B2B - October/November 2023

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NEW CONSTRUCTION

• Extended lock program

• Lot loans

• Construction loans

• Tailored loan terms

• Efficient draw process

• In-house inspections

EXISTING HOMES

• Competitive rates and fees

• Custom mortgage solutions

• Conventional, Jumbo, VA or FHA

Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.

This interior shot showcases the Katherine Fletcher Center, the award-winning multimillion-dollar space created for Girls Inc. by Morrisey Engineering, architectural firm AO*, Lund-Ross Constructors, and All Makes Office Furniture + Technology.

Photo by Bill Sitzmann

Thanks Omaha for over 46 Years!

FROM THE EDITOR

HALL OF FAMERS

®

402.399.9233

OMAHA’S Favorite DRY CLEANER EST.

1917

UNIFORM RENTAL SERVICE

O maha has gained national recognition in recent years as a hub for business startups and innovators, as well as earning a high ranking of cities with great work-life balance, opportunities for franchise growth, labor productivity, and many other facets of business life. Much of the groundwork for creating such a healthy business environment was laid by Omaha business owners and leaders in decades prior. Five of those leaders were recognized by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 23 at the Chamber’s 30th Annual Omaha Business Hall of Fame Gala. The evening celebrated new Hall of Fame inductees Mary Ann O’Brien, founder and CEO of OBI Creative; Ron Carson, founder and CEO of Carson Group; Beverly Kracher, Ph.D., Creighton University professor and founder of Business Ethics Alliance; Greg Cutchall, restauranteur/franchisor (posthumously); and David Karnes, former president and CEO of The Fairmont Group and Counsel to Kutak Rock LLP (posthumously). We applaud these professionals for their business success, as well as what they’ve given back to our community.

Foreign consuls, both appointed and honorary, also serve a great purpose in supporting Omaha’s business community. Beyond providing their constituents support and legal services, their duties include helping to build relationships with foreign countries, increasing foreign trade and investment, promoting entrepreneurship and tourism, and more. Read about their role in Omaha in this issue of B2B.

It truly takes the dedication of a host of people to keep Omaha atop the list of the best places to live and do business in America. We are very fortunate to have so many committed to helping Omaha become the best version of itself and creating a community so many are proud to call home.

EST. 1974 www.maxiwalker.com & www.maxiwalkeruniform.com

Since 1917, five generations of the Walker family have served the retail, and then the commercial, laundry markets in Omaha and the surrounding areas. We’re Dry Cleaners, but many Omaha business owners have also depended on our Uniform Rental Service since 1974.

Linda Persigehl is managing editor at Omaha Publications. She can be reached at editor@omahapublicaitons.com

“PEOPLE SHOULD AGE WITH DIGNITY, AND A PART OF [ENABLING] THAT IS HAVING AN ENRICHING OFFERING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. ART IS PART OF WHAT MAKES LIFE MORE FULFILLING.”

-ERIC

GURLEY

[L to R] Eric Gurley, Edwin Lyons

STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER | PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN

IMMANUEL COMMUNITIES & OMAHA COMMUNITYPLAYHOUSE

RETIREMENT HOME GROUP TAKES STARRING ROLE ELEVATING LOCAL THEATER

When companies become sponsors at the Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP), they typically underwrite one specific show as a presenting sponsor. But when Immanuel Communities approached OCP to pursue sponsorship, they were looking for something beyond that.

“Immanuel came in and was looking for something a bit more broad, so we ended up creating a special sponsorship for them,” explained Edwin Lyons, director of development for OCP. Lyons joined the OCP team a little over a year ago, so the sponsorship with Immanuel Communities was already established at his arrival, but he quickly realized the importance of the relationship.

Lyons added that support from Immanuel Communities and all OCP’s sponsors “shows the importance of community engagement [and] displays the great importance of what cultural arts does to societal development and economic development. It’s an amplifier for creativity.”

Eric Gurley, CEO of Immanuel Communities, agreed. “Art is part of what makes life more fulfilling. We see the benefit that OCP brings to

the community. They have an outstanding level of quality in their productions. It’s a valuable service to the folks in Omaha.”

Immanuel Communties provides a host of retirement solutions for seniors in Nebraska and Iowa, from assisted living homes to long-term care and home-based support.

The relationship between OCP and Immanuel Communities began around 2017 or 2018, Gurley estimated. Nowadays, Immanuel Communities is the Hawkes Main Stage Series Sponsor, a sponsorship role that lasts the entire year. “They are our largest annual production sponsor,” Lyons said.

In return, Immanuel Communities enjoys myriad benefits. The organization receives tickets to every preview night in addition to ticket vouchers, which they can give to staff or clients. Employees at Immanuel Communities also enjoy an employee discount when purchasing tickets to OCP shows.

“They get a lot of signage benefits,” Lyons added. “They’re quite visible.”

Immanuel Communities is visible, indeed, throughout the Playhouse facility at 69th and Cass streets, as well as in its media. From logos on show tickets to ads in programs to signs and prominent placement on the electronic outdoor sign, Immanuel Communities’ support of the local arts is on full display at OCP.

“They’ve been very generous with their acknowledgement,” said Gurley, who personally realizes the vast importance of supporting the arts locally. “We recognize that in a small community like Omaha, without corporate support, we wouldn’t have the thriving arts community we have.”

Gurley, who used to live on the East Coast, said that he and his family can enjoy the arts here in Omaha more than they ever did before moving here. “It’s because of the ease,” he said. “The ease of transportation, the ease of getting in and out… it’s just so accessible here in Omaha.

“Our philosophy is that life is body, mind, and spirit that’s the core value of our organization internally as well,” Gurley added. “People should age with dignity, and a part of [enabling] that is having an enriching offering within the community itself. Art is part of what makes life more fulfilling.”

I-80 Development Ground

“ART IS PART OF WHAT MAKES LIFE MORE FULFILLING. WE SEE THE BENEFIT THAT OCP BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE AN OUTSTANDING LEVEL OF QUALITY IN THEIR PRODUCTIONS. IT’S A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE FOLKS IN OMAHA.”

-ERIC GURLEY

Immanuel Communities, which is also a major sponsor of the Omaha Symphony, believes in setting an example for corporate citizenship and encourages others to join them for the greater good.

“We challenge other companies to also help support the arts because it helps us attract people into the community, so it serves a lot of purposes. The Playhouse is a tremendous asset to the community and those who live here,” Gurley said.

Immanuel Communities once co-owned Alegent Health, but after they sold their interest to CHI they created a foundation with grant money for community nonprofit organizations. “We’ve given away about $20 million to the community,” Gurley revealed.

The relationship between OCP and Immanuel Communities is mutually beneficial. “Their demographic and our demographic go well together,” Lyons said. “I don’t think it’s a secret that [OCP] subscribers…the majority are in that age 60 and above, near retirement age.”

“Those people that call Immanuel home and older people really do appreciate the arts,” Gurley added. “It’s a privilege to have the type of sponsorship we have with OCP. It supports the community, and it supports our business.”

Visit immanuel.com and omahaplayhouse.com for more information.

B2B

ECS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Empowering Businesses through Innovative IT Support

In the fast-paced world of modern business, technology is the cornerstone of success. It drives operations, enhances efficiency, and propels growth. At ECS Technology Solutions, we recognize this fundamental truth and have positioned ourselves as dedicated partners in your business journey. Our mission is simple yet impactful: to provide comprehensive IT support, enabling you to overcome technological challenges and focus on what truly matters – your business.

Founded in 2004 by Bryan Thompson in Elkhorn, Nebraska, ECS Technology Solutions initially started as Elkhorn Computer Sales & Service. Guided by a strong vision and a commitment to excellence, Bryan Thompson, an Elkhorn and University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumnus, laid the foundation of a business that would evolve into a transformative force in the IT industry.

Transitioning to ECS Technology Solutions marked a significant step forward, solidifying our dedication to cutting-edge IT solutions. Under the leadership of Bryan Thompson’s son, James Thompson, the company embarked on a journey of growth and innovation. ECS has emerged as a dynamic player in the outsourced IT landscape, making its mark as one of the fastest advancing IT companies in Nebraska.

While our roots trace back to Elkhorn, Nebraska, our influence spans far beyond geographical

boundaries. Today, our services are sought after by clients across the United States, stretching from the East Coast in New Jersey to the West Coast in California. Despite this expansive reach, our heart remains in the Omaha Metropolitan Area, where we maintain our largest concentration of clients.

At the core of our success are our unwavering values of Innovation, Integrity, and Family. We firmly believe that pushing the boundaries of possibility through constant innovation is key to delivering exceptional value to our clients. Our commitment to integrity goes beyond mere business transactions – it’s about building trust, maintaining transparent relationships, and upholding ethical standards in all interactions.

We don’t just adhere to industry norms; we transcend them. We foster a culture that encourages our team members to think beyond conventions and embrace innovation. We understand that true character is revealed when no one is watching, which is why we emphasize doing the right thing, always. This principle extends to our interactions with clients, partners, and employees alike.

Diversity is our strength, and inclusion is our ethos. We recognize that our team members are more than just employees; they are unique individuals with varied backgrounds and perspectives. By promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, we create an environment where differences fuel creativity and lead to groundbreaking solutions.

James Thompson, the President of ECS Technology Solutions, encapsulates our philosophy perfectly: “We focus on finding ways to help our partners grow and work to improve their operation efficiency. By offering profitability

through productivity, we strive to be more than a traditional IT vendor, but rather an IT partner that will help elevate their business to the next level.”

Situated in Olde Towne Elkhorn, we aren’t just a business entity; we are an integral part of the community. This sentiment resonates deeply, as even Bryan’s daughter, Lisa Mahin, Vice President of ECS Technology Solutions and a fellow graduate of UNO and Elkhorn, plays a vital role in our journey. Lisa highlights the rewarding experience of aiding businesses through their growth, witnessing their transformation from startups to industry leaders.

ECS Technology Solutions offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to businesses of all sizes. Our robust support desk ensures that every IT request is promptly addressed, streamlining operations and minimizing disruptions. Our IT Operations team manages the intricate web of hardware, software, and networks, allowing you to focus on core objectives. Most importantly, our adept Cyber Security team safeguards your data and systems, fortifying your digital defenses against unauthorized access.

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, ECS Technology Solutions stands as your reliable partner, offering more than just IT support. We stand as champions of progress, advocates of innovation, and stewards of your business success. As technology paves the way forward, we’ll be there, ensuring you have the freedom to Spend Time on What Matters.

2720 N. 206TH ST.

ELKHORN, NE 68022

402.350.0372

ECS.ROCKS

THERE IS NO SLOW LANE

KEVIN WELSH AND HIS 2020 SHELBY MUSTANG

Last May, when Kevin Welsh learned that he had been passed over again to compete in a particular annual car race, he figured that was it; he wasn’t going. Then, one Monday evening, his phone rang. A man on the other end identified himself as an organizer of the race and said some competitors had dropped out. If you’re still interested, said the caller, call back in five minutes. By the way, added the man, the race begins Friday morning in Indiana.

Welsh, 52, checked with his family and called back to say he’d show up Friday. A financial advisor for 27 years, with the last 22 at Morgan Stanley’s West Omaha office where he’s also an executive director, Welsh cleared his personal and business calendars the next day and made arrangements.

This was like no event Welsh had driven in before, which typically involved racing cars on oval tracks or curvy courses. Called One Lap of America, which began in 1984, the 2023 version’s 10 events were spread over eight days and covered 4,000 miles, visiting tracks in Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma, among other states. In addition to racing in events, competitors had to drive (at legal speeds) between race tracks. Drivers were allowed to use one set of street tires along with a spare. Also, competitors could not trailer their vehicles between the events.

No driver was allowed a support crew just a co-driver to assist in navigating to the next course. For Welsh, that was Nick Young of Manheim, Pennsylvania, whom he learned only at the last minute could accompany him.

Welsh drove his white 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 to One Lap of America’s first event in Mishawaka, Indiana. “I got [the Shelby] a year-and-a-halfago,” he said. The coupe’s 760-horsepower, V-8 engine can propel the rear-wheel-drive car to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.  In another 3.5 seconds, the 7-speed, $74,000 ride will pass 100 mph.  Even though it has an automatic transmission, Welsh can shift gears by tapping small paddles on his steering wheel.

“It’s Ford’s higher-end car, although it’s not Ford’s highest-end road race car,” Welsh said. “That would be a Ford GT.”

One Lap of America has 15 divisions, covering high-performance racers to mini-vans and pickups to luxury cars and classics and more. Welsh said he enjoys the events and the comradery with other drivers.

Welsh said he learned to drive on a 1978 Ford F-250 pickup on the family farm in Sarpy County. He got his start in competitive driving participating in drag races before discovering the open road contests.

CONT. PAGE 12

HOW I ROLL | STORY BY MIKE WHYE | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN

“THAT’S IMPORTANT, THAT NO CASH IS GIVEN. BECAUSE YOU’RE COMPETING IN THIS FOR THE JOY OF IT. IT’S JUST YOU COMPETING WITH YOU AT THE END OF THE DAY.”  -KEVIN WELSH

FROM PAGE 10

“Once I started road racing, I noticed that money is not the determinant for the winner […] If you have a $400,000 Porsche, you can lose to the driver of a rental car because it is the driver, first and foremost, and then the car [that matters],” Welsh said. “Road racing removes ego. It’s an equalizer.”

One Lap of America levels the field with different tracks and driving conditions, he said. Drivers endure drizzling rain, downpours, and sunbaked pavement as they lean into banked ovals, swing around traffic cones, and turn through courses that snake across the countryside. All of the events are timed races where the competitors roar off in teams of five. Everyone runs three laps on each course, and the times are totaled on the last day of the overall event.

Some tracks allow the competitors to walk the courses before driving on them. Others don’t.  “You really get no chance to learn corners and braking zones,” said Welsh, who has driven 160 mph. “The race challenges you as a driver.”

Jeff Ockinga, who races Corvettes, said his Shelbydriving friend has the right personality for being a racer because, for him, racing is fun.

Although times of the racers in One Lap of America are summed and posted, and a winner is announced, no cash prizes are awarded. “That’s important, that no cash is given,” said Welsh, who came in fourth in his class and 27th out of 84 drivers. “Because you’re competing in this for the joy of it. It’s just you competing with you at the end of the day.”

Visit advisor.morganstanley.com/the-welsh-friesengroup and onelapofamerica.com for more information.

B2B

“ONCE I STARTED ROAD RACING, I NOTICED THAT MONEY IS NOT THE DETERMINANT FOR THE WINNER […] IF YOU HAVE A $400,000 PORSCHE, YOU CAN LOSE TO THE DRIVER OF A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE IT IS THE DRIVER, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THEN THE CAR [THAT MATTERS].”

-KEVIN WELSH

BY CHRIS WOLFGANG | PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN

BE KIND AND BE INVOLVED

THE LIFE PHILOSOPHY OF MARK WONG

Maybe Google wasn’t as good as it is now,” Mark Wong, 36, said with a laugh. Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, Wong applied to a foreign exchange student program in the US right before his junior year. “I looked up Yuma High School and saw a bunch of cool pictures online, and then when I got there, I realized I’d been looking at Yuma, Arizona.”

Call it fate that Wong had actually applied to a high school in the small town of Yuma, Colorado, instead. The serial entrepreneur has called the prairie home ever since. It’s been a little over nine years now since he followed some college friends from Hastings to Omaha.

“There are multiple factors why I’m still here,” Wong said. “I’m an explorer, and I think of living somewhere else. But ever since I’ve been here, the opportunities to be involved directly in the community have just been so great.”

Involvement is what you might call a common thread throughout his life. As a side project in college, Wong would throw weekend events in Omaha with friends who went to the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Calling themselves Defy Grav, they hosted several sold-out events at places like Rednecks, Sokol Auditorium, and Fun-Plex. Currently, Wong mentors at Do Space and the CBA Scholars Academy at UNO, and is an active volunteer with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He’s the lead for the Hypes & Promotions team for the Greater Omaha Chamber’s 2023 YP Summit. He’s also one of three cofounders of Tippl, a marketing app for boosting the bar and restaurant industry in Omaha post-COVID.

Michael Friedman, cofounder and CEO of Tippl said, “We wanted to stimulate the overall industry economy. How do you know what places are still in business, or what new ones have opened? What would make you try out a new bar or go to a different place than your usual?”

Users pay $5 a month to redeem a free drink every day at participating bars around Omaha. Every two weeks, a user can revisit a bar and redeem another drink. Beyond the cost of the beverage, there’s no participating fee for the bar. While Omaha is serving as the test market for Tippl, the founders want to expand regionally into Lincoln and Des Moines within a year.

For Wong, that’s in addition to his day job as a full-stack developer…and the regular pro bono web and graphic design work he does for nonprofits and local small businesses.

“Mark does say no,” Friedman insisted. “So, if he says he’ll do something, you know he will. In fact, when people ghost after they’ve committed to something, he actually gets a little mad. Because he respects people a lot, and he expects that in return.”

Ask Wong when he sleeps and he just grins. “I’m not burned out whatsoever. Helping other people is like my fuel. I’ve gotta do my best to be kind to people. You don’t know what a stranger is going through. I would never want to risk putting someone in those dark places.”

Trying to make changes in a community is part of that. Oh, he’s not above being a bum on a couch and watching sci-fi with Bronco, his Siberian husky. “But volunteering is a big thing for me,” Wong says. “One person can’t change the world, but as long as you can change how you are to other people, your energy is contagious.”

“Mark is a huge promoter,” Friedman said. “He makes connections, designs graphics, everything. He wants to make communal decisions, but you also don’t have to tell him what to do.”

Their relationship is an example of how professionalism should be executed even among friends, according to Friedman. “We said early on that if we want this to work, we have to act like it’s a business.”

Visit tippl.app for more information.

B2B

“MARK IS A HUGE PROMOTER. HE MAKES CONNECTIONS, DESIGNS GRAPHICS, EVERYTHING. HE WANTS TO MAKE COMMUNAL DECISIONS, BUT YOU ALSO DON’T HAVE TO TELL HIM WHAT TO DO.”

-MICHAEL FRIEDMAN

“THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS WHY I’M STILL HERE. I’M AN EXPLORER, AND I THINK OF LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT EVER SINCE I’VE BEEN HERE, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED DIRECTLY IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE JUST BEEN SO GREAT.”

-MARK WONG

MORRISSEY ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL FIRM AO*, LUND-ROSS CONSTRUCTORS, AND ALL MAKES OFFICE FURNITURE + TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATED TO DESIGN THE $15 MILLION KATHERINE FLETCHER CENTER ADDITION AT GIRL INC.’S NORTH OMAHA HEADQUARTERS.

LUKECART |

BY BILL SITZMANN

A STUNNING SAFE HAVEN

HIGH-CONCEPT GIRLS INC. FACILITY OFFERS SECURE, INSPIRED SPACES FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO THRIVE

Tracy Brown sighed and admitted she feels “well-tired” after saying goodbye to about 400 girls at summer’s end. The director of operations for the North Omaha headquarters of Girls Inc. acknowledged the job requires hard work and dedication, but said the rewards remain worth the long hours.

The Girls Inc. facility near 45th and Maple streets takes a beating from constant use, but Brown and 60 staff members ensure the young ladies that frequent it often keep it looking fresh as the day Morrissey Engineering, architectural firm AO*, Lund-Ross Constructors, and All Makes Office Furniture + Technology collaborated to design the $15 million addition of the Katherine Fletcher Center.

The center’s construction, completed in 2015, won numerous design awards including the 2016 AIA Nebraska Merit Award for Excellence in Detail, the 2017 IES Illumination Awards of Merit for Interior and Exterior Lighting, and the 2017 ACI Nebraska Award of Excellence.

The 55,000-square-foot contemporary architectural design would have been a futuristic dream come true for the original six members of the then-named “Girls Club,” gathered in the basement of Clifton Hills Presbyterian Church back in 1975. After acquiring the traditional brick Clifton Hill School building in 1992, the renamed Girls Inc. still needed to address space and safety. After 20-plus years of planning and collecting donations, a building renovation finally came to fruition, blending the existing 1916 structure while expanding the facility into a modern model.

The building’s precast concrete exterior façade invites texturization with vertical flutes and white customized panels. Red, the color of the nonprofit’s logo, coordinates perfectly with a symbolic blue, representing the University of Nebraska Medical Center Girls Inc. health clinic in the terra cotta brick pattern. Rain screens heighten the innovative look along with Solarban 70 low-e glass, which reduces the building’s sun-heat intake while allowing daylight to stream inside.

The glass also helps create a link, a “Girls Hub,” physically connecting the older edifice for the elementary school children and the newer facility for the teenage crew.

“It’s two separate buildings built in two different eras but allowed to communicate with each other,” explained AO* project architect Keith Herrman.

The Suzanne Scott Girls Hub, the “heart” of the center, creates a community ‘chill area’ for reading a book, listening to music, or watching television. White acoustic foam sticks, which help keep voices from echoing in the cavernous space, dangle from fine wires and move faintly with a breeze. The decorative, functional elements have became an inside joke with the girls, who say they resemble feminine protection. Some visitors sit on the “little butt circles,” as Brown calls the red stools, while others lay on floor mats and hang out next to plants. The glass enclosure allows for great snowy scenes in winter and relaxing rainy-day views. But no matter the weather, the hub vibrates with positive energy on any given day.

IN THE OFFICE | STORY BY LISA

PHOTO

“The natural life is good for the body, mind, and soul. It makes it a happy light,” Brown said.

Much of the facility’s construction is centered on health and wellness: a full gymnasium, an indoor track, and a fitness center. A state-of-the-art kitchen focuses on healthy cooking and nutrition instruction. The UNMC health clinic provides reproductive screenings, sports physicals, and vaccinations, among other services.

A see-through metal screen on the stairway shows a list of donors, from heavy hitters to smaller patrons. The second-floor lounge fritted glass system is etched with a reminder for all visiting young women to be “strong, smart, and bold.” The saying is repeated in small letters over and over in the “Girls Inc.” logo, casting a pretty play of light and shadow.

No one encompasses this slogan more than the center’s namesake, Katherine Fletcher, who represents hope when walking through the doors. The educator, and first Black principal for Omaha Public Schools, shows struggling teenagers a courageous, resilient, and benevolent example of womanhood. Poverty, single-parent homes, and foster care remain a reality for many girls entering the Girls Inc. program, which reached capacity this summer.

These days, Brown and her team are in the thick of fall programming, which serves 200 girls. “This is our safe space. It’s a beautiful place. It makes me feel so proud,” she said.

Visit girlsincomaha.org for more information.

omAHA! | STORY BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN | PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN

SALES IN THE CAN

CAMPFIRE COOKING TOOL RUSTLES UP BIG PROFITS FOR NEBRASKA INVENTOR

Photographs of Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll, KISS, and other notable personalities line the walls of a stairwell in an unassuming warehouse in Fremont. The photos showcase the eclectic mix of celebrities with whom Nebraska resident Seth McGinn, creator of the Can Cooker, has shared his unique invention.

“The year he put it into (Rascal Flatts lead vocalist) Gary LeVox’s hands, the group was No. 1…,” said J.T. Harden of Carthage, Missouri. Harden is the owner of F-3 Media and a good friend of McGinn’s. Like many Can Cooker aficionados, Harden was introduced to the product, and McGinn, at a trade show for outdoorsmen.

“He sat there and explained how it (Can Cooker) got started,” Harden said. “We just took it home.”

“It” had humble beginnings. McGinn took a tool used for prairie cooking something he’d learned from his days on his grandfather’s ranch and turned it into a multi-million-dollar business. His product is modeled after a cream can, a container used to store fresh milk. McGinn was amazed that not everyone knew how to cook in one.

“Being from Nebraska, we understood the creamcan supper,” McGinn said of the one-pot, campfirecooking method of throwing vegetables and meat into a cream can with liquid, then allowing the vessel to heat the meal for several hours. “I didn’t realize it was a regional thing.”

As he began using the cooking method to avoid spending hours behind the grill, friends and family

became intrigued, requesting cream cans of their own for Christmas gifts.

McGinn originally used stainless steel to create the 4-gallon cream cans, thinking that it would work well since many people use stainless steel pots in their kitchens.

“I knew very little about properties of metal,” he said. “Then someone said ‘why don’t you make it out of something that transfers heat better?’” He switched to making cans out of aluminum, which reduced the average cooking time from six hours to about one hour.

McGinn began commercially selling the Can Cooker in 2009, operating out of a storage unit, and sales quickly picked up steam. He sponsored television shows on the Outdoor Channel, including “Bone Collector,” which, in 2009, reached 908,000 unique households, according to the Nielsen ratings. By 2014, McGinn was selling over 50,000 Can Cookers a year, and had outgrown a 17,000-square-foot space that employed 10 people.

Today, his product sells “tens of thousands of units” annually in major retail stores, including Cabela’s/ Bass Pro Shops, Scheels, and Walmart.

The Discovery Channel show “Naked and Afraid” showcases the Can Cooker, used by its survivalist competitors. (The can is spray-painted black to hide the brand, but McGinn said the exposure is still good.)

The business employs a staff of four and at least 15 sales representatives; it manufacturers, packages, and ships out of a facility in Fremont, Nebraska.

McGinn continues tweaking his product and expanding his product line. He’s created a 2-gallon “junior” size can, as well as one with a non-stick coating. He also developed an entire line of companion products, such as cutting boards and cookbooks.

“He never stops,” Harden said. “He’s constantly thinking” of new versions or features to add.

“I’m not going to put out anything that’s not quality,” McGinn said. “We turn down more than we put out.”

At heart, McGinn is a people-person and while sitting around perfecting a product appeals to him, his favorite moments in this business are when he spends time at trade shows and nonprofit events showing people his product; and that has led to several of the photos lining the stairwell of that humble office in Fremont.

“He’s the life of the party,” Harden said. “He’s quick on his feet and funny. People are naturally drawn to him.”

Being drawn to him and his product, has consequently led to sales and recognition, well beyond the Omaha area.

Visit cancooker.com for more information. B2B

“BEING FROM NEBRASKA, WE UNDERSTOOD THE CREAM-CAN SUPPER. I DIDN’T REALIZE IT WAS A REGIONAL THING.”

-SETH MCGINN

PROFILE | STORY BY NATALIE MCGOVERN | PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN

ART & SOUP EVENT CHANGING LIVES ONE BOWL AT A TIME

John Lee Hoich of Hoich Enterprises had the privilege last April of serving as Honorary Chair of Art & Soup, the Visiting Nurses Association annual fundraiser. Each year the VNA partners with local artists and vendors to host the 26th annual community event for a worthy cause. Their mission is straightforward: Eat soup. Buy art. Change lives.

For 126 years, this nonprofit has set out to rectify a growing problem of homelessness and bring healthcare to underserved communities in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Founded in 1896 by the mayor of Omaha’s daughter Anna Millard Rogers, the VNA serviced unwed mothers and low-income families, providing free healthcare. It was Millard Rogers’ dream to take direct healthcare to the impoverished and less fortunate. The program has continued to thrive since its inception, carrying on an impactful and longstanding legacy. Unlike most average fundraisers, with Art & Soup there are no tables for ten, raising the paddle, ice sculptures, or speeches. Its whittled down to a three-hour event where attendees can come and go as they please, buy art, and enjoy a tasty selection of soup. In 2023 they raised $180,000 through corporate sponsorships, donations, and ticket sales.

Being able to serve as the Honorary Chair this year was a humbling and unforgettable experience for Hoich. “I was very blessed.”, he recalls., “and then I cried.” His involvement with the VNA is a deeply personal one. VNA nurses were a constant in his life during a challenging upbringing involving foster care. The Stephen Center’s rehabilitation center in Omaha is named after him. It’s not only an apt reminder of the struggles he overcame, but a testament to the power of rising above adversity while having a dream in sight.

What was once his abusive father’s bar now stands in its place the center; a symbolic beacon of hope for those passing through rehabilitation and forging

paths to better lives. Living by a “service above self,” philosophy, Hoich is as transparent as they come, and philanthropy is at the core of what he does. With his values rooted in humility, integrity, and trust, it’s not accolades that hold significance for him but being able to leave a legacy to the community that helped get him through hardship. It’s all about giving back, such as impacting the lives of addicts and homeless individuals and helping them to heroically transition their lives through the VNA. Art & Soup is the catalyst for creating change in the lives of families and individuals looking to recovery and a second chance.

Hoich may be semi-retired, but he continues to do philanthropic work serving as the Vice President of the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and sitting on over 40 boards, including the City of Omaha Planning Board and Westside High School Alumni Board. At age 19, he was the youngest member in history to join the Rotary, and at age 30, he made his first million. With just a Sears Craftmanship lawnmower he inherited from his mother, Hoich started a successful lawncare maintenance business from the ground up. In 2007 he published his book, “From the Ground Up, It’s Not Just Business,” detailing his journey to success.

It is Hoich’s goal to make Art & Soup the number one fundraiser since the VNA’s formation. “My whole life is giving back,” he remarks. “I’ve never seen a hearse pull a U-Haul.” In other words, a stark reminder that when you leave this earth you can’t take money with you.

Held at the Omaha Design Center, Art & Soup gives back in more ways than one. Its philanthropic spirit propels a very important purpose forward: to raise funds for VNA’s medical care for communities in need. Twenty restaurants from across Omaha including Biaggis, Stirnella, and Herb Sainte came on board to concoct specially made soups for the event. An indoor arts festival

boasts everything from pottery to jewelry to glass blowing and photography. Artists and vendors who participate also agree to give 50% of their art sales to support the VNA and their efforts. The VNA partners with a number of homeless shelters such as the Sienna Francis House, the Open Door Mission, the Stephen Center, Micah House, and Mom’s House in Council Bluffs.

Along with provisions for homeless individuals, the VNA assists in other ways, providing services and tools to equip needs such as parenting and pregnancy programs or reading nurse specialists.

“We serve people literally wherever they call home.” says Carole Patrick, Interim CEO and Chief Philanthropy Officer of the VNA. Patrick, a psychologist by education, states that 60% of mental health disorders inhabit homeless shelters in Omaha. “The entire purpose of the fundraiser is to raise money to put nurses in homeless and domestic violence shelters. We try to target that specific area. I think it’s a well-known fundraiser in our community because it’s unique and people like knowing where the money goes; that nurses are being put in homeless shelters where they are the first line of public healthcare for folks.”

VNA nurses are the unsung heroes. “They are just angels,” beams Patrick. “They have an incredible sense of care for these folks and in our local shelters. People tend to kind of ‘shelter surf’ as there is generally a limit for how long you can be there unless there are other factors. What’s the consistent across there? There’s a VNA nurse in every shelter, so you know that one of those nurses is there.”

Visit vnatoday.org/events/art-soup/

“MY WHOLE LIFE IS GIVING BACK. I’VE NEVER SEEN A HEARSE PULL A U-HAUL.””

-JOHN LEE HOICH

“PEOPLE FLOCK TO MAIN THOROUGHFARES FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. IT’S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING TO PUT DEALS TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT HASN’T STOPPED.”

-BRIAN FARRELL

FEATURE | STORY BY LISA LUKECART | PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN

OMAHA’S COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

LOCAL OFFICE, INDUSTRIAL, AND RETAIL MARKETS MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, SHOWING HEALTHY REBOUND DESPITE LOOMING RECESSION FEARS

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The classic spaghetti Western film title aptly reflects the varied state of commercial real estate markets nationally. In a interview with CNBC earlier this year, real estate investment mogul Patrick Carroll issued a dire warning about the economic outlook for the US: “It’s going to be ugly” or “going to be at least as bad” as the 2008-09 financial crisis. He cited the $1.5 trillion commercial real estate debts due in two years, higher interest rates, and office-building vacancy rates as major threats. But Carroll also found some “good” news in multifamily markets, still performing strong amid ambiguity.

Omaha real estate professionals, however, are more optimistic about the commercial market, dismissing national alarmists on the subject. Bennett Ginsberg, the managing director at commercial and real estate investment firm CBRE Group Inc., believes “crisis” seems overreactive, especially for the Omaha metro. He sees corporations shifting how they operate to accommodate workers, the cost of building materials coming down, and greater efforts to upgrade outdated environments as positive trends. The pandemic transformed the landscape, softening demand for Office B and C (generally older buildings), with many employees moving to remote and hybrid work. Companies in these spaces hope to entice workers back to the office by investing new exercise equipment, higher-end technology, and collaboration rooms, he explained.

-BENNETT GINSBERG

“Employees want flexible work and amenities. They are driving [the change]. Employees’ voices are being heard,” Ginsberg said.

New construction of commercial space continues in the Omaha market, as evidenced by several noteworthy projects underway.

In January, the city broke ground on its first environmentally friendly mass timber commercial edifice, covering about 120,000 square feet, at 1501 Mike Fahey Street in Omaha’s Builder’s District. The $57-million project will house mainly offices with additional retail and restaurant options on the horizon. The development, offering fresh-air common areas, rooftop vistas, and access to a nearby urban park, demonstrates a shift toward sustainable commercial design and worker-friendly environs, post-pandemic.

Mutual of Omaha’s plans for a 677-foot tower for their headquarters, slated to finish in 2026, will add great opportunities in downtown Omaha. The impressive 800,000-square-foot tower is certain to attract workers, aesthetically speaking, but the

meeting space and fitness amenities will no doubt enhance the insurance employer’s appeal as well.

“[Mutual] will change the landscape and the skyline of Omaha. It will be a positive change to that area,” said Mandi Backhaus, an associate broker with commercial real estate agency The Lerner Company. Like Ginsberg, Backhaus is cautiously optimistic about the local commercial market in the near term. “Here in Omaha, we’re fortunate to be here...it’s remained stable. We didn’t overbuild. Developers and [commercial] landlords are figuring out how to repurpose [vacant] spaces. In retail, there’s always doom and gloom about it, but folks are asking, ‘How do we pivot and get creative?’”

NAI NP, the commercial real estate division of NP Dodge, reported via CoStar data that Omaha’s 48.5 million square feet of office space had a 6.9% vacancy rate in second quarter 2023, holding steady from Q1 and posting an improvement from 2022’s fourth quarter of 7.7%. New construction continued an upward climb with 1.4 million square feet. Investors Realty Inc., a commercial real estate and property management company, relayed concerns over the sublease market in their 2022 office market report. High interest rates mean less construction of new Class A space, making space for lease harder to find. Developers continue a wait-and-see game, holding off on building new structures to observe how the industry shakes out.

“EMPLOYEES WANT FLEXIBLE WORK AND AMENITIES. THEY ARE DRIVING [THE CHANGE]. EMPLOYEES’ VOICES ARE BEING HEARD.”

FROM PAGE 25

Your Experts in Business Banking

The Silicon Valley Bank collapse in northern California spurred concerns about banking instability caused by commercial real estate woes, and this continues to stress the national market; however, it’s less an issue for an agriculture-heavy state like Nebraska.

“We are fortunate in our community that it’s a fairly strong economic city. Anywhere you look, there’s some development. I don’t see it stopping,” Ginsberg said.

Meanwhile, the local industrial space sector remains healthy, retaining a low vacancy rate of about 2% in the second quarter 2023, according to the NAI NP report. The pandemic brought about construction of retail fulfillment centers in eastern Nebraska, necessitated by the upsurge in online shopping, and there’s still 3.4 million square feet of new industrial construction underway. In Investors Realty Inc.’s end-of-the-year industrial report for 2022, a combined 63% of this total is derived from Amazon’s four facilities. Tech giants Facebook, Yahoo, and Google have spent big sums on construction of new data centers in the metro in recent years, and in August, Google announced plans for $1.2 billion in further invesmtent. In addition, the Nebraska Unicameral passed legislation that makes Omaha ripe for a future semiconductor plant.

In retail, the Good Life Transformational Projects Act gained traction. Heavyweights like the Nebraska Crossing Outlets in neighboring Gretna want to expand another 1,000 acres to double in size. Retail continues to expand with a low 4.7% vacancy rate in Omaha, although asking rates jumped $16.63 per square foot in the Q2 run-down from NAI NP. Developers continue to chase the population boom in newly constructed multi-housing areas. The 344,000 square feet of under-construction retail space drifted downward a notch, yet the

“WE ARE FORTUNATE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IT’S A FAIRLY STRONG ECONOMIC CITY. ANYWHERE YOU LOOK, THERE’S SOME DEVELOPMENT. I DON’T SEE IT STOPPING,”

-BENNETT GINSBERG

sector continues to thrive despite an unclear future on national and local levels. Supply chain issues, inflation, and interest rates hamper production for some retailers.

“People flock to main thoroughfares for obvious reasons. It’s a little frustrating to put deals together because of the cost of construction, but it hasn’t stopped,” said Brian Farrell, principal retail and land broker with Investors Realty.

Farrell started in the company in 2005 and still remembers the dark days of the market during the Great Recession. Buildings sat empty and shuttered for sometimes years. The market hopped again in 2014 until the pandemic hit six years later.

“It’s still a weird market,” Farrell said. “Interest rates have made selling businesses harder.”

Sellers have unrealistic expectations that make them want to hold for a 4% interest rate, which won’t happen soon, Farrell said. Location becomes another hardship since a broker can’t sell on one corner, but 10 miles further west it’s hot. For example, the ground at 204th “flies off the shelves” at $18 or $20 a foot while a property at 192nd and Q streets won’t sell at a cheaper price point.

“We (far southwest Omaha) were up next, then 204th stole our thunder,” Farrell joked.

The building boom from Avenue One to 204th, north or south, just can’t be beat at the moment. Hy-Vee located its largest store, at 135,000 square feet, on the corner of 192nd and Highway 370 in Gretna. Medical centers like the newly finished 90,000-square-foot Nebraska Medicine on 175th and Burke streets and the soon-to-bebuilt 60,000-square-foot Children’s Hospital and Medical Center at 204th and Harrison streets will greatly impact traffic in the area.

The aftermath of the pandemic means people want more “eatertainments,” a combination of dining and entertainment, or outdoor activities to keep them moving. Chicken N Pickle, a regional chain that combines pickleball and sports bar fun, may land on the southwest corner of 120th and Fort streets. The project from Roanoke Business Park

and the owners of Mulhall’s Nursery has yet to announce the name of the potential eatertainment on the 3.317-acre lot. Another fast-growing development, Heartwood Preserve, renews interest in “shopping, playing, and living” off 144th Street and West Dodge Road.

Gretna plans to open a $55-million community recreation area with activities ranging from a water park to frisbee golf. Trails could connect the sports complex to the outlet mall for easy access to shopping. And the Elkhorn Athletic Association hopes to draw in regional and national tournaments after breaking ground on their $55 million youth MD West ONE Sports Complex outside of Valley, Nebraska.

Ginsberg believes the end-of-the-year outlook seems slower, with fewer buildings to sell and banks tightening their credit. A potential slight recession could happen, he warned, increasing interest rates and delaying some projects.

Backhaus agreed with the assessment and wishes she had a crystal ball to sneak a peek at upcoming interest rates, forecasted to rise. Farrell doesn’t perceive retail tanking too much but thinks small mom-and-pop shops might have trouble with rising prices.

“For Omaha, we will continue to push forward. We are still busy leasing space and busy selling ground,” Farrell said.

Ginsberg believes in Omaha’s ability to withstand any and all economic challenges and is proud that leaders pressed forward on projects like the renovation of the Gene Leahy Mall and creation of the Kiewit Luminarium the past few years. That can-do attitude has allowed Omaha to thrive while other cities struggled during difficult times.

“We are very fortunate to live in this community that has a philanthropic heart. A lot of money has been thrown into this city,” Ginsberg said. Visit CBRE.com, nainpdodge.com, lernerco.com, and investorsomaha.com for more information.

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FEATURE | STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS | PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN

SOMETHING TO SAY PODCASTING RESOURCES HELP BUSINESSES FIND THEIR AUDIENCE, DEFINE THEIR MESSAGE

Alittle more than 20 years after the first podcasts emerged, the number of audio and video podcast series worldwide is well into the millions and growing. A major appeal of podcasting is easy accessibility for the listener, and launching a business podcast seems simple enough: set up a microphone in an empty office and start recording. Instant success, right?

Not exactly, said Matt Tompkins, co-owner of content marketing firm Two Brothers Creative. While there are stories of successful do-it-yourself podcasters, business owners should consider consulting professionals.

“There’s a reason most podcasts, globally, only last six to 10 episodes before people give up. There are almost as many dead podcasts that aren’t active as there are active ones,” he said. “People quickly realize this is a lot of work… If you don’t go through the process of defining who your ideal listener is, what your identity is, what you want to get out like what problem are you solving for your listeners you’re going to run into issues of just having no direction or identity for your podcast.”

Richard Lewis III, who owns podcast service provider Webberized with his wife, Marjorie Sturgeon, agreed that developing a successful podcast takes thought, and sustaining one takes determination.

“There’s a lot of time, effort, and research involved,” he explained. “The people who

actually have a real passion and a commitment to it, those are those podcasts that stand out.”

Mike Wallace, studio manager for KPAO Community Television, said effective podcasters have an enthusiasm for storytelling or for sharing common interests with listeners. They also need to have abundant content ideas from targeted topics to guest speakers before the first upload. Starting small, with episodes as short as 20 minutes, and a monthly schedule commitment (rather than weekly) can help a podcast gain traction as it builds a following.

“You really need to have a plan: week to week, month to month, where is your story going? And how do you fill that out is it with a range of guests that all have different takes, or is it just yourself and a lot of stories?” Wallace said. “You need to be organized. Think of a dozen shows, think of 20 shows, start building an outline so you’re not three weeks in and hitting a wall trying to line up either your topics or your guests… If you have good content that expands on itself each time, then you’ll continue to draw those people in because they love the topic and are getting something new on that topic.”

Businesses can fit well into the podcasting universe because they already serve as subject matter experts for their products or services. Podcasting content, however, is not like infomercials or other advertising media.

“The first thing I like to tell potential podcasters to do to get started bare minimum is a mission statement,” Sturgeon said. “I want to see them write a short paragraph about the goal of their podcast and what they’re trying to accomplish or what story they’re trying to share, because that will keep them focused and looking towards that finish line or whatever they’re trying to accomplish.”

Podcasts can help build brand awareness, provide product education, build relationships with potential customers, and more. But to accomplish those goals, one must first precisely identify their target audience, Tompkins said.

“Everybody wants to be vague, and they say, ‘Well, my audience is everybody,’” he said. “It’s all about resonating deeply, and I believe with any form of content, with so many options, it’s about being specific… With podcasting, in particular, it’s the most intimate medium we have; you’re literally inside someone’s head talking to them one on one… If you’re not being specific, you’re not going to resonate or connect with people on a deep level, and you’re not going to have a successful podcast.”

There’s something to be said for professional resources that include access to studio facilities, high-quality equipment, and expert guidance, Sturgeon said. Professional podcast producers such as Webberized, Two Brothers Creative, and KPAO can help even a neophyte business podcaster sound (and look, if video is involved) more polished, professional, and credible.

Marjorie Sturgen, Richard Lewis III

FROM PAGE 28

“The thing we bring to the table is support and encouragement and just that opportunity to allow [business clients] to be able to focus on their content while we take on the tech side of things,” Sturgeon said of Webberized.

Tompkins, whose company has found a niche working with business owners, said his team also helps integrate podcasting into a larger marketing strategy. Or as he puts it: “It’s really kind of the secret weapon for businesses on a budget.” Professionals can help podcasters find an audience through multiple methods and channels from social media to guesting on more established podcasts. They can also repurpose full podcast content in video and transcription or create short-form, multichannel content like sound bites, post copy, and graphics.

If hosting is not appealing, Wallace said, a business owner or leader who has abundant content ideas and an identified audience still plays a major role in developing a podcast.

“Not everybody feels comfortable having a conversation that brightens the room, if you will. So, if that’s something that you can’t pull off yourself, find someone who has those skills and work with them with your message,” he said.

“Become a podcast producer… Think about the great TV shows and movies: the director isn’t there on screen, they’re making it happen. They’re the ones that are putting it all together.”

Visit twobrotherscreative.com; webberized.com, and kpaotvomaha.org for more information.

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“THE THING WE BRING TO THE TABLE IS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND JUST THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW [BUSINESS CLIENTS] TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THEIR CONTENT WHILE WE TAKE ON THE TECH SIDE OF THINGS.”

-MARJORIE STURGEON

“WE HAVE ABOUT 25,000 GUATEMALANS LIVING IN NEBRASKA, WHICH IS A HUGE REASON WE HAVE TO OPEN THIS OFFICE.”

-BILLY MUÑOZ

FEATURE | STORY BY CHRIS WOLFGANG | PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN

OMAHA’S FOREIGN CONSULATES BUILDING BRIDGES FOR COMMERCE AND CONSTITUENTS

n a few words,” said Billy Muñoz, consul general for Omaha’s new Guatemalan consulate, “a consulate is a foreign office that provides documentation services, passports, IDs, consular protection, and legal assistance for their constituents. We’re also promoters of tourism, economic development, and investments for our country.”

You could say that those last two areas of focus economic development and investments are the long-haul work of Nebraska’s foreign consulates.

“This is Diplomacy 101,” Andrew Schilling said with a grin. He’s the honorary consul for Japan in Omaha. “Outside of their embassy in a nation’s capital, a government will set up consulates…typically, where there’s a lot of flow of their nationals, as well as opportunity for business investment.”

“One of our missions is definitely to promote business between Mexico and Nebraska,” said Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes. He’s served twice now as consul titular for Mexico in Omaha and was instrumental in bringing Mexican dairy company LaLa to Omaha. “It was a very long, long process. I presented an investment plan to LaLa in Mexico. LaLa had to confer with the Mexican government as far as potential locations and tax issues. We had to demonstrate that there was a sufficient workforce ready here and orient them with how to go through various legal processes in Nebraska… Like two years or more of this.”

Consulates are integral to both attracting foreign business to their region, as well as building relationships for trade. For example, Mexico is

Nebraska’s No. 1 export destination, according to the US Department of Commerce, with 22% of Nebraska’s exports going to Mexico.

“Japan really loves our high-end beef,” Schilling said. “They love soy. You like ramen? Good ramen will have a nice piece of pork on top. That pork in Japan is probably coming from Nebraska.”

Don’t forget that American jobs are boosted by foreign investment. The Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores credits Mexican trade with supporting 31,000 jobs in Nebraska, and as of 2020, Japan is the top foreign employer in US manufacturing, according to the Japan External Trade Organization.

“Kawasaki has been here 40-plus years,” Schilling said. “The Lincoln plant makes all the train cars you’ll ride on the Washington metro or the New York subway system. That’s the influence of what that investor has done.” He’s passionate about recruiting Japanese businesses to set up shop in Nebraska. “I’d like to see us attract more of these investors and build up more of a manufacturing base here in Nebraska. Why do Japanese business in California? It’s expensive! Bring it to Nebraska.” Schilling points to the CHIPS and Science Act, passed under President Joe Biden, an industrial policy strategy for the US to intentionally bring silicon chip manufacturing into the US. “Kansas got something like $30 million to construct one of those CHIPS plants. I want one of those in Nebraska.”

Let’s consider another crucial Nebraska commodity education. “Education is a US export,” Schilling insisted. On a trade mission to Vietnam in July, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen

and University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li facilitated a partnership between a Vietnam university and UNO. “That will help create a pipeline of students from Vietnam to study here. If we can attract overseas students to study in the US, that’s a positive factor on our bilateral trade books. You absolutely have to be a globalist if you’re going to participate in a global world.”

“Education is the base of everything,” Montes agreed. One of his personal goals for the Mexican consulate is to promote an exchange of teachers between Mexico and Nebraska, not just students. “We want to bring teachers from Mexico to Nebraska, and take Nebraska teachers to Mexico,” he said. “Our elementary teachers come up to Nebraska and they share with [Omaha Public Schools] and other Nebraska schools how they teach our children.”

In addition to considering their government’s business interests within the state, Nebraska’s foreign consulates also try to help their nationals succeed in their own business endeavors.

“As any government office, we have limited resources,” Muñoz said, “but we have valuable networks with nonprofits, local government offices, banks that can help us simplify the life of Guatemalans living here.” There are 75,000 Guatemalans throughout the region that Muñoz covers, which includes Nebraska, Iowa, North and South Dakota, and Minnesota. “We have about 25,000 Guatemalans living in Nebraska, which is a huge reason we have to open this office.”

FROM PAGE 33

An El Salvadoran consulate opened in Omaha last March, which brings the number of Latin American consulates in the city to three. The Mexican consulate serves the largest percentage of Nebraska’s Latin American population, at 78%.

There’s no specific number a population needs to hit before a consulate opens in a new region. “The Guatemalan government decides where to establish a consulate according to the country’s interests and its citizens’ needs,” Muñoz said. “This is a very strategic city. With [a consulate in] Omaha, we can cover a lot of states and reduce travel time.”

Prior to the opening of the Omaha office in late summer of this year, the nearest Guatemalan consulates were Chicago and Denver. “It’s a huge effort to get a passport, to open a bank account, to drive over eight hours one way,” he explained. Constituents without a driver’s license or immigration status often have to pay raiteros to drive them to these consulates. “It’s very expensive.”

Muñoz outlined the criticality of an accessible consulate. “We have that network that provides specific information so they can succeed. We can say, ‘Go to this clinic… they don’t require insurance, they won’t require an immigration status to check in. Here’s the bank that won’t request three forms of identification or a social security number. Here’s how to rent an apartment.’ We know who will help. We’re not just here for them when they arrive, not just when they need a document that expires once every five years. The intention of the consulate is to be part of the life of Guatemalans in this region.”

If a constituent asks their consulate for help opening a business, for example, the office should be able to outline the necessary steps. “You need a business plan, you need an IT number, you need to go to the city…” Muñoz said. “We provide all the information for the process.”

At the Mexican consulate, entrepreneurs and self-starters can take classes online to learn about business and investment in Nebraska. “For example, we have a six-month business class just for women Mujeres Emprendedoras,” Montes points out. “We have an investment class that’s available to everyone. Bellevue University is working with us so the consulate can give classes directly there. It’s a private university so they accept anyone regardless of immigration status.”

After a Mexican citizen has taken a first business or investment course from the consulate, their next steps might include taking business classes in English, on how to scale a business, or how to increase investments, and so on. Classes are promoted on the consulate’s Facebook page.

“The quality of life in Omaha, the cost of living it’s just a great place to raise a family,” Schilling said. “This is what I keep telling people, come look at Nebraska, you’ll be surprised. We have the best zoo in the United States. We have a biocontainment unit that received evacuated overseas Americans for COVID treatment. It was one of four in the nation! Who knew what you could find here?

びっくりしました (bikkuri shimashita)!”

(English translation: Surprise!)

If relationships are essential to business, then Nebraska’s foreign consulates seem to understand their mission. “Let me tell you, there’s good people here,” Montes said. “The weather is cold, it’s terrible, but the people are warm. It’s easy to have good relations with people here. When I compare Nebraska to other states I’ve worked in… Well, it’s very good to be working here.”

Visit consulmex.sre.gob.mx/omaha/ information; consulate-info.com/consulate/27425/Japan-inOmaha; and embassies.net/guatemala-in-unitedstates/omaha for more information.

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FEATURE | STORY BY DWAIN HEBDA | PHOTO BY SARAH LEMKE

KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON OPPD’S GRID MODERNIZATION AN ONGOING, COSTLY CONCERN

This summer’s excessive heat, which set records for single-day high temperatures as well as consecutive days of record-high temps in many cities across the US, again put utility companies on high alert. Risks of rolling power outages, resulting in angry consumers, lost business productivity, and quite possibly a number of heat-related deaths, were a real concern for many communities.

Electric utilities nationwide are struggling with an aging power grid, one unable to bear the load of atypical power demands caused by heat waves and other forces. Omaha ’s power provider is in planning mode to modernize its systems and meet growing energy needs now, before the outages begin.

“OPPD has a regulatory obligation to maintain sufficient generating capacity to meet its peak demand plus a reserve margin,” said Colton Kennedy, director of energy portfolio planning. “This means that as load grows, OPPD must proactively plan for and construct generation facilities in advance to meet future needs. The timing of capacity expansion is dependent on several factors. For example, OPPD must consider the rate of customer growth as well as the time required to construct and interconnect new facilities when it considers timing of capacity expansion.

“OPPD’s service territory is experiencing significant near-term growth, above its previous forecast in our Pathways to Decarbonization Study and 2021 Integrated Resource Plan,” Kennedy continued. “This growth is driven by accelerating trends for electrification driving energy usage across customer classes, as well as an increase in projected industrial growth supporting a growing economy.”

According to the US Department of Energy, 70% of the nation’s transmission lines and power transformers are more than 25 years old, which actually may be soft-pedaling the seriousness of the situation. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) suggested in a 2020 report that most of the transmission system was built in the 1950s and 1960s with a 50-year life expectancy, meaning “they have reached or surpassed their intended lifespan.”

Knocking the rust off an aging utility infrastructure several decades in technological arrears is a time-and resources-consuming proposition. Improvement projects are taking place nationwide to the tune of hundreds of upgrade and improvement projects every quarter, commanding billions of public and private dollars to do so. UtilityDrive.com reported in January there were 498 grid modernizationrelated policy and deployment actions in 48 states in Q3 2021 alone, costing just over $900 million, with $13 billion worth of additional investment tabled for further study by regulators.

Despite this ongoing effort, industry experts say preparing for future load demands accelerated by wider deployment of electric vehicles, stepped-up business and industrial demands and, some say, climate change the push for nationwide grid modernization is a job measured in decades and trillions of dollars.

Omaha Public Power District finds itself in the same pitched battle as utilities coast-to-coast, especially given the city’s population growth and the rise of large, commercial customers locally in the data storage and fulfillment/warehousing

arena. In response to these demands, the utility has moved decisively to help provide the power capacity needed for current loads as well as the needs of the future, said Jodi Baker, OPPD media specialist.

“OPPD has powered our communities through a great deal of growth and change over the past 75 years,” she said. “Our region is experiencing another period of exponential growth expected to continue for years to come new neighborhoods, new ways of farming, new data centers, widened roads, and new and expanding businesses. So, the need for this additional generation is not a surprise as resource planning is an integral part of OPPD’s regular operations.

“With that growth, and as our customers rely more and more on technology, we must continue to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. OPPD expects to add energy load to our system at a rate of 100 MW per year for the next five to six years. For context, 100 MW is the equivalent of adding about 65 metro-area high schools or mid-size hospitals in just one year.”

In its 2022 Annual Report, OPPD detailed projects that were in process or had come to fruition in the name of grid modernization and capacity expansion, including new high-voltage transmission lines and substations. Such projects don’t happen overnight, however; and regulatory and cost hurdles, along with the usual challenges of manpower and materials, are lending greater heft to the mission’s complexity.

“PARTNERSHIPS ARE KEY.” -MEGAN WALKER

FROM

“Specifically related to construction of new generation facilities, there comes a need for various supporting infrastructure, including fuel supply such as natural gas pipelines, substations, and transmission lines,” said Megan Walker, project manager, OPPD construction management. “This infrastructure could be part of the larger generation construction project or be accomplished with separate projects that coordinate with the overall. Examples of other steps include onboarding and training staff, public outreach and communication, and permitting for emissions.

“In order to interconnect to the high-voltage transmission grid, we will go through the Southwest Power Pool Generator Interconnection Agreement regulatory process, which studies the request for grid impacts and determines connection requirements such as transmission upgrades to maintain reliable operation of the overall grid.”

As for the future, Baker said the utility is committed to continued investment, both on its own and by partnering with the communities in its service area.

“Partnerships are key,” she said. “Cities and counties have their own development plans that dictate expansions and updates for their own infrastructure. These are things OPPD has to be aware of, too. Working together, we can ensure we have the resources we need to reliably serve our customers now and in the future as businesses thrive and energy use within our area continues to grow.”

Visit oppdcommunityconnect.com/ for more information on OPPD projects.

OMAHA CVB BY DEBORAH WARD

OMAHA STARS IN ITS OWN REALITY MAKEOVER SHOW

O n home-makeover reality shows, the audience always gets to see the ‘before’ and ‘after’ images showing the full transformation of the lucky contestant’s home. It’s the satisfying payoff after investing an hour watching a program. Now imagine the lucky contestant’s home is an entire city. The investment is more than $8 billion and the ultimate payoff benefits everyone in Omaha. That’s a reality show worth watching, and its “live-streaming” right now throughout our city.

For tourism, all this new development means our team has a fresh product to sell, innovative experiences to promote, and new opportunities to entice leisure travelers, convention attendees, and sports fans to our city.

The RiverFront Park trifecta completely transformed the downtown area. The $325 million, 72-acre, threepark development features large, picturesque green spaces, one-ofa-kind playgrounds, water features in the summer, ice features in the winter, public art, an urban beach, and a cantilever overlook that shoots out over the Missouri River. Pair that with the creative, awe-inspiring Kiewit Luminarium. This 82,000-square-foot world-class discovery center offers more than 100 interactive exhibits for all ages. Within blocks, Steelhouse Omaha, Omaha’s newest music venue, opened this year to sold-out crowds.

THE URBAN CORE OF OMAHA

And if that isn’t enough, there’s a second season to this development show. In 2024, Joslyn Art Museum re-opens after a twoyear, $100 million expansion. Tranquility Park will start to undergo massive upgrades, giving Omaha the opportunity to attract new regional and national youth sporting events to our city.

So don’t change the channel there are still a lot of ‘before’ and ‘after’ images to see, and the payoff will be worth the wait.

For more Omaha development that is making waves in tourism industry, go over to www. VisitOmaha.com/Development.

U nderstanding the Urban Core Encompassing the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods, the urban core is Omaha’s beating heart. It is a hub of economic activity, cultural landmarks, and community engagement. As the city grows, addressing the challenges and opportunities that arise within the urban core is crucial. The Chamber has helped draft a strategy for this with the Urban Core plan, part of the 2040 Strategic 4Sight (S4S) initiative.

Infrastructure and Transportation

One of the key challenges Omaha’s urban core faces is the need for efficient and reliable infrastructure and transportation systems. To ensure smooth mobility and connectivity, the city must prioritize the development of a robust public transportation network, including improved bus routes, light rail systems, and bike-friendly infrastructure. By reducing reliance on private vehicles, Omaha can alleviate traffic congestion and promote a more sustainable urban environment.

Sustainable Development Strategies

Smart Growth and Urban Planning

Tackling urbanization is no small feat. Omaha must adopt smart growth and urban planning strategies, carefully managing the city’s expansion while preserving its unique character and natural resources. Through the S4S initiative, Omaha can create a more livable and environmentally friendly urban core by promoting mixed-use development, encouraging walkability, and maintaining green spaces.

Economic Development and Job Creation

A thriving urban core relies on a strong and diverse economy. Omaha must focus on attracting new businesses and nurturing entrepreneurship to create a robust job market. By providing incentives for investment, fostering innovation, and supporting small businesses, the city can stimulate economic

growth and improve the quality of life for its residents.

Social and Community Engagement

Affordable Housing and Inclusive Communities

To grow the core of Omaha, we must address the issue of affordable housing and ensure that all residents have access to safe and affordable homes. The city can foster inclusivity and create a sense of community within its urban core by implementing policies that promote affordable housing developments and mixed-income neighborhoods. Proposed projects, like the redevelopment of the former Civic Auditorium, address these issues and will help make this possible.

Cultural Preservation and Public Spaces

Preserving Omaha’s rich cultural heritage and creating vibrant public spaces are central in fostering a sense of place and community. The city should invest in the preservation of historic buildings, promote public art initiatives, and develop parks and recreational areas that cater to the diverse needs of its residents.

As Omaha embraces its future as a growing city, it must confront the challenges of urbanization head-on. By focusing on sustainable development strategies, prioritizing infrastructure and transportation improvements, and fostering social and community engagement, the city can create a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient urban core. With a clear vision, as shown in the 2040 S4S initiative, and strategic planning, Omaha has the potential to become a model for urban development in the heartland of America.

Heath Mellow is CEO for the Greater Omaha Chamber.

Deborah Ward is the executive director of Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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