on a flatbed in a Facebook post by a friend of a friend changed his mind. The car was headed for Woodhouse Auto, which had taken it on trade for an Alpha Romeo. Gum, also the synthesist for the local new-wave synth duo Glow in the Dark, originally wanted to borrow the vehicle for a photo shoot. As soon as he saw the DeLorean on social media, he called the marketing director at Woodhouse Auto Group, with whom he worked on commercials, and asked about it. The vehicle, at that time, was not running and he was not able to use the car. Two months later, Gum visited Woodhouse to shoot commercials and asked about the vehicle. Yes, it was still there, and yes, it was now running. Gum bought the vehicle for around $30,000. It was a whim for the normally frugal Gum, whose high-ticket purchases tend to be more career-focused, such as film cameras or synthesizer equipment. CONT. PAGE 18
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VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
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FROM PAGE 17 The vehicle has become his promo car for the band, taking him to gigs around the city. Gum goes overboard in his devotion to hobbies, and he soon began making the futuristic-looking car even more 1980s in style. The fuse was out on the lights, so he replaced the lighting with LEDs. He acquired such movie props as a flux capacitor, hoverboard, a Mr. Fusion home energy reactor, Marty McFly jacket, and a 1/6 scale DeLorean time machine.
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Gum isn’t a “car guy,” but the car—and what it symbolizes—has captured his heart. In July his friend Scott called and told him to get down to Quaker Steak & Lube in Council Bluffs. A second DeLorean, one Gum knew nothing about, was participating at the Wheels of Courage auto show taking place at the restaurant’s lot. Gum quickly drove over to check out his vehicle’s twin, parking outside the show’s perimeter near the other DeLorean. “It was kind of crazy,” Gum says. “I had no idea there was another one in the area, but there it was, right over in Council Bluffs.” Gum’s is a 1981, the other was a 1983, so the two men compared parts. The 1983 was more authentic to the one in the movie, having no aesthetic grooves or fuel door stamped into the hood. But the thing about owning a DeLorean that makes Gum smile most is his encounters with movie fans. “This kid came up wanting to sit in it,” Gum says. “Afterwards his father said, ‘you made his day,’ and I thought that was pretty cool.”
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They are fellow movie buffs, fellow obsessors over Marty McFly and his travels back to see his parents as teenagers. The affable Gum doesn’t mind (although it would be nice if people asked before plopping themselves down). The DeLorean appeared as a featured vehicle in January’s Midlands International Auto Show alongside brand-new, high-end vehicles such as Corvettes and Lamborghinis. It was another chance for local fans of Back to the Future to interact with, and dream about owning, the iconic vehicle. As for Gum’s DeLorean, it is a frequent prop in Glow in the Dark's photo shoots and was used onstage at an August concert at OutrSpaces. Gum jokingly asked about bringing the car onstage and— to his surprise—was told, “You know, if you drive it around the back, you can probably get it in the door.” He did, and the car was positioned between Gum and bandmate Lawrence Deal during the concert.
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Since then, he hasn’t worked on making the car more movie-authentic because he’s been working on restoring another piece of movie-themed nostalgia, a Back to the Future pinball machine that was manufactured for only four months in the summer of 1990.
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“You know,” he says, “you see a classic Lambo or something, it’s really cool, but you don’t just go sit down in it. People do that all the time with this car. They sit down and then go, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I should have asked. But I was so excited to see it!’ ”
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“How many people get to have a pinball machine with their car in it?” Gum says. B2B Visit @glowglowdarkdark on Facebook for more information about the band, including images of the DeLorean.
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20 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
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DO SPACE
STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER, KARA SCHWEISS, AND CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN, JEREMY ALLEN WIECZOREK, AND CONTRIBUTED
ENTREPRENEURS DREAMING UP BUSINESS hey dream about money, about independence, about creativity. They adapt, persist, and work while their peers sleep. Entrepreneurs start with a dream, and work their way into a business. They contribute to the economy in large ways—nonemployer businesses, or those that are run only by one person, contribute $950 billion to the national economy annually. Here in Omaha, we have always celebrated the local companies that do well nationally, such as Berkshire Hathaway and Mutual of Omaha, but in this section, we also want to celebrate the small businesses of the city—the ones run by the dreamers, the adapters, the persisters. These next few pages highlight some businesses that have cropped up in the past few years and are still going strong. B2B
Located in the heart of Omaha at 72nd and Dodge streets, Do Space is the first technology library in the United States. Since opening in 2015, this one-of-a-kind space brings technology access and learning to all by offering free access to computers, advanced software, 3-D printers, and other cutting-edge technology. Do Space offers over 50 free technology learning programs each month, for individuals of every age, at any level of tech expertise. At Do Space, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and startup founders can get the tools they need to move their businesses forward. Do Space membership is free and provides access to over 200 types of software, including advanced design software and prototyping tools in the 3-D lab. This year, Do Space debuts a new service—the Professional Membership—to better serve the Omaha business community. Professional Members enjoy benefits above and beyond basic Do Space membership, including priority access to booking conference and board rooms, along with recognition on Do Space's website. To learn more please visit dospace.org/ professional-membership. 7205 DODGE ST. OMAHA, NE 68114 402.819.4022 DOSPACE.ORG
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ALLURE HEALTH & MED SPA HILARY MUHLE LEANNE BATA Allure Health & Med Spa owners Hilary Muhle and Leanne Bata will say that aging is inevitable. But they also say that through holistic health care, women of any age, and in any stage of life, can be happy and healthy. “We are a locally owned clinic and med spa that provides an individualized, holistic approach to health. Our bioidentical hormone replacement therapy fulfills the need for proven, safe, effective management for an area of health care— perimenopause and menopause—that continues to be taboo even in the progressive society we’re living in,” Muhle says. “And even beyond those labels, as hormone decline can start very early in life, as early as our 20s and 30s.” Allure, which also offers a variety of medical aesthetic treatments, laser treatments and even semi-permanent makeup services, was voted Best Female Hormone Replacement and Med Spa in 2018s Best of Omaha. The accomplishment is especially impressive considering that Muhle and Bata have been in business a little over a year.
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“My purpose is to serve others. I genuinely care about doing anything I can to help others and I believe our patients know that,” Bata says. “I want Allure to be known for the honest, responsible practice of holistic medicine, and for advocacy of health at the highest standard regardless of what is conventional or mainstream,” Muhle says. Bata and Muhle are experienced practitioners who originally met as co-workers. Muhle’s background includes a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center along with bachelor’s degrees in nursing and psychology. She’s also a nationally board certified women’s health nurse practitioner, an advanced practice registered nurse, and is working towards a fellowship in holistic endocrinology and hormone management. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Bata began her career in medicine at a renowned hormone replacement clinic, where she rose through the ranks before returning to school to earn a master’s degree in health care administration. The women’s personal philosophies are reflected in Allure’s guiding values of compassion, excellence, and integrity. Bata and Muhle say treating patients and staff with empathy, kindness, and sincerity
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creates an environment in which they feel “safe, comfortable, and well cared-for.” “We are so proud to be ‘mom bosses.’” Muhle says. “We cultivated an idea that was fed by motivation to do more and be the best. We’re admittedly strong-willed, but we’re also fiercely passionate about what we do and what Allure means to us, our families, and our patients. We’re growing our families while we grow our business and some may say that pressure to succeed is a motivator, but in our minds, it has never been ‘if,’ but ‘when.’” “At the end of the day, I want to be known for my desire to make those around me better,” Bata says. “That means holding myself to a higher standard and striving to make myself better: A better wife, mother, friend, business partner, owner, and manager.” “I want to be known for my integrity as a Christian businesswoman, practitioner, wife, mother, and friend,” Muhle says. 13939 GOLD CIRCLE, SUITE 100 OMAHA, NE 68144 402.881.3638 ALLUREHEALTHMED.COM
22 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
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No More Empty Pots
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T he local food scene is exploding, giving aspiring food entrepreneurs motivation to start or grow their businesses. No More Empty Pots offers an environment for food entrepreneurs to learn and thrive. Each year, NMEP, in partnership with Wells Fargo, hosts an Entrepreneurship Invitational where food entrepreneurs compete to earn seed money for their business. Before, during, and after products go to market, NMEP food entrepreneurs are provided market opportunities, resources, and technical assistance for continuous improvement from their team of culinary experts and entrepreneurship management. Any local food entrepreneur looking to grow their business can take advantage of NMEP’s commercial kitchens at the Collaborative Community Centered Food Hub. The SharedUse Kitchen and Production & Training Kitchen are both available to rent by the hour for prep, production, and storage.
“‘I—got—sober’ are the three most powerful and meaningful words for anyone who’s been through this,” says Leo Allison, himself six years recovered. So, he bypassed euphemisms when naming I Got Sober, the outpatient recovery center he opened early last year.
8511 N. 30TH ST. OMAHA, NE 68112 402.502.1642 NMEPOMAHA.ORG
The program includes detox assistance, the BioCorRx® implant which addresses both desire to use and the associated “high,” counseling, sobriety coaching, and peer support. “No other program out there really treats the entire nature of addiction in this way,” Allison says. “It greatly reduces the variables for relapse, especially in the first six months or so.” But program participants still drive successful recovery, he explains. “The pellet is a highly effective tool,” he says. “But recovery is completely dependent on hard work in the program itself.” 4905 DODGE ST. OMAHA, NE 68132 402.552.8890 IGOTSOBER.COM
MONTAGE BUILDERS LLC HOLLY HUNT, BRIAN WEHRS, KIRK HANSON, AND DARREN HICKS For the past several years, Holly Hunt and Brian Wehrs have worked for Kirk Hanson and Darren Hicks at ACCESS Commercial, LLC, successfully completing more than 250 construction management projects. The team was a winning combination, which is why they started thinking about opening their own general contracting business together. In 2015, the four combined their extensive knowledge and formed Montage Builders LLC, a full-service, commercial general contractor headquartered in Omaha and focused on tenant finishes, office build-ups, and restaurants. “We want people to know that we are different,” says Holly Hunt, co-owner and construction manager. “We bring a different perspective because we come from a construction management background, so we are able to provide our clients with an enhanced general contracting service.” Hunt also says Montage Builders LLC is quickly becoming well-known throughout the Omaha area for their “white glove service” and exceptional, open communication. The first two years in business have been notable, according to Hunt. “The first year was a learning curve, but in the past year we’ve really taken off and we’re starting to grow.” Growth has meant expansion for Montage Builders LLC as they expand their client roster to include areas outside of Omaha, including Kansas City and Des Moines. The future is bright for this general contractor. “2018 is going to be a great year,” says Hunt, predicting larger projects and ground-up developments for Montage Builders LLC. While the company may be fairly new, the combined years of experience from the four owners along with a relentless attitude poises Montage Builders LLC for success. 1303 S. 72ND ST., SUITE 209 OMAHA, NE 68124 402.502.1983 MONTAGEBUILDS.COM
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24 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
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SIMPLIFIED ACCOUNTING FIRM, LLC
BARBARA BRADY Many small business owners avoid their accounting until tax time or it is overwhelming. I believe if small business owners create good accounting systems and understand their numbers, they can make better business decisions. I strive to be the accounting strategic partner to help them—someone in their corner—year around. I have over 25 years of accounting experience, including working as a controller and accounting department manager, and I am a licensed CPA. I have rolled up my sleeves and worked through a mass of information to help businesses get their books current. I have also looked at big pictures and helped create strategic plans. I often saw the struggles that small businesses faced with accounting, and created Simplified Accounting Firm to help make accounting simpler for small businesses. I specialize in New Business Accounting Setup, including coming on-site to help businesses purchase and install accounting software, helping customize plans to keep accounting records up-to-date and running efficiently, reviewing financials, and developing budgets, forecasts, and strategic plans.
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ccounting is my dream. When I talk with small business owners, our conversations often start with them saying “I hate accounting—I don’t have enough time for it—I am so behind.” As they stress their frustrations with accounting, they sometimes include that they don’t like accountants and are concerned about accountants judging them. They don't need to worry with my company. Accounting is what I do. I don’t believe in talking down to people, and I am here to help. My role is to help small businesses understand their accounting numbers and decrease stress. I work with them to make accounting simpler and less painful.
Sometimes what businesses need is what I call “emergency accounting” services. This helps businesses recover and work towards simplified accounting. I help businesses bring their books current when they don’t have time to input hundreds of items spanning months/years. Working with day to day numbers is probably not most business owners' dream—but it is my dream. Simplified Accounting Firm’s motto is: “It’s your business, we just make it simpler.” Let me help you realize your dream by fulfilling mine. B2B SIMPLIFIED ACCOUNTING FIRM, LLC 402.882.1062 SIMPLIFIEDACCOUNTINGFIRM.COM BARB@SIMPLIFIEDACCOUNTINGFIRM.COM
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 25
SALES INSIDER BY KARL SCHAPHORST
THE BEST SALES CALL EVER regularly get feedback from clients about sales calls. Recently a client came to me and said, “I had the best sales call ever!” What she told me warmed my heart because the call was almost effortless, the signed agreement was in her hands in record time, and the customer stayed in her selling system from beginning to end.
so soon. Smiling from ear to ear she tells him, “Got it!” No pressure, no sweating, no haggling over price, no need to close the prospect—this is what the best sales call ever looks like. Here are some key techniques my client had learned, and then used in this call:
1. Before the presentation started,
The sales process for this particular opportunity dragged out longer than my client wanted. Finally, the presentation was scheduled with the decision maker, (if it’s with anybody else, you are wasting time), and as she headed to the appointment, she said to herself, “I really don’t care if I get this business or not.” This mindset allowed her to relax and be objective when the presentation began. She began the meeting by setting the expectation: She was going to review the proposal, which would sell for the expected amount, and, if the prospect liked it, he would sign it and implementation would begin. There was clarity of purpose which came off as professionalism to the prospect, and, of course, the prospect agreed to the contract and the presentation began.
she thought to herself, “So what if I don’t get this business. I have a meat-lover’s pizza in the trunk,” which means she behaved as if she is financially independent. This mindset eliminates pressure and frees up the salesperson to ask tough questions and take risks.
There were about a half-dozen items to present on the proposal. My client started with the first item and presented how this item addressed the need of the prospect. It went well. She went to the next item and presented how this item addressed the need of the prospect. At that point, the prospect said, “Stop! I’ll take it!” He immediately signed his name to the proposal. My client’s one-hour presentation was over in 10 minutes. She planned on “closing” the prospect, but he simply bought it. When she returned to her office, even her coworker was surprised to see her
4. My client shut her mouth when
2. She had a deep understanding of her client’s problems and budget, which she reviewed prior to presenting the proposal to make sure there were no roadblocks on the way to the order. 3. She got a commitment to purchase before presenting her intellectual property. The proposal had to be met with 100 percent satisfaction from the prospect, but if it did, he would buy. the prospect said, “I’ll take it!” She let him sign the proposal and then thanked him for the business and left. Sales should always be fun regardless if you win or lose. Yes, this is easier said than done. Follow the aforementioned system to start having the best sales calls ever. B2B
BRAND BRIEF BY JASON FOX
INVEST IN YOURSELF here is nothing easy about running a business. But if keeping going is akin to spinning grandma’s good china while juggling flaming knives as you tame a coterie of ill-tempered badgers with little more than a spork—while blindfolded—actually starting the business is doubly so. Ask me how I know, assuming I can manage to get the badgers tranquilized and carted back to Wisconsin. One of the most difficult things about starting a business is acquiring money. And, if you’re thinking of striking out on your own after 15 years as a roofer, you’re probably not going to find an angel investor at the Colab Construction Incubator who wants to float you a year or two’s operating costs and a pallet of roofing nails. So, maybe you get a loan. Maybe your friends and family invest. Maybe you scrape along project-by-project trying to make the cash flow actually live up to its name. Regardless, you don’t have a fistful of dollars to drop on anything inessential. Which is why you absolutely must lessen your kung-fu grip and drop some bread on your brand. Notice that I said “brand” and not “marketing.” While I do think you should start making a habit of spending actual money on marketing as soon as possible, I believe in putting first things first. And your brand is first. Because you shouldn’t market what you don’t yet have figured out. Chances are, you didn’t set aside much (any?) startup money for brand development beyond promising your cousin with the mad Creative Suite skills a case of microbrew for doing your logo. I understand the desire/ necessity to be as frugal as possible. But while it is technically possible
Karl Schaphorst is a 27-year veteran of sales
Jason Fox is a freelance creative director and writer.
who now specializes in training other sales
He can be found at jasonfox.net and adsavior.com.
professionals. He is the president of Sandler Training.
to fix your brand later, it’s neither strategically nor financially sound to go that route. So, here are the things you should consider paying money for from professionals who know what they’re doing: Business name, brand platform, logo, color palette/ design standards, tone-of-voice, and doughnuts. Even if you think you have a good name for your company, at least consult someone with no emotional attachment to it or an in-law relationship to you. If you don’t know what a brand platform is, that’s all the more reason to have one—it will keep you focused on doing the right things while targeting the right people. The logo, standards, and toneof-voice are the embodiment of your brand in the marketplace—it’s easier to stand out when these are done well. The doughnuts speak for themselves. Combined, these elements give you a foundation for your business that should last for years. And it is even possible to find really great people and agencies who can do them at a cost that won’t cause heart palpitations. Also, even though you can list these things as expenses on your tax return, it is best to consider them investments. Because that’s what they are. And you’ll never have to pay capital gains tax on the brand equity you start building today. B2B
26 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
FEATURE | STORY BY KATHERINE HARTNER | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
LEGISLATING HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES E.D. BELLIS “HEALTH CARE REFORM WAS JUST STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE, AND SEAN PLAYED A LEAD ROLE ON A COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDED SOME OF THE MEDICAL CENTER’S BRIGHTEST MINDS…THE COMMITTEE SERVED AS A RESOURCE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE TO HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH HEALTH CARE REFORM,” -TOM O’CONNOR
Sean McGuire
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 27
ealth care consultant Sean McGuire has a background in political science. “My first job out of college was working in Washington, D.C., which is what I always wanted to do,” McGuire says. The Iowa native worked on the staff of the Senate Committee on Finance, headed by Chuck Grassley, from 2005-2008. This committee oversees legislation around health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid. McGuire continued to educate himself about health care legislation, even after coming back to Omaha. When McGuire read the Affordable Care Act (known as Obamacare), he realized that the gray areas and sweeping size of the ACA would cause confusion. “I recognized that this law is probably one of the biggest pieces of legislation that has ever been passed in our lifetime,” McGuire says. McGuire then worked as the UNMC health policy adviser. A large part of this job was to inform the organization on the impact of the Affordable Care Act on the university, its hospital, and the local community. The job also included organizing quarterly briefings for local media. “Health care reform was just starting to take shape, and Sean played a lead role on a committee that included some of the Medical Center’s brightest minds…The committee served as a resource for the entire state to help people better understand what was happening with health care reform,” says Tom O’Connor, senior associate public relations director for the UNMC.
McGuire understood that the ACA would have the most impact on doctors, small hospitals, and small businesses.
In 2015, they began working throughout Des Moines, and in 2016 they started working with the Quad Cities and Ohio.
“They are there to provide a service—they’re not there to figure out government regulations and compliance.” McGuire says. “Those [people] are really who we enjoy working with the most.”
In summer 2017, E.D. Bellis branched out to Presque Isle, Maine. It’s an area that has a shortage of health care expertise. Five or six hospitals cover a portion of the state the size of Connecticut.
To offer solutions for health care for those small businesses, McGuire founded E.D. Bellis in 2011.
McGuire liked the fact that they were innovative, exemplified by their participation in the pioneer Accountable Care Organization demonstration. ACOs were eligible for higher reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare if they met all the required standards of providing higher quality care and keeping their population healthy. While 32 health care systems were selected to take part, only a third of them made money.
E.D. Bellis is named for McGuire’s great-greatgreat-grandfather, who came to Omaha in 1870. Bellis was recommended by a talent agent in New York to be the first organist for Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church and would be described as the “finest organ player west of the Missouri” in his obituary. “He was a very influential person in the Omaha community that brought music and culture to a city that really needed it,” McGuire says. “I felt that he was the perfect face for what we’re trying to build…we’re trying to bring something new, which is information and understanding to people that need it, just as he brought culture and music to a rough pioneer town.” In 2013, E.D. Bellis began an agency and broker partnership program with the insurance company Guardian. In that capacity, ED Bellis lends their health care law and compliance expertise to customers of Guardian as a complimentary service. “They’re unique to the marketplace,” says Doug Gillespie, group sales consultant at Guardian.
“HE WAS A VERY INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN THE OMAHA COMMUNITY THAT BROUGHT MUSIC AND CULTURE TO A CITY THAT REALLY NEEDED IT,” MCGUIRE SAYS. “I FELT THAT HE WAS THE PERFECT FACE FOR WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO BUILD…WE’RE TRYING TO BRING SOMETHING NEW, WHICH IS INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING TO PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, JUST AS HE BROUGHT CULTURE AND MUSIC TO A ROUGH PIONEER TOWN.”
E.D. Bellis plans to complement their existing programs and capitalize on new opportunities as the laws change. “What I believe we are onto is a national concept that could be replicated all across the country,” McGuire says. “If it does, it’s going to prove our concept and we’ll open up in other parts of the country as well.” McGuire anticipates that Omaha will remain the headquarters for E.D. Bellis, partially because Omaha and Des Moines are insurance and health care-heavy. “Almost every large building all over the Midwest is some sort of insurance,” McGuire says. Yet, many are still in the dark about health care. E.D. Bellis is there to help. “The Affordable Care Act has caused a lot of problems for a lot of people, but it’s done good things too,” McGuire says. “I didn’t do this to make a buck. I did this to fill a need.” B2B Visit edbellisinc.com for more information.
28 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
ON THE RISE | STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
AN EVANGELIST FOR INNOVATION JOCELYN HOUSTON
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 29
Flat Roof Specialists New • Repairs • Reroof • Skylights 31 Years of Quality, Integrity and Service
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s vice president of marketing and communications for YMCA of Greater Omaha, Jocelyn Houston’s days never look alike. “No day is ever the same for me, and I like that,” she says. “Plus I love that it’s all for a good cause.” Originally from Crawford “on the other side of Nebraka,” she attended the University of NebraskaLincoln to study journalism. Houston came to Omaha less than five years ago to work in client relations at Universal Information Services. Universal’s vice president, Todd Murphy, says Jocelyn brought energy to the techforward company. “Attitude is everything, and she exhibited a professional, warm personality in the office, which I think helps to raise the attitudes of everyone around them,” Murphy says. “She was a good evangelist in helping raise awareness of our culture of innovation.” Jocelyn likes Omaha for a variety of reasons. “It’s a great place to raise a family and still get that ‘big city’ feel,” she says. She and her husband, Josh, particularly enjoy visiting the farmers market at Aksarben and eating at au courant restaurants. “There’s always new things happening in Omaha.” That love of the town is one of the reasons she is a good fit for the YMCA. She’s also an avid volunteer for the YMCA and has made a name for herself within the local media community as a member of the Marketing and Membership Committee of the Omaha Press Club. “I use the advice I get from other Press Club members daily,” says Houston. Following one year on that committee, the members now also look to her for advice—she was voted to their board of directors in mid-January. CONT. PAGE 30
Visit us online Ciaccioroofing.com or call 402.293.8707 for a FREE estimate! 4420 Izard St • Omaha, NE
30 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
Mary wears her passion on her sleeve … make that her arm.
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
“ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING, AND SHE EXHIBITED A PROFESSIONAL, WARM PERSONALITY IN THE OFFICE, WHICH I THINK HELPS TO RAISE THE ATTITUDES OF EVERYONE AROUND THEM,” MURPHY SAYS. “SHE WAS A GOOD EVANGELIST IN HELPING RAISE AWARENESS OF OUR CULTURE OF INNOVATION.” FROM PAGE 29 Marketing and Membership Committee chair and board secretary Bridget (Weide) Brooks says that Houston is “...a great gal. What I like about her most is her interesting ideas. Her perspective is unique and very actionable.” Brooks adds that sometimes Houston simply asks a question during meetings that gets everyone thinking and looking at things differently. That may be because Houston is always open to new experiences. “I met my husband on a blind date!” she says, laughing. She also urges professionals to not be too hard on themselves. “We have to stop doing that,” she says. Her years of success so far have taught her valuable lessons that she’s happy to share with other professional up-and-comers. “Success is hard work and it takes sacrifices. It can be discouraging trying to get a professional career off the ground. You have to create your own ‘having it all’ and decide what that means for you. Take advantage of opportunities and don’t be afraid to stumble into success.” She looks forward to watching her two young children grow up and where life takes her. “I love the industry I work in,” she says. She’s a professional living in a city she loves, working in a career she loves—and that is certainly an excellent example of success at any age.
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OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM
FEBRUARY
CORPORATE PSYCHOLOGY BY LAUREN WEIVODA
FOUR STEPS TO STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR STARTUPS ne of the keys to starting a new business successfully is having a strategic plan in place. This helps companies determine their direction, plan for the future, identify opportunities, and anticipate issues. It also helps companies keep up with changing client needs and market trends, stay ahead of the competition, unite employees around a shared vision, and ultimately make better business decisions. Although a strategic plan is critical for business success, it can be difficult for new owners to know where to start. Start with your vision. What do you want your company to be like three to five years from now? Be specific. What will you have achieved? What will your competitive advantage be? What will your culture be? How will people work together? How will your company treat customers? How will people communicate with one another? What markets will you have tapped into? How will people make decisions? What new services will you offer? How will people demonstrate accountability? What will your reputation be? How will other organizations and the surrounding community view your company? Identify the roadblocks. They could be policies, procedures, attitudes, etc. Sometimes they are obvious, sometimes less so. Consider what issues exist for your new company. Limited startup capital? Hiring warm bodies instead of true talent? Unfocused marketing strategy? Outdated technology platforms? Inconsistent pricing model? Squirrel syndrome? Figure out what could get in the way of achieving your vision and write it down. Identify your strategies. What actions will you take to destroy your roadblocks and achieve your vision? These strategies may be projects, initiatives, events, etc. For example,
what will you do to overcome an unfocused marketing strategy and achieve brand recognition? Establish partnerships with recognized brands? Identify competitive differentiators? Generate strategies for each of your roadblocks and be as specific as possible. Nail down the specifics of implementation. What strategies will you focus on in your first year? What specific, measurable, actionoriented, realistic, time-bound steps need to be taken? Who will do what and when? Divide your first year into quarters, and drill into the specifics of what will take place in each quarter to keep your plan moving forward. As you look at your overall plan, consider whether the timing seems feasible and whether anyone has too much on his or her plate. Prioritize and rearrange as necessary. Next, decide how you will hold yourself and others accountable to the plan. Schedule regular follow-up meetings, and review and revise your plan each year. Startups face many risks, but some of them can be avoided through proper strategic planning. Regularly review and revise your plan to keep up with a fast-paced, everchanging world. B2B
Lauren Weivoda, M.A., is a human capital strategist at Solve Consulting LLC.
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MARCH | 31
OFFICE FURNITURE BY DOUG SCHURING
DESIGN STARTERS FOR NEW BUSINESSES ompanies today actively incorporate some of the following trends into their workplace design. Any number of them will help develop a positive work environment that can be promoted to attract and retain workers needed to grow business. Discussion among experts from various furniture and accessory manufacturers, design firms, and other industry professionals have predicted the most useful trends coming in 2018.
Bring the Outside In Reclaimed wood panel inspirations, exposed concrete flooring, and natural flora patterns in fabrics and artwork are all becoming more prominent, along with plant life itself in the form of living walls. Also, many of today’s pieces are bringing home into the office. It’s the natural, cozy feeling many finishes and details have that continue to make this trend popular.
Disappearing Wires Anything having a cord, combined with numerous personal items, make open-plan work areas appear unprofessional. Even conference tables can look messy if wiring is not managed properly. Manufacturers offer solutions under, around, and in tables to create a clean, orderly appearance.
Defined Lounge Areas Spaces are becoming more open with relaxed seating arrangements. Lighter, powerful, wireless technology has untethered the workspace more than ever. These comfortable areas promote relaxed collaboration. Offices with dedicated lounge areas make working more enjoyable.
Multi-use Spaces One alternative to cubicles–the bench– is being overtaken by non-assigned seating. The executive suite remains. However, multipurpose spaces are used for everything from multimedia presentations to casual breakout areas. There is also a shift toward heightadjustable tables for standing meetings.
Community Tables This table reflects more interaction at work and other settings, like coffee shops and restaurants, where large, shared tables are popular. The community table has been a meaningful object for centuries, a symbol of kinship or alliance that is now becoming an important part of the work environment. The table in the workspace exhibits the characteristics of a domicile—more relaxed, congenial, and collaborative.
Offices Organized by Color Work environments that organize by color help with thinking and inspiration. Several studies find color boosts happiness, productivity, and creativity. Offices that integrate pops of color in unexpected ways strive to be at the forefront and generally lead their competitors in attracting and retaining workers.
No More Permanent Layouts Over-planned, permanent layouts are evolving into ever-changing work landscapes. Products designed from a “kit of parts” move into place and fit together without rules-based planning, becoming the office of the future. Components are mixed, stacked, and moved around, offering countless combinations for a dynamic and collaborative workplace. B2B
Doug Schuring is the director of sales administration at All Makes Office Equipment Co.
32 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
FEATURE | STORY BY SEAN MCCARTHY | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
KABUL COUSINS FIND COMMON GROUND SUBZI MUNDI GROCERY STORE
Muhib Hassan
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 33
trained sniper and special forces service member from Kabul, Afghanistan, is not who people expect to see standing behind the counter of a grocery store. Even more uncommon is that the store is run by two cousins from Kabul who wound up in different parts of this country before reuniting in Omaha to run an international grocery store.
Hassan and Habibzai’s service helped them each obtain a Special Immigration Visa (SIV), which are primarily given to Afghans and Iraqis who have assisted the U.S. military. In 2016, the state department estimated it granted about 20,000 SIVs to Afghans who have assisted the U.S. military (the number also includes family members of those who have helped).
Muhib Hassan and Niamatullah Habibzai were born in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. They attended the same high school, and signed up to work with the U.S. military as linguists soon after they graduated. Habibzai spoke Dari and Pashto, two of the most commonly spoken languages in Afghanistan. He started working with the U.S. military in 2005. Hassan began working with the U.S. two years later.
With his SIV secured, Habibzai moved to Fairfax, Virginia, in April 2011. He was still working for the military as a contractor. He then moved to North Dakota because some of his friends in the military were living there. In 2014, Habibzai moved to Omaha.
“When the U.S. military came in, there was a very urgent need of linguists back then,” Habibzai says. “If you knew a little bit of English, they would hire you, just to communicate with local people.” Habibzai worked as a cultural adviser and interpreter between the U.S. military and the Afghan National Army. Hassan worked with U.S. special forces, and helped train the Afghan Local Police, Afghan National Police, and the Afghan Border Police. He also went to villages and communicated with local elders.
“I wanted to settle somewhere that I can have a family and raise my kids,” Habibzai says. “I thought Omaha was a good place.” Subzi Mundi became a go-to grocery store for ingredients common to his cuisine, like goat meat and fresh dates. After repeated trips, he expressed an interest in buying the store outright. However, undertaking all of the responsibilities of running a grocery store is too much for one person. He needed a partner. Enter his cousin.
Habibzai and Hassan faced threats both implied and physical for working with the U.S. military. Habibzai says he cannot return to the village where their family lived for fear of retaliation by the Taliban.
Hassan moved to Durham, North Carolina, in 2013. He chose this location because he knew friends in the military who lived there. While in Durham, he worked as a truck driver and a driver coordinator (recruiting other truck drivers). Hassan brought wife Noorya and his daughter (since then, they have had another daughter, 3, and a son, 14 months old).
“Even our relatives were blaming us for bringing Americans to the village,” Hassan says.
“It was hard for them,” Hassan says. “When I was at work, they were just sitting at home all the time.”
Hassan took shrapnel in his hand when he was involved in a firefight in 2012. Sitting next to a white freezer at their grocery store, Subzi Mundi, Hassan rolled up his sleeve and traced a line across his left thumb and index finger where the shrapnel entered. He says he has almost no feeling in his left index finger.
In his first few months in the United States, his daughter fell ill with a fever and kidney infection. He didn’t even know where to take her. “I called my friend, he was living two hours away from me,” Hassan says.
“I WANTED TO SETTLE SOMEWHERE THAT I CAN HAVE A FAMILY AND RAISE MY KIDS. I THOUGHT OMAHA WAS A GOOD PLACE.” -Niamatullah Habibzai His friend drove to his home and gave the family a ride to the hospital. While at the hospital, Hassan said he didn’t even have an insurance card on him. “I didn't have anything,” Hassan says. What he did have was family, and when Habibzai asked for help running a store, Hassan and his family moved to Omaha. Last year, Hassan agreed to help his cousin in buying Subzi Mundi. Habibzai had saved money he made contracting with the military and used it to secure the business. He and his cousin formed an LLC (AFG Cousins). In October 2016, Hassan and Habibzai became owners of Subzi Mundi. The two cousins also have a nonbiological family member in Omaha who works with Lutheran Family Services. Lacey Studnicka, director of advancement for community services at LFS, heard about Hassan and Habibzai’s story. LFS provides assistance to SIV holders. Studnicka says LFS, as well as the state department, provides similar services to SIV recipients as refugees. The primary difference is the path to getting a visa is usually much shorter for SIV recipients because of the services they offer to the U.S. military, even though the vetting process is just as intensive, Studnicka says. The actions of linguists like Hassan and Habibzai have saved soldiers lives, something she routinely hears from service members. “Not only did they serve our country, but now they’re business owners, and giving back to the community,” Studnicka says. B2B Visit @subzimundi1 on Facebook to learn more about this grocery store.
34 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
FEATURE | STORY BY SARAH WENGERT | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN
INTO THE MYSTIC DEMAND IN NEW AGE MARKET RESULTS IN BOOM OF OMAHA SHOPS
Nicki McDermott
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 35
t’s a golden time for New Age shops in Omaha. Local stalwart The Next Millennium has operated for 20-plus years, and there have been a few others, such as New Realities, which closed when their lease expired in 2012. But recently, the crystal pendulum has swung, and Omaha’s seen a boom of New Age/metaphysical/spiritual stores open their doors. Local shop owners in the niche say the spurt is a direct result of consumer demand.
It’s That Simple.
“Between online and in-store sales, it’s been more than we were expecting,” says Kelli Miller, co-owner of Awakenings, a New Age store that opened in October 2017. The professional psychic medium had an office in Elkhorn for about three years. One person asked to buy Miller’s homemade bath salts, which turned into another person asking to buy them, then another. The product requests gradually increased— some selenite (crystal) here, a Himalayan salt lamp there—ultimately leading Miller and fiancé Eric Abts to partner and open a full-fledged shop offering wares, workshops, and readings.
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“It started very small, very organic…and slowly evolved into me growing out of that space and us opening Awakenings,” says Miller. “New Age” is an umbrella term describing a range of alternative approaches to traditional Western culture and spirituality, and Miller says it’s a good descriptor for Awakenings. “I like the term ‘New Age’ [for our shop] because we’re not necessarily metaphysical,” she says. “Metaphysical encompasses more Wiccan, Pagan, conjuring…We don’t do that, because we don’t fully understand it.” Miller says a big focus at Awakenings is educating clients about the various tools and traditions they sell. CONT. PAGE 36
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36 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
FROM PAGE 35
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“We want people to understand what they’re buying and the point of them buying it; how various pendulums, rocks, stones, and candles can help us enhance our own intuitive abilities or spiritual connection. If people have questions, we have answers,” says Miller. Miller believes more people are beginning to expand their personal spiritual journeys. “With all the chaos in the world, it seems like people are going inward and really trying to figure out who they are and their connection to god-source energy,” says Miller. “That’s one of the main reasons I became a psychic medium, because I saw so many people in need of that connection—and that’s the point of opening the store, helping people out.” That desire for connection is one reason why Alex Fernandez defines Hearthside Candles and Curios as “New Age/metaphysical.”
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“We have a little something for everyone—Wiccans, Pagans, saint medals, angel items—our slogan is ‘Your friendly neighborhood magic shop,’” says Fernandez. Fernandez, along with co-owners Kim Hinnenkamp and Chris Dishaw, opened Hearthside in October 2016 as a space to sell the owners’ handmade products and other handcrafted goods, but also to address a growing demand. “There’s a lot more acceptance these days, so more people are aware of, and seeking out, alternate spiritualities,” says Fernandez. Fernandez says another major focus for Hearthside is community.
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“In addition to wanting a store to feature our products, we opened on the tenet of community— being a place where anybody can walk in the door, it doesn't matter where else they shop or who they’re friends with, everybody is welcomed, extended a hand, and given a chance to feel comfortable,” he says. In addition to an array of paid classes and free meetups, Hearthside hosted its first Heartland Witches Gala, an event benefitting Heartland Family Service, in October 2017.
2558 Farnam Street | Omaha, NE 68131| 402.341.2413 | allmakes.com
Nicki McDermott, owner of The Conjure Shop, opened her store in June 2014 after a decade working at Next Millennium. Omaha has a tightknit New Age community, so it was a big leap, but one she’s pleased she made.
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 37
McDermott likes the increase of options for customers. She also notes that she is always happy to refer folks to Next Millennium for items she doesn’t carry.
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McDermott says The Conjure Shop technically qualifies as a New Age store, and she carries items like stones, crystals, incense, and chakra-related merchandise. She also sells her popular Mama Izzy’s Hoodoo line of oils and candles at The Conjure Shop, and customers trek to her store to buy them. McDermott sees the shop as more of a spiritual store. “Mainly what I wanted was to provide a place for people on all types of paths of spirituality and religion to be able to get what that they need,” she says. “People want to come to a place where they won’t be thought of as a weirdo and [The Conjure Shop] provides that.” The Conjure Shop hosts events like Coffee and Conjure, a monthly meetup where community members gather in fellowship and explore various topics. Every September, McDermott hosts Conjure Fest, a daylong festival with readers, vendors, food, and blues music. New this year, McDermott will launch an Omaha Witches Ball, called Vampire Masquerade, on Oct. 6 at The Pella at Blackstone. Proceeds will go toward supporting children’s leukemia research. She says the Omaha Witches Ball will be an annual event with a new theme each year. The Conjure Shop has a reader available nearly every day and hosts several classes each month. McDermott also does by-appointment cleanses and consults. “It’s like a therapist with a little extra oomph,” she says. “The most important thing is that people actually feel like they have some control in what’s going on and don’t feel so helpless about issues in their lives.” And now, people in Omaha have at least four places to find a therapist with extra oomph. B2B To learn more about the shops mentioned in this article, visit awakeningsstore.com, theconjureshop. com, hearth-side.com, and magicalomaha.com.
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38 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
maha World-Herald cartoonist Jeff Koterba is the guitarist, principal songwriter, and lead vocalist—in other words, the catalyst—behind the popular local band the Prairie Cats. omAHA! | STORY BY LISA LUKECART | ILLUSTRATION BY DEREK JOY
STRUMMING UP SOME BUSINESS JOSHUA KOTERBA
He also isn’t the only musician in the family. Son Joshua Koterba started playing guitar as soon as he could pick one up, and he began playing the trumpet in third grade. He kept playing until he became a teenager. “Son, you can’t write a love song on a trumpet,” Jeff told him. So Joshua hung up his trumpet, picked up the guitar again, and wrote love songs. The guitar became a spiritual connection for him, a deep draw to a place of elation and completion. “It’s magic, you know,” Koterba, now 31, explains. Koterba took the plunge into the music retail business two years ago with his start-up, Gear Supply Co. As a musician and a freelance audio engineer, Koterba developed a set of unique skills. He knew how to make his low wages work in creative ways. He has a scrappy, lean mentality that translates perfectly into the world of entrepreneurship. It takes blood, sweat, tears, and soul. Koterba, though, did not run full tilt into the fire. It started with Koterba’s own adventure seeking strings for his 15-year-old Fender guitar. The stores he visited didn’t have what he needed, so he bought it all online. The purchase left him feeling disconnected. A musician’s guitar is like an artist’s brush. The tools matter and artists have emotional attachments to their instruments. Not having customized supplies turned into a problem Koterba itched to solve. He spent months researching his client base. He knew other artists in the industry felt the same way and needed a buyer bond. Could he start a business from his garage in Florida with little income? The risk, in his eyes, seemed worth it. Koterba didn’t have a business degree, just a dream. “It doesn’t matter how hard it gets if you know you are helping people,” Koterba says.
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY · MARCH | 39
He used a couple thousand dollars from his tax return to buy products. Specifically, three different types of guitar strings. He knocked over the dominoes on his marketing plan: an e-mail with an opportunity to win free items if someone brought in more sign-ups. Koterba’s gamble paid off and he collected 5,000 e-mail addresses, along with 100 paying customers. Eight months or so later, his company drew interest from an angel investor from Nebraska. The hardworking mentality of Midwesterners and the central location seemed ideal for his idea. He moved back to Omaha and was accepted to NMotion, a 90-day accelerator in Lincoln. The final project was to pitch his ideas in front of thousands of people to draw in capital investors. Eight more came on board. The money gained from the investors went towards testing and determining growth strategies, investing in customer acquisition, and employee wages. Koterba retains more than 51 percent of the company, and Gear Supply Co. is breaking even after two years. Entrepreneurship takes a remarkable amount of hard work. Koterba clears his mind with decompressing silence on his trips to Florida to see his two children. It helps him brainstorm innovative ideas or think about new supplies. Customer demand means Koterba has added gauges and straps to his inventory. He added guitar pedals using crowdsourcing as an additional method of gaining capital. Koterba has a hand in designing products and it allows him to make connections with like-minded artists. Blues player and shredder Sebastian Lane buys many of these products on Gear Supply Co.’s list, including custom picks. “They are the leading forefront when it comes to quality guitar goods,” Lane says. Koterba still plays his instrument daily, strumming in his chair and trying out product lines while responding to e-mails. At the end of the day (even if that means 1 a.m.), nothing replaces diligence because, “no one is going to work as hard as you.” B2B Visit gearsupply.co for more information.
Always Local, Always Beautiful
40 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018
VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 1
OMAHA CVB BY KEITH BACKSEN
IT’S TRUE, TOURISM TOUCHES ALL OF OUR LIVES stonished. That’s the word that describes colleagues, friends, family, and groups when they learn what tourism looks like in our city. Ask a family member or friend to guess how many visitors come to Omaha each year and chances are their answer will not even come close. New research shows 12.3 million visitors travel to Omaha each year— that’s more than the total population of Portugal or Greece. They visit for weekend getaways, to see family and friends, to attend conferences, sporting events and concerts, and to conduct business. And while here they spend money. Visitors spend $1.2 billion every year at our restaurants, attractions, hotels, retail shops, and other enterprises. Their spending contributes to our local economy, tax revenue, community development, and other important benefits we all enjoy. Visitor spending also creates jobs— 17,280 of them. One in every 17 jobs in Omaha is supported by visitor spending, which means you probably know someone who has a job in tourism, or has a job thanks to tourism. In fact, tourism is the eighth largest private sector employer in Omaha. Still don’t think your life is touched by tourism? Let’s talk taxes. Taxes generated by visitor spending saves each Douglas County household $730 per year. If visitors stop coming to Omaha and stop spending their money here, your taxes would go up or the current level of government services would go down. We would also see a significant number of jobs lost in the tourism industry if visitors did not show up.
You can help Omaha’s tourism numbers grow even bigger. Keep inviting family and friends to visit. If your business, association, or industry hosts meetings, conferences, trade shows, reunions, or any other special event, invite them to Omaha and provide an economic boost to our economy. After seeing the numbers, people get it—tourism is a big deal and a great deal for our city. Visit Omaha can help. If bringing a meeting home seems overwhelming to you, Visit Omaha, Omaha’s official tourism authority, is here to help at no cost. Visit Omaha has the expertise and resources to help make your meeting or event, a success. Check out visitomaha.com/ meetings to start planning your event. B2B Source for 2016 Impact Numbers: Tourism Economics – An Oxford Economics Company
ETHICS BY BEVERLY KRACHER
NEW BUSINESS AND MARKETING ETHICS wners of new businesses have myriad ethical problems similar to the problems in mature businesses. The difference is that new business owners don’t have years of experience to help them more easily make sound decisions. But practice and a good process can lead to long term, honorable business growth. Case in point: Dear Ethics Adviser, I’m passionate about making life easier for folks. I’ve started a concierge service I sell to businesses that they, in turn, provide to their employees. I’ve been able to get a few accounts, but I’m not growing as fast as I’d like. Part of my problem is not knowing how to price my service. I think I’m overcharging. It’s not as if I can ask my competitors what they charge. A colleague of mine recommended a strategy. He said to ask a friend who does procurement at a local firm to put out a request for proposals (RFP) for concierge service. The friend wouldn’t really want the service, mind you, but would put out the RPF simply to collect bids from companies and then tell me what they charge. This way, I get the best information about the market and won’t overprice my service. Would you recommend this strategy? Dear Passionate, While the strategy is practical and can yield fast results, it is not ethical and should not be used. Ethical decision making requires that you think far, wide, and high about your options.
In this case, when you think far, about consequences for all, you notice that competitors would anticipate that they could get business from their work. They would use valuable time completing your fake RFP that they could instead use on live prospects. You are creating harm. Would you want someone to do this to you? When you think wide, you recognize all of the duties and obligations you have to different people. A fundamental duty is to try to tell the truth. In this case, you are being deceptive in order to make life easier for yourself. This is wrong. When you think high, you ask yourself, “What kind of person do I want to be? Would my mom be proud if she knew about my action?” The moms that teach us to be strong and true would not approve of this way of finding pricing information. It’s a short cut, and not noble. So when you stop to think far, wide, and high, you see that this pricing strategy is wrong. What can you do instead, Passionate? Rather than seek a fast solution, get your mind around the fact that business wisdom comes from the school of hard knocks and it can’t be shortchanged. Experiment; try one solution, then another; succeed sometimes; fail others. Engage with business leaders you truly admire to get advice. Keep your values front of mind, and profit has a great chance of following. B2B
Keith Backsen is executive director of the
Beverly Kracher, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Business
Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Ethics Alliance and the Daugherty Chair in Business Ethics and Society at Creighton University.
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