September/October/November 2013 B2B Omaha Magazine by Omaha Magazine

FALL 2013 • SEPT/OCT/NOV

Mark Hasebroock DUNDEE VENTURE

CAPITAL BEVERLY KRACHER, PH.D. Takes Omaha Ethics Worldwide

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publisher TODD LEMKE omaha publications editor LINDA PERSIGEHL incoming editor DAVID WILLIAMS assistant editor & web content editor BAILEY HEMPHILL assistant editor CHRIS WOLFGANG editorial intern PETER SETTER (#28) contributing writers LEO ADAM BIGA • JUDY HORAN ALLISON JANDA • BEVERLY KRACHER, PH.D. DANA MARKEL • CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI KARA SCHWEISS • MEGHAN TOWNLEY MIKE WATKINS creative director JOHN GAWLEY director of photography & interactive media BILL SITZMANN senior graphic designer KATIE ANDERSON junior graphic designer PAUL LUKES graphic design intern LIBBY SCHLOSSER (#29) CARRIE HAUSMAN (#30) account executives GWEN LEMKE • GREG BRUNS GIL COHEN • VICKI VOET PAIGE EDWARDS assistant to the publisher SANDY BESCH MATSON account assistants ALICIA SMITH HOLLINS • JESSICA LINHART DAWN DENNIS operations TYLER LEMKE warehouse distribution manager MIKE BREWER for advertising information 402-884-2000 to subscribe: SEND $12.95 FOR A ONE-YEAR (FOUR ISSUES) TO: B2B OMAHA • PO BOX 461208 OMAHA, NE 68046-1208 WWW.B2BOMA.COM a publication of OMAHA MAGAZINE B2B Omaha 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

fall 2013 • september/october/november • volume 13 • issue 3

“We got strung along so many times by different investors who just took forever to get to a conclusion. At some point I thought, ‘There’s just got to be a better way to do it, and I want to someday start a fund of my own—and do it my way, and do it right.’” MARK HASEBROOCK

30 Mark Hasebroock DUNDEE VENTURE CAPITAL

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

COLUMNS

Beverly Kracher, Ph.D. Whether sitting on the floor with local kindergartners or traveling the globe to meet with tribal villagers in Ethiopia’s remote Omo Valley, Beverly Kracher of Omaha’s Business Ethics Alliance explores values that bind all of mankind.

Omaha Products Show Look to robotics being a big hit at the 50th annual Omaha Products Show. A fork lift to move that shiny new piece of animatronics? They have that, too.

On the Rise Grant Stanley

In the Office Phenomblue

Visitors Spend $1 Billion

Planning Your Company Party Does the idea of planning your office’s holiday party cause you to break out in a rash? Check out this step-by-step guide to putting together a perfectly memorable gathering.

Buy the Big O! Show Four hundred exhibitors…5,000 attendees…and a zillion networking opportunities at the Buy the Big O! Show.

Office Furniture Creating a Great Home Office

How We Roll The Vesparados

20 OmAHA!

41 OmAHA!

Business Ethics An Omahan in the Omo Valley

Caption Throw Down

Omaha CVB

MindMixer

Social Media LinkedIn

The Know-It-All Grassroots Organization: Not Just for Politics

Repurpose with a Purpose Everything old is new again in growing both business and communities when well-worn sites and structures take on new life.

BestOfOmaha.com

Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 5

on the rise

story by mike watkins • photo by bill sitzmann

Grant Stanley CAN-DO ATTITUDE

NYONE FAMILIAR WITH HIS

personal and business histories knows Grant Stanley is a naturalborn entrepreneur. Stanley learned first-hand about his desire to be his own boss when he instinctively started his first business as an elementary school student. While walking through his Omaha neighborhood one day, he noticed the many homes that needed landscaping assistance, and despite having no experience, called upon those neighbors and offered suggestions and recommendations. Recognizing his drive and ingenuity at a young

“All of our services tie into predictive analysis using database information and looking for patterns in the data to help us predict the future” GRANT STANLEY age, they hired him to do their yards, and a future business magnate was born. He went on to attend business school at UNO—studying analytics and graduating in just over two years—and it didn’t

take him long to realize that’s where his true future lay. “I’m not sure exactly where it came from; I guess it was always just part of who I am,” Stanley

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

OmahaMagazine.com

says of his entrepreneurial outlook. “I enjoy working for myself, calling my own shots, and making my own decisions. Success or failure, it’s just in my nature.” With his business plan in place, Stanley set out to find a partner—someone who shared his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for data along with a skill set to complement him. Wanting someone fresh and undisturbed by the corporate world, he set out on the UNO campus and found Tadd Wood, who was still working on his degree. Once he agreed to work with Stanley, Wood decided not to limit his learning to one degree. When he was done, he’d earned four degrees in four years and was set to help Stanley move the business idea forward. “I still had the landscaping business, but I knew it was time to get out of it,” Stanley says. “It’s our vision to make predictive analytics simple and affordable because all companies, not just the largest, should be able to benefit from predictive analytics and data science.” These days, the two friends and business partners are elbow-deep in providing forecasting (or predictive analysis) for companies throughout the country and world. Their up-and-coming Omaha company, Contemporary Analysis (CAN), has a simple message: “We build systems that help you work smart.” It’s their contention that their systems help improve sales, marketing, customer service, employee engagement, and strategic planning— all with the goal of achieving optimal performance with less effort. Simple yet very effective, and considering they are competing with big hitters like IBM and serving clients throughout the world (but largely in Omaha), they are more than holding their own. “All of our services tie into predictive analysis using database information and looking for patterns in the data to help us predict the future,” says Stanley, who founded CAN in January 2008 and brought Wood into the fold a month later. Both were just 20 at the time. “Data is a great driver to determine what is likely to happen, particularly with human behavior and patterns. In the case of most of our business partners, we use this information to determine sales, buying patterns, and other historical indicators. It’s all science.” And chemistry—something the two definitely share as they continue to grow their business and fulfill their dreams. B2B BestOfOmaha.com

Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 7

in the office

story by david williams • photos by bill sitzmann

Rendered in raw plywood is the “armature,” acting as a unifying agent flowing through Phenomblue’s new Aksarben Village Space.

Phenomblue OFFERING “AN EXPERIENCE” AT AKSARBEN VILLAGE

Phenomblue co-founder, Joe Olsen

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

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Thank You Omaha!

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EFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF the

Dilbertesque cubicle, American commerce was most commonly conducted in wide-open bullpen settings. The typical professional office layout featured what seemed an acre of neatly arrayed desks surrounded on the periphery by private offices for managementlevel “suits.” The floor plan of a new space at Aksarben Village may evoke echoes of that rotary dial, clickety-clack-typewriter business era, but Phenomblue isn’t your granddaddy’s Mad Men agency. What was once considered the most impersonal of setups is turned upside down at the Omaha-based brand experience agency whose marketing and technology ser vices have attracted such clients as Gogo, Newegg, and Bellevue University. The old-timey bullpen philosophy has come full circle, says Phenomblue co-founder Joe Olsen, in that it is now taking on new life as an incubator for collaboration. > BestOfOmaha.com

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in the office

phenomblue

Ideas germinate freely in the office’s main space.

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

OmahaMagazine.com

Smallish, waist-high office windows minimize distractions.

The community space.

“It’s impossible to sit out there in that big room and not overhear and be drawn into most of what’s going on around you.” JOE OLSEN < “When you start a small business and have only a few employees,” Olsen explains, “everybody just naturally seems to know everything about what is going on. As you get bigger, people begin to become acutely aware that they no longer know everything, and the danger is that a silo mentality can set in. That ‘pockets of activity’ thinking is the very opposite of what made you good in the first place. This design is all about condensing the amount of personal workspace and emphasizing the amount of collaborative workspace. It’s impossible to sit out there in that big room and not overhear and be drawn into most of what’s going on around you.” BestOfOmaha.com

Innovative thinking begins at the door for the company that also has a satellite office in Los Angeles. The obtuse angles of a raw plywood wall form an anchor for what architect Jeff Dolezal calls the space’s spinelike “armature.” “It’s a vehicle to visually carry you through the space,” clarifies Dolezal, co-founder of TACKarchitects, which designed the space for Phenomblue. The armature meanders through the office—don’t look for many 90-degree angles here—rising gently to a group of huddle rooms before reaching its curvy, sloping terminus, one that to this writer conjures images of a skateboard half pipe.

Whiteboards sprinkled throughout are some of the few floor-to-ceiling walls to be found in this open, airy office that incorporates huge garage doors for access to both the main conference room and an outdoor area that is steps away from Aksarben Village’s many live-workplay amenities. Skateboards, guitars, and other oddities hang throughout the funky Phenomblue offices. There’s even an edgy bicycle sculpture in a sprawling area dubbed the Community Space, a drop-in site for many of the firm’s clients, associates, and friends. Nix that. Not a bicycle sculpture after all. Just a cleverly placed, if utilitarian, bike rack that’s just one of the creative design elements that make this experiential marketing space an experience unto itself. “Every day, I feel as though I’m walking into a work of art,” says Olsen. “It’s like a living organism that has its own personality. It reinforces with our clients why they come to us in the first place. It’s all about the experience.” B2B

Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 11

feature

story by judy horan • photo by bill sitzmann

Beverly Kracher, Ph.D. HER PASSION FOR ETHICS HAS HELPED MAKE OMAHA A GUIDING LIGHT OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR FOR THE NATION.

EVERLY KRACHER, PH.D., HAS

been teaching and researching business ethics for more than 20 years. She has been professor of Business Ethics at Creighton University since 1991. But the seasoned academic holds a strong belief that ethics discussions should reach outside the classroom and into Omaha’s day-to-day business life. She found soulmates in many of Omaha’s business leaders who shared her passion for ethics. Working together, Omaha’s business community launched the Business Ethics Alliance in 2008. The group consults, trains, and speaks on ethics.

“I spoke in Ethiopia recently, and they said they had never conceived of a relationship between ethics and success in business.” BEVERLY KRACHER, PH.D. Founding partners are the Creighton University College of Business, Greater Omaha Chamber, Better Business Bureau, and the Omaha business community. The Business Ethics Alliance isn’t just for business. The group also interacts with

college and K-12 students, as well as executives, employees, and entrepreneurs. Business Ethics Alliance programming focuses on the core values of accountability, community responsibility, integrity, financial vitality,

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

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and moral courage. As holder of the Robert B. Daugherty Endowed Chair in Business Ethics & Society, Kracher is free to work outside the classroom. She teaches one Creighton graduate class each year. Otherwise she leads the Business Ethics Alliance as executive director and CEO, often traveling to countries worldwide. “I spoke in Ethiopia recently, and they said they had never conceived of a relationship between ethics and success in business,” Kracher says. But companies considering relocating to Omaha are well aware of the relationship, according to David Brown, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. One Illinois company, reeling from the indictment of the state’s governor, found solace in Omaha’s ethical business community. “Another client specifically asked us to make part of our presentation about ethical practices in Omaha because they wanted a community that took ethics seriously,” says Brown. “We blew them away.” Helping found the Business Ethics Alliance brought Kracher a great deal of satisfaction—and an award from the Greater Omaha Chamber as the 2013 Business Woman of the Year. She’s earned it, says Brown: “She has taken a fledgling organization and turned it into something unique to Omaha. It requires business acumen, as well as the ability to work with business leaders.” Kracher said that ethical business communities have leaders with strong, shared, positive values who are fair to their workforce, give back to their communities, and have honest and accountable employees. The ethical communities have non-corrupt government and nonprofits that partner with for-profits. She is a columnist for B2B Omaha magazine and co-authored the book Ethinary, An Ethics Dictionary: 50 Ethical Words to Add to Your Conversation. The book sits on many business professionals’ desks around the country. “Words are power,” Kracher said. “One of the easiest things we can do is practice articulating our ethics.” Professor, researcher, author, columnist, CEO, she also is vice president of Plant Pros of Omaha, which puts her in the small-business arena. Ethics haven’t changed over the years, she believes: “The ancient Persians used to burn bakers in their ovens for adulterating bread with straw, etc. So bad business has been around for centuries. Good has, too.” B2B

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how [we] roll

story by carol crissey nigrelli • photos by bill sitzmann

The Vesparados LEADERS OF THE SCOOTIN’ PACK

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

HEY CALL THEMSELVES THE

Vesparados and they are, indeed, a wild bunch—wild about their Vespa scooters. About 20 owners of the iconic Italian scooter belong to a loosely knit social group that meets at least once a week, sometimes more in good weather, to tool around Omaha and enjoy the freedom of the outdoors. Rides usually end with libations, dinner, or both. If the name Vespa doesn’t ring a bell, think Gregory Peck vrooming through the crowded streets of the Eternal City with a laughing Audrey Hepburn on the back of his scooter in 1952’s OmahaMagazine.com

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“Everybody has a handle...I’m ‘Jersey.’” GIL COHEN Roman Holiday. Thanks to the Oscar®-winning film, Americans fell in love with the Vespa. First manufactured by Piaggio & Co. in 1946 for easy and economical transportation in decimated post-War Italy, the Vespa remains better suited for boulevards and byways, not highways. “Most Vespas can reach 80 miles per hour,” says Gil Cohen, executive vice president of sales BestOfOmaha.com

and marketing at Omaha Magazine. “But I wouldn’t suggest keeping it up there for very long. We don’t travel on interstates.” The Vesparados come from a wide range of professions. But when the helmets go on, each rider assumes their Vespa persona. “Everybody has a handle,” explains Cohen. “I’m ‘Jersey.’” >

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story by dana markel • illustration provided by u.s. travel association

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what actually happens in our city. New economic impact research shows 5 million out-of-town guests visited Omaha in 2012, the equivalent of holding the CWS in our city dozens and dozens of times. But more importantly, the research shows Omaha is no longer a one- or two-trick pony, where people only visit to attend the CWS or Berkshire Hathaway’s Shareholders Meeting. Our city has developed into a year-round destination. Research conducted by Tourism Economics shows more people are visiting Omaha and spending more in our city than ever before. In 2012, research shows visitors spent $1.025 billion dollars in Omaha, a 13 percent spending increase in two years. As expected, visitor spending is highest during the second and third quarter during the typical summer travel season; however, hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent during other times of the year as well—more proof Omaha’s tourism engine is running full time. The fact that tourism is a year-round business also impacts each of us directly in the form of tax relief. When visitors eat in our restaurants, stay in our hotels, and shop in our stores, they are bringing new money into our local economy. Tourism Economics reports that visitor spending saves each Douglas County household approximately $655 a year in taxes. These new numbers make it clear that the more visitors spend, the more we save—simple math that adds up to a big return all year long. B2B Questions or comments? E-mail us at info@visitomaha.com. Dana Markel, Executive Director Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau 1001 Farnam • Omaha, NE 68102 402-444-4660 • visitomaha.com

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the vesparados

how [we] roll

< On a recent summer evening, the South Jersey native sat astride his red Vespa GTS 250 waiting for others to gather at a Fiat dealership at West Dodge and 180th streets for a cool, twilight ride along the nearby Lincoln Highway. Cohen’s GTS series scooter features Vespa’s trademark pressed-steel unibody, flat floorboard, and prominent front, but with today’s technology. True to the original premise of economy and affordability, the Vespa averages about 65-70 miles-per-gallon and costs around $7,000 tops, with smaller scooters in the $3,000-4,000 range. Ten riders eventually joined Cohen, including new Vesparado Todd Lemke, breezing in on a GTS 300 scooter. “I had to have a bigger bike than Gil’s,” laughs the publisher of Omaha Magazine, who hasn’t gotten a handle on his handle yet. Lemke has always loved “anything with two wheels and a motor,” and finds the Vespa a natural extension of his motorcycle and dirt bike hobbies. The parking lot, now filled with Vespas in hues of blue, red, green, and brown, crackled with laughter, indicating long-standing friendships among the participants. Husband-and-wife dentists Bill and JoAnn Kathrein, a.k.a. “Tito” and “Cupcake,” shared good-natured ribbing with longtime friend Dr. Bill Bucy, a dentist who lives in Auburn, Neb., and stores his Vespa in Omaha. Joining in on the conversations were Spencer “Dragon” Jacobs of Badger Body and Truck and his girlfriend, Kathy Anthes; Dr. George “Doc” Perlebach; Wells Fargo Financial advisor Denis “Ballanca” Roberts; Omaha attorney Dan Smith, clearly enjoying his first Vesparado outing; architect Steve “Itchy” Ginn (no question asked, no explanation offered), whose new GTV series “retro” scooter has the headlight attached to the front fender; and David “Blazer” Parsow, looking very dapper in a crisp, white shirt and black sport jacket. “It comes from being in the clothing business,” deadpans the president of Parsow’s Fashions. The riders motored single file down the Lincoln Highway toward Elkhorn and stopped at a plaque commemorating the centennial of the transcontinental roadway. Placed neatly side-by-side, the scooters looked like a multi-colored, metallic chorus line; their owners looked like they were having a blast. Vespa may mean “wasp” in Italian, but to the Vesparados it means “let’s buzz around.”B2B BestOfOmaha.com

YEARS IN A ROW

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feature

Omaha Products Show

“You can actually see it flip dice, move the dice, pick them back up, and then re-throw them...It’s quite fascinating to watch.”

MIKE MANCUSO

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industrial expo in the Midwest is returning to CenturyLink Center Omaha for its 25th biennial show Sept. 18 and 19. This year, the Omaha Products Show for business and industry, hosted by Mid-America Expositions, Inc. and sponsored by the Institute of Supply Management, celebrates its 50th year of bringing

diverse products and services to one convenient location for Midwest industries. Servicing a seven-state area, the Omaha Products Show is both a marketplace and a technical center, where suppliers and vendors are able to display products, materials, and services for area users and buyers. Over 300 exhibitors and 5,000-7,000 attendees make it one of the

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

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largest industry shows in the Midwest. Bob Mancuso, Jr., CFO at Mid-American Expositions, Inc., serves as show director. He boasts that the expo is a “win-win-win situation” for users, buyers, and sellers alike. Attendees have the opportunity to see the latest in creativity and technology, products, and services that can be used in day-to-day operations. Businesses can gain valuable exposure, connect with customers face-to-face, and generate new leads and sales. “The core of the show is the machinery and the manufacturing,” Mancuso says, “but in the last 10 to 15 years, there are companies that have come into the market with more business-to-business products, and deal with technology, staffing, office products—things that companies can do for other companies that are more service-oriented. We’ve allowed those companies to get in the show and showcase what they do because they are of the business-to-business nature.” Construction and trucking equipment are standard fare at the expo, as are machine tools and engineering equipment. However, the show also features some unusual products, the most intriguing being robotics. In the past, the Omaha Police Department showcased their robotic equipment, and robotic cars have made an appearance. Returning again this year is the Braas Company, which uses robotics in its automation solutions equipment. “You can actually see it flip dice, move the dice, pick them back up, and then re-throw them,” explains Mancuso. “It’s quite fascinating to watch.” With all the massive, heavy, and quite expensive machinery coming in and out of the showcase, Mancuso admits that the wide diversity of equipment poses logistical challenges. The show provides riggers, forklifts, and move-in and move-out personnel to help companies meet these challenges. “It’s amazing to see how this heavy equipment can get off a truck and be carried by two, sometimes three forklifts depending on the equipment, to move it into place. It can be very interesting to see everything happen,” Mancuso says. The Products Show officially opens at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18 with the Opening Luncheon. The show opens at 1 p.m. and continues until 7 p.m. It will resume on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be served. The day will include speakers presenting on various topics of value to the business and industry professionals. B2B

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omAHA!

story by allison janda • photo by bill sitzmann

Siblings Mike Carta and Caption Throw Down owner Susan Kruse

Caption Throw Down

SUSAN KRUSE

T ALL STARTED CHRISTMAS 2011. Ten

siblings each brought a few old photographs to the Carta family holiday party upon the urging of sister Kathy Peters. Sibling Susan Kruse wasn’t sure what they would use the photos for, but she knew her family could make a game out of them—she just didn’t know it would soon spark a business plan. “There are 11 kids in our family, and we grew up playing games. I’m sure it kept our parents happy…we were out of their hair,” Kruse says with a smile, then glances at brother Mike Carta as

she recounts how her company came into being. A week after their family Christmas, Kruse invited her brother over for dinner and presented him with an idea. She wanted to turn the game that their family invented with those photos into something that everyone could play. “Are you out of your mind? You want to start a company to do this?” laughs Carta as he recalls his initial reaction. “Sure, it’ll be fun!” Kruse had responded. On New Year’s Eve 2011, Dixie Moo Games, LLC, was born, along with their flagship game,

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

OmahaMagazine.com

FAMILY PHOTOS SPAWN NEW BUSINESS VENTURE FOR SIBLINGS

“I didn’t like games where everyone [continues] playing while you had to sit out. It was no fun.”

Caption Throw Down. The game is a version of the entertainment that the Carta family had created just the week prior. Carta suggested they name the company in honor of their mother, lovingly nicknamed Dixie Moo. Kruse chose the game’s moniker. Now in its second edition, Caption Throw Down is well on its way to becoming a game cupboard staple. To play, one player chooses a photograph from the stack provided, then displays it for all players to see. Each player then submits a funny, witty, or insightful caption for the photo. Finally, the individual who chose the photo selects their favorite submission. Winners of each round are awarded points, and the game continues as long as players remain engaged. “The best games are the ones where you make your own rules,” Kruse says. For that reason, Caption Throw Down contains limited instructions and guarantees that no one has to be eliminated. “I didn’t like games where everyone [continues] playing while you had to sit out. It was no fun,” Kruse shares. In addition to many of Kruse’s personal family photos that have made the cut, Caption Throw Down includes photos picked up at local antique stores and estate sales. “We can tell if we start laughing right away, it’s a keeper,” Carta adds. Dixie Moo Games also encourages home players to submit their own family photographs via the Dixie Moo website, granting permission for the photos to be used in future editions of the game. While the family comes together to assemble the individual boxes, all game parts are printed separately around the Midwest. Their picture printer is in Lincoln, their labeler in Omaha, and their boxes are created in Ohio. Company sales have been driven mostly by word of mouth, says Kruse, the sole owner of the company. She has arranged several Caption Throw Down game nights through local bars and churches, which have been a huge success. Additionally, she created a Facebook page (facebook.com/captionthrowdown), where she uploads pictures for anyone to caption. Asked whether there are more games in the future of Dixie Moo, Kruse smiles and admits that while she does have ideas, she won’t be sharing them—one of the most difficult parts of having such a creative business, she says. B2B Caption Throw Down is available for sale online at dixiemoogames.com. The game can also be purchased at retail locations listed on the website. BestOfOmaha.com

Find it in your scrap metal.

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arts & entertainment

Planning Your Company Party

“It is important to create an environment where they feel comfortable enough to open up to their peers and really get to know one another.”

AMY LACKOVIC

T’S THAT TIME OF year again to start

thinking about planning your next company party. Unsure how to make this year’s party a success? Amy Lackovic, event production director at Planit Omaha, gives practical, step-bystep advice. Where to start? Lackovic says to first consider the attendee experience. “Employees want to attend an event where they can be themselves,”

says Lackovic. “It is important to create an environment where they feel comfortable enough to open up to their peers and really get to know one another.” The next thing to consider is the budget because this will determine everything from the invites to the location. If your budget is tight, Lackovic suggests these steps to saving money: go with electronic invitations instead of print; use

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

OmahaMagazine.com

STEP-BY-STEP ADVICE

story by meghan townley

preferred vendors with discounts; reuse décor, florals, and linens from other events; eliminate labor costs by doing it yourself; control your event timing so you do not run into overages; and limit alcohol consumption. Once you have the budget in place, start looking for the event space. “You should lock in your event space as soon as you can,” says Lackovic. “Typically, you should lock in your space at least six months in advance.” When finalizing the space, Lackovic recommends asking about cost and deposit, number of people it can hold, catering options, AV options, location (easy for the majority of your attendees), and any limitations the venue may have. Theresa Farrage, ballroom event specialist with Scoular Ballroom (which just underwent a complete renovation), gives tips on choosing your venue. When searching for your perfect venue, Farrage suggests remembering two things: your vision of the event and your guests. “You should definitely keep your big picture in mind but also don’t forget about the little details,” says Farrage. Simple details that make a big difference may be included in the venue’s overall cost; just be sure to ask the key questions. “Is there a security guard on premise? Does the fee include table and chair rentals? You may think you’re getting a great deal, but once you factor in the cost of a few amenities that don’t come standard, you may be in for a big surprise,” says Farrage. Farrage stresses booking your venue well in advance. “If you have your heart set on a venue, be flexible with your dates. Booking your event on a weeknight or during the off-season will often save you money.” Once the venue is chosen, Lackovic breaks the event down by the remaining essentials: entertainment, decorations, personalization, menu, and gifts.

ENTERTAINMENT “Revisit the question of ‘what do I want the attendee experience to be?’ If it is a more social and lively event, I would suggest a band, as they have the ability to strongly interact with the attendees. If it’s a networking event, I would suggest going with simple background music or even a DJ.” “If you had an area to splurge on, definitely look into spending the extra dollars on entertainment,” says Lackovic. “The entertainment can make or break an event.” > BestOfOmaha.com

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Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 23

arts & entertainment

planning your company party

“Everyone loves a classic sundae station with chocolate sauces and whipped cream—and don’t forget the sprinkles!”

“It is not a necessity to provide a take-home gift, but it may leave a lasting impression on the attendee. You want to make sure that whatever item you decide to give away can actually be useful. We have seen people go toward more tech-savvy items such as branded cell phone power docks or USB drives. This way, their gift will not only remind the attendee of the event or

“Within the past couple of years, the menu options have expanded quite a bit. People are much more health-conscious, so it is extremely important to plan ahead for those attendees who may be vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.” Jennifer Snow, owner/director of operations at Catering Creations, dishes on the latest ideas in food: “A current trend has been to take street foods, comfort foods, and bar foods and put an elegant and upscale twist on them...this makes the food fun and familiar for your guests and still gives them an opportunity to try new flavors.” Some examples of comfort-food-turnedhaute-cuisine are Gouda cheese-stuffed sliders or a French fry station with truffle aioli

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

OmahaMagazine.com

AMY LACKOVIC < DECORATIONS “Adding lighting to your event can add a dramatic effect and ambiance. Adding some soft seating around the venue can also make the event feel more chic. Make sure you utilize everything the venue has to offer. Sometimes your venue has in-house décor options included in the rental fee.”

PERSONALIZATION “An easy and cost-effective way to show this is to have a personal note of gratitude from the employer or manager. Another avenue is to offer incentives

organization, but it will also make the person more inclined to keep the useful and unique gift.”

in the everyday workplace, such as a ‘Jeans Day’ or a floating PTO day the month of their birthday.”

GIFTS

“Or what about a pretzel cart traveling with assorted toppings like nacho cheese, honey mustard, or even chocolate sauce and chopped nuts?” AMY LACKOVIC

and caramelized onion ketchup. Another trend is to “bring out the kid” in your guests. “Everyone loves a classic sundae station with chocolate sauces and whipped cream—and don’t forget the sprinkles!” says Snow. “Or what about a pretzel cart traveling with assorted toppings like nacho cheese, honey mustard, or even chocolate sauce and chopped nuts? “We are currently working on our holiday menus to include customized caramelized popcorn stations with several varieties of sweet, salty, and savory popcorn mixes such as a Cajun caramelized popcorn with nuts and chocolate,” shares Snow. Not every event needs shrimp cocktail. If your company is on a tight budget and you still want to include a nice seafood item, Snow suggests crab and shrimp cakes, which are still delicious but less expensive. “It has also become trendy to use some of the less expensive meat options and add savory flavors and tenderness by slow braising them. This saves costs versus ordering beef filet,” says Snow. “Coffee service isn’t always needed for a hot summer event but always plan on more coffee drinkers for events during the holidays,” says Snow. “Try throwing in a fun option like a specialty coffee and hot chocolate station to add condiments such as chocolate chips, caramel sauce, whipped cream, or peppermint sticks.” There you have it—expert advice on how to make your company party one to remember. Now get to work! B2B BestOfOmaha.com

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being

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Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 25

business. entertainment. family. food & drink. health. home. lifestyle. style.

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Bring this ad to the Show and admission is on us. A $10 VALUE, it’s your ticket to help local business thrive!

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B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

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story by linda persigehl • photos provided by greater omaha chamber of commerce

OOKING FOR A NETWORKING

and marketing opportunity for your small business? Check out the Greater Omaha Chamber’s 2013 Buy the Big O! Show, happening Wed., Oct. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CenturyLink Center Omaha. The region’s largest business-to-business trade show accommodates up to 400 exhibitors and anticipates an audience of 5,000 visitors this year. The event has come a long way from its humble beginnings, with just 10 businesses exhibiting and 100 attendees at its 1990 debut. The reasons for its success? The Buy the Big O! Show places a strong emphasis on making business connections and doing business locally to support our economy right here in Omaha, says Tracey Fricke, senior director of special events for BestOfOmaha.com

the Greater Omaha Chamber. Adds Fricke: “There is an amazing synergy that happens at the Big O! Show. We do so much business electronically, it seems to have become a rare occasion that we do business face-to-face anymore. The show provides a fun, unique opportunity for exhibitors to cultivate name recognition, network, establish business relationships, and develop leads that will generate more business.” Gold Sponsors AAA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Nebraska, NP Dodge Co., First National Bank of Omaha, and Sheppard’s Business Interiors help make the show a premier event and worthwhile investment of both time and money for exhibitors and visitors alike. While other trade shows have gone extinct, the Buy the Big O! Show just keeps growing. >

feature

Buy the Big O! Show REGION’S LARGEST BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS TRADE SHOW

Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 27

feature

buy the big o! show

office furniture

story provided by all makes office equipment co.

“We will also have a new area called the Mixer...designated for targeted, industryspecific networking throughout the day.” TRACEY FRICKE < The show also offers a wealth of educational opportunities through its Entrepreneurial Zone, sponsored by Pay-LESS Office Products. Started last year, the Zone offers an array of experts in accounting, banking, legal, marketing, and other business areas from throughout the metro who offer free, one-on-one consultation with business owners, sharing advice and tips for better business management. Whether you’re a startup looking for beginner marketing tips or an established business looking to overcome a tax issue, you’ll find great value in visiting the Zone. “We will also have a new area called the Mixer,” adds Fricke. “This area is designated for targeted, industry-specific networking throughout the day and provides business owners valuable opportunities: to meet professionals in your industry from various companies; to look for time-saving techniques or potential partners to benefit you and your company; to share ideas and best practices for the betterment of our community; and to ask questions.” This year’s event will again feature Small Business Black Wednesday. Just like Black Friday, thousands will be looking for the best deals of the year. Exhibitors are encouraged to offer one-day discounts that’ll draw the masses to their booths to check out their mega deals. “This was started last year to generate ROI for exhibitors the day of the show and to provide great business deals for attendees as we close down the calendar year,” says Fricke. “So all businesses involved can benefit. We will promote these deals via social media and online at BuyTheBigOShow. com, Facebook.com/BuyTheBigOShow, and on Twitter: @OmahaChamber #BigOShow.” B2B If you’re a business interested in reserving a booth for this year’s Buy the Big O! Show, or you’re just looking for more information about the event, visit BuyTheBigOShow.com.

Five Tips FOR CREATING A GREAT HOME OFFICE

OUR HOME OFFICE SHOULD be a place you want to be and to spend time

in. By utilizing basic design principles to make it productive and inspiring, you can make sure you actually work when you’re working from home. Here are five tips for creating a home workspace. • Paint the walls a color that inspires you. Color can be used to soothe, stimulate, energize, or brighten—choose the mood you want in your workspace and select a paint color accordingly. • Buy a comfortable office chair. If you’re going to be spending a significant amount of time in your home office, choose a chair that has adjustable height, reclining seat back, armrests, a deep seat depth, and adjustable lumbar support. • Let the light in. Good lighting is essential. Ideally you want as much natural daylight as possible. Natural light not only saves electrical energy, but it gives you more personal energy, too. The link between sunlight and vitamin D has been established for a long time, but the impact of natural lighting on mood continues to be studied. • Choose meaningful accessories. Select personal items that motivate you to get work done. The natural look of plants provides a comfortable, relaxing touch to the office. Plants play a vital role in providing a pleasant and tranquil environment in which to move, work, or relax. Indoor plants can also help health, well-being, and productivity in the workplace. • Take control of your technology. Set computers, printers, and phones close to outlets so the cords can easily be hidden. Desks that come equipped with wire management grommets also ensure a clutter-free workspace. B2B Visit the All Makes showroom at 25th and Farnam streets in Omaha to see the latest office furniture and design trends on display. The All Makes team is trained to help you make design and furniture purchases that fit your office atmosphere, your work style, and your budget.

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

OmahaMagazine.com

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Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 29

cover feature

story by kara schweiss • photos by bill sitzmann

Mark Hasebroock DUNDEE VENTURE CAPITAL 30

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

OmahaMagazine.com

ESPITE MARK HASEBROOCK’S SUCCESS as an entrepreneur—he

was a co-founder of prosperous e-commerce businesses Hayneedle and GiftCertificates. com, in addition to having experience as a small business owner and working in investment and commercial banking—he says he still wishes he’d had less time-consuming, back-and-forth discussion and more expedient, hands-on guidance when he was on the launching pad. “We got strung along so many times by different investors who just took forever to get to a conclusion. Having been on the other side of the desk starting companies of my own, it was frustrating looking first for the capital, and second: ‘Can anybody help me? How can I get from here to here? Where is this resource? If you were in my shoes, what would you do?’ type of stuff,” Hasebroock says. “At some point I thought, ‘There’s just got to be a better way to do it, and I want to someday start a fund of my own—and do it my way, and do it right.’” >

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Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 31

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“We started in Warren Buffett’s grandfather’s grocery store—that’s where Dundee Bank is today—and I was an investor in Dundee Bank, so it all kind of tied in together with some of the history with where capitalism sort of started in Omaha and the heart of Dundee.” MARK HASEBROOCK

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B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

< In 2011, Hasebroock did just that, kicking off Dundee Venture Capital (DVC) with an objective to be responsive to, decisive with, and supportive of entrepreneurs, he explains. “When we get an inquiry, we should review it and either we get back to you and say it’s a fit, or we say, ‘It’s not a fit and here’s who you should talk to.’ And let’s do that in a 24- to 48-hour period. The standard is two to four weeks.” With his team of Michael Wetta, Nick Engelbart, and Andrea Sandel, plus two interns (“They’re all rock stars; I’m notoriously bad at giving direction, so they have to be self-starters.”), DVC operates out of offices in the Mastercraft Building on North 13th Street on the edge of downtown. The Dundee in the company’s name, and in the logo based on a pre-1915 annexation postal stamp, reflects the company’s first offices, as well as Hasebroock’s home neighborhood. “We started in Warren Buffett’s grandfather’s grocery store—that’s where Dundee Bank is today—and I was an investor in Dundee Bank, so it all kind of tied in together with some of the history with where capitalism sort of started in Omaha and the heart of Dundee,” Hasebroock explains. He also likes both the Omaha and Nebraska associations with the Dundee name. Hasebroock OmahaMagazine.com

cover feature

DVC Startups

“We showed Mark what we were up to, and being from e-commerce space, he totally got it. Dundee Venture Capital is a huge reason why we relocated the business from San Francisco to Nebraska; we came to [Lincoln] and hit the ground running.” PAUL JARRETT grew up in Omaha (he was once a Peony Park lifeguard), graduating from Westside High School, and earning his undergraduate degree at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his MBA from Creighton University. He and his wife, Jane, who met in their youth and married in 1984, chose to raise their four sons and four daughters in their shared hometown. “No twins and, yes, the same spouse,” Hasebroock likes to say, adding that the family calls the older four the “Varsity” team and the younger half, the “JV.” The collective teammates are now ages 11 to 27 and have kept the family involved in numerous school and community-related sports, clubs, and activities for years. And Hasebroock himself plays hockey with a local adult league, the BPHL (Beer-andPretzel Hockey League) on Team Gold, stressing their three-time defending champion status. “I haven’t really strayed too far,” he says. And his ties to the Heartland continue through his investments. With a preference for Midwestbased endeavors, DVC invests anywhere from $50,000 to a half-million dollars in growth companies that focus on e-commerce and web services. “The next criteria is super-passionate, driven founders, so when somebody comes in with ‘here’s my business, here’s what I’m doing, here’s the problem, here’s my solution, and here’s why my team’s going to win’...we usually know within > BestOfOmaha.com

Paul and Stephanie Jarrett, founders of Bulu Box.

Dundee Venture Capital

STARTUPS INDMIXER, BULU BOX, AND

DonorPath are three very different startups supported by Dundee Venture Capital, but their respective proprietors have found two significant commonalities: rapid success and a great relationship with their funder. “We were one of Mark’s first investments, and, because of that, we got to spend a disproportionate amount of time with him early on in our infancy—and his fund’s infancy, in a way, so our companies have kind of grown up together,” says Nick Bowden, founder of Omaha-based MindMixer. MindMixer is an online engagement platform for cities, schools, and health care facilities and their respective clients or constituents. Under DVC’s wing, MindMixer has grown its client base from four organizations to 450 in North America, Europe, and New Zealand; and from just the two founders to 30 employees. “It’s changed substantially in two years,” Bowden says. DVC invested in Chicago-based DonorPath just this past January when it was only two weeks past its incorporation. The company, which connects nonprofits to fundraising experts for virtual coaching based on data analysis, went from little more than a sound concept to becoming a growing entity almost overnight. “Because of their help, we have a lot of traction; we’re much further ahead at this age than we ever thought we’d be,” Brian Lauterbach, the company’s founder, says. “Mark said, ‘Okay, I’m going to bet on you, but you’re going to have to earn it. I’m going to give you some money, but you’re going to have to hit milestones to get more,’ and we began a great relationship with his team.”

Bulu Box, founded by Nebraska natives Paul and Stephanie Jarrett, is a “discovery e-commerce platform for health, nutrition, and weight-loss products,” explains Paul Jarrett, also Bulu Box’s CEO. A subscription gets customers a monthly Bulu Box (the meaning behind the name is the founders’ “fun secret”) of product samples, and a points/rewards system incentivizes valuable feedback for the manufacturers and distributors. “We showed Mark what we were up to, and being from e-commerce space, he totally got it. Dundee Venture Capital is a huge reason why we relocated the business from San Francisco to Nebraska; we came to [Lincoln] and hit the ground running. It’s been just over a year, very fast,” Jarrett says. “We literally would not be able to run this company without [DVC’s] help. We were able to press the gas pedal down and full speed ahead.” For all three entrepreneurs, DVC is more than just a source of capital. “I can’t stress enough that I look forward to talking to Mark...there’s no trepidation because I feel our interests are all aligned,” Lauterbach says. “I text or call Dundee daily.” “Mark’s an entrepreneur and a successful businessperson. We have an enormous amount of respect for the success that he’s had individually, from afar,” Bowden says. “But to be a part of the growth of DVC as an entity, and of someone that’s a major influencer in startups in technology in Omaha, is fantastic.” “We just aligned on a lot of things,” Jarrett says. “It’s an amazing match...at the end of the day we know they have our back.” B2B Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 33

cover feature

M A R Y A N N E VAC CA R O Per sona l an d Bu si n ess I mage C o n s u l ta n t

To be a successful business…you have to look like one! What does your Name, Logo, Website, Office, Store, Studio and Look of your employees say about your business? As an Executive, Professional, Sales Rep, or aspiring Entrepreneur, how should you dress?

mark hasebroock

“I think the next step is another fund that invests in startups. I don’t think the supply is going to slow down. We’re continually seeing really creative ideas out of a lot of markets.” MARK HASEBROOCK

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B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

< the first five minutes if this is someone we’re going to back,” Hasebroock says. DVC is already seeing its investees take off and even soar under the guidance of Hasebroock and his team. Hasebroock says it was through mentor Mike McCarthy (founding partner of McCarthy Capital) that he saw firsthand how the simple principle of “treat people like you want to be treated” breeds success, and he emulates that culture of respect at DVC. Plus, there’s a multigenerational—and even simpler—principle Hasebroock follows: “Like my grandfather used to say, there’s four secrets to success: W. O. R. K.” “It’s empathetic because we understand. And yet there are demands on the capital. We certainly want it back. We’d like more than we put in. But we also know that these founders are being pulled in two hundred different directions. And to the degree that we can help keep them on the rails a little bit and not just chase that next great shiny penny idea; that’s what we want to do.” Hasebroock, who’s also now involved with a new Omaha-based accelerator for technology startups called Straight Shot, sees nothing but growth ahead for DVC. “I think the next step is another fund that invests in startups. I don’t think the supply is going to slow down,” he says. “We’re continually seeing really creative ideas out of a lot of markets.” B2B OmahaMagazine.com

story by beverly kracher, ph.d.

An Omahan in the Omo Valley T ALL STARTED WITH National

Geographic magazines. If you were a kid like me, you thumbed through them and dreamed about the exotic places that were halfway around the world. African stories always caught my eye. So unusual. So different from life in Nebraska.

ESPECIALLY ETHIOPIA I recently traveled to Ethiopia, spending several weeks exploring the culture and the country. Like most of you, when I travel, I pack my passions. In my case, that’s business ethics. Wherever I went, I asked about business practices and economic development. I learned a great deal about the ethics of the people and, in the process, I reflected on our Greater Omaha values. Let me share two experiences.

HAWASSA UNIVERSITY At Hawassa University, I spent time with Dean Fitsum Assefa’s faculty and MBA students. We talked about business ethics as a competitive advantage. In a country ranked 114 of 147 on Transparency International’s Corruption Index, the consensus among students was that being ethical would not lead to business success. My experience is that our Greater Omaha students think differently than this. What is your opinion?

for more information call 402.449.1424 or email the ballroom event specialist at ballroom@scoularballroom.com

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B2 B

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•

e s s t o B u sin e

Renovation Completed March 2013

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2 012 • W

BestOfOmaha.com

Photography by Matt Houska

OMO VALLEY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

aha Maga z Om

business ethics

One of the most intriguing destinations in Ethiopia is the Omo Valley. Through the heat and the mud, we traveled to the Valley to interact with its tribespeople. I grew up on a farm, but I have never experienced this kind of outdoor life where people live with their cattle herds and have only the most basic shelters. The customs of the people are exotic—the Mursi women wear lip plates, the Hamer people use cattle jumping as a rite of passage to manhood, and the Bumi participate in scarification. There are no other people on the planet like the people of the Omo Valley. Herein lies the rub. The Ethiopian government has a plan for economic development. They are

selling tribal land in the Omo Valley, primarily to foreign investors, to create sugar cane plantations. In tandem, they are building factories to process the sugar cane. The plan is to entice the tribespeople to work in the factories to alleviate their extreme poverty. It is difficult to imagine the challenges for Ethiopian leaders, one of the poorest countries in the world. They must promote economic development. (Our Greater Omaha leaders have that responsibility here, too, right?) But their plan will literally destroy the tribal cultures. So I talked to Mrs. Moges, the CEO of Travel Ethiopia, the largest travel agency in the country, and a member of the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce. I asked what she thought of the plan and its implication for the tribes. Mrs. Moges said, “The Omo Valley is Travel Ethiopia’s daily bread and butter. I know that the plan will destroy tribal culture and affect my business. But I think that is okay. Why? Think of the women. Daily, they carry bundles of sticks for firewood. They walk one to five miles a day with heavy containers to collect water. Childbirth is a nightmare. Is it okay to change the tribal cultures? You bet it is.” I have been deep in thought since returning from my Ethiopian trip. When is it acceptable to change a people’s way of life for the sake of economic development? When should we save a way of life, knowing that doing so will stifle economic development? In Omaha, we have asked these kinds of questions, too, about our culture, our historical buildings, etc. This I know: There are those who hold onto the past and those who grasp towards the future. In that tension, change is generated, and this is where communities’ values are revealed.B2B

Beverly Kracher, Ph.D. Executive Director, Business Ethics Alliance Chair of Business Ethics & Society College of Business, Creighton University Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 35

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story by judy horan • photos by bill sitzmann and provided by The Salvation Army and Nebraska Humane Society

GOOD LOCATION OFTEN DRAWS

businesses to established neighborhoods. Repurposing an existing building can also revitalize a neighborhood, a lofty goal that could bring tax benefits to a business that qualifies for the City of Omaha’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for property in certain areas. (Read the guidelines about qualifying for TIF and also see if a property falls within the community redevelopment area at cityofomaha. org/planning.)

type of hotel we wanted to develop—an extendedstay hotel for a mixture of business and leisure guests,” says General Manager Kyle Highberg. The estimated $24 million renovation presented unique challenges. “Our architects and developers spent countless months designing each room, each space, and each feature.” The Federal Building is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. “We worked in conjunction with them to make sure we were maintaining the historical integrity of the build-

“Now you see people playing in the park... One resident said we were a beacon of hope for this community.” MADELINE MOYER The advantages of repurposing commercial properties are plentiful. Here are a few examples of repurposed buildings that have paid dividends across the board.

A LANDMARK PRESERVED—THE RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT OMAHA DOWNTOWN An example of TIF financing sits at 106 S. 15th St. The Residence Inn, scheduled for a September opening, in an Art Deco building that has housed many federal agencies since 1934. The last occupant, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, moved out in July 2008. Location was a key factor in the building’s choice. “The location was a prime position for the BestOfOmaha.com

ing,” he says. If a building can be preserved, it should, Highberg adds. “I think it presents a certain social responsibility to do so when we can.”

IT TAKES VISION—DINGMAN’S COLLISION CENTER. Boyd Dingman believes that vision is the secret to successfully repurposing a building. A water bottling plant on Saddle Creek Road became his first Dingman’s Collision Center in 1996. In 2005, he bought his second location near 120th and Maple streets that started life as a mechanical shop. Renovating his third location three years ago presented special challenges. But Dingman liked the site. The building near 144th and West Center

feature

Repurpose COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS FIND SECOND LIVES streets was formerly Cougar Lanes Bowling Alley. Renovation was not easy. The 25 bowling lanes were removed and lowered. Walls were torn out. The roof, parking lot, sewers, and concrete were repaired. The $1 million renovation of the structure that was built in 1968 took four months. Dingman is now making plans for a fourth repurposed building for his business, which he runs with help from his two sons and daughter.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION— NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY When the Nebraska Humane Society was ready to move, President and CEO Judy Varner looked at property farther west and also considered new construction. But instead the shelter simply moved next door to a 63,000-square-foot building at 8929 Fort St. that sat empty—a former Food4Less supermarket. “We do a lot of business at the courthouse and downtown, so moving west would have been a problem,” she says. “Due to the proximity of this building to our old home, we were able to involve the staff in the design of the new space, which was great for team building.” Major renovations included plumbing, acoustical, and HVAC. The Nebraska Humane Society now has four repurposed buildings on its campus.> Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 37

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A HISTORY OF REPURPOSING— THE SALVATION ARMY The Salvation Army has twice repurposed buildings. In 1991, the former Methodist Hospital at 36th and Cuming streets became the Renaissance Center, home to Western Division headquarters and social service programs. After programs grew from seven to 20, The Salvation Army bought two former FBI buildings in the Old Mill area for $2.4 million and moved the divisional headquarters from the Renaissance Center in 2012 to make room for the new programs. But after learning that bringing the Renaissance Center up to code would cost $35 million and a new structure would cost only $17 million, including demolition, The Salvation BestOfOmaha.com

Private party rooms available for 6 to 40 people. Army decided the building’s life was over after 107 years. A capital campaign to raise funds for a new social services building is underway.

REPURPOSING A NEIGHBORHOOD— THE KROC CENTER The Wilson Packing Plant in South Omaha became dilapidated after closing in 1976. Repurposing the century-old building was out of the question. But revitalizing the neighborhood was not. The Salvation Army bought the land, equivalent to six city blocks, to build a new community center with funds donated by philanthropist Joan Kroc. “It had been nothing but an eyesore,” says Madeline Moyer, business services director for the Omaha Kroc Center. “Police will tell you that the only thing you saw in two nearby city parks were gang initiations.” The Kroc Center opened in January 2010 and changed the neighborhood. “Now you see people playing in the park,” says Moyer. “One resident said we were a beacon of hope for this community.” B2B

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and Nathan Preheim never got used to the slim turnouts that town hall meetings drew for civic projects under review. It bothered them that so few people weighed in on decisions affecting so many. Preheim, 39, and Bowden, 29, also didn’t feel comfortable cast in the roles of experts who knew what was in the best interests of citizens. They felt too many good ideas went unheard in the process. The way the Omaha natives saw it, a new approach was needed to better engage people in BestOfOmaha.com

civic discourse and therefore help build stronger communities. “Lucky for us, urban planning is really stodgy,” says Preheim. “Technology has not really infiltrated the inherent processes within the field, so there was a great opportunity for us to integrate technology into public participation. That’s where we kind of came up with the solution to a very common problem—how do you get more people engaged and interested in talking about community betterment? “Town halls had been and still are the primary vehicle by which cities solicit feedback. They’re hundreds of years old, and they really > Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 41

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< haven’t changed much at all. We saw an opportunity to enliven the conversation by inverting that model and empowering people to be a part of that change.” The business partners developed a startup technology company called MindMixer (see related story on page 33) whose online platform offers a virtual front porch for ideas and opinions to be shared, noticed, and acted upon. “We’ve always felt that people generally care for their community, but maybe it was an issue of convenience, not an issue of apathy, that prevented them from participating,” says co-founder and CEO Bowden. “Our founding premise is that technology can break that barrier of convenience and open up a bigger world of potential inputs.” Co-founder and COO Preheim says, “There’s probably something I could learn from you; there’s probably something you could learn from me. We’re way smarter together than we are individually. I think some of that same mantra and guiding force influences what we’re trying to do here.” “Our purpose is to build a stronger community by involving people in things that matter,” says Bowden. If the response from investors, clients, and everyday citizens is any indication, OmahaMagazine.com

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< to people who may not have had that before. It’s empowering, it’s uplifting. “We are part of something, call it a new movement if you will, that’s enabling better transparency and decision-making by stakeholders who are sort of tapping into the collective wisdom of their constituents. We’re kind of in the meaningful change business. That’s exciting stuff.” Validation that they’re onto something big, Preheim says, also comes in the large “number of citizen-submitted ideas that have actually been carried forward and implemented” nationwide and the sheer participation happening on sponsored MindMixer sites. “Last year, we engaged over 800,000 participants, and those 800,000 participants submitted over 38,000 ideas,” says Preheim. “Those are empowering statistics, these are encouraging numbers.” He projects two million-plus participants to submit upwards of 100,000 ideas in 2013. Sometimes, projects respond to urgent human needs. For example, MindMixer-supported sites which assisted citizens organizing to fight back flood waters in Fargo, N.D., as well as those rebuilding neighborhoods in tornado-ravaged Tuscaloosa, Ala. The startup’s success earned it 2013 Innovator of the Year honors from the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Technology Company of the Year recognition from the AIM Institute. Forbes magazine named Bowden an “up and comer.” With the growth and attention come pressures to relocate, but Bowden and Preheim are determined to prove a tech company can make it big in Omaha. They believe there’s enough talented, smart people locally to lead the paradigm shift the company’s helping lead. MindMixer’s big aspiration is restoring the fabric of community by being the front porch of the internet, where people discuss things that matter and get involved in making positive change happen. B2B Follow the company’s ride at mindmixer.com. Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.wordpress.com. OmahaMagazine.com

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ON SOCIAL MEDIA. LIKE FACEBOOK. I ENTERED this social

media space with a passion, thanks to the Creighton students I was teaching at the time. I have more than 1,000 friends, including my four teens, because I bought their computers and iPhones and because I want to embarrass them. But my teens have actually moved on to Instagram, Snapchat, and Vine, and I feel the need to move on myself, with a renewed passion, to LinkedIn. There are a few reasons I recommend you do the same. The first is that it’s important as a professional to separate your personal and business lives. Facebook can make that a little dicey. The second reason is opportunity. LinkedIn is now the world’s largest professional network. It limped along for a time, being one of the world’s “older” social networks, but it’s cracked the code on changes in technology, target, and services for professionals that make LinkedIn the ideal place to connect. With more than 225 million users in 200 countries, LinkedIn gives you access to 2.7 million business pages, 1.5 million groups, and your share of 1 billion endorsements. How you leverage all this is up to you. My advice: Spend more than the average 17 minutes per day on the site to get your profile up to speed. Follow industry leaders, post so you get followed, and enjoy the ride! Here are some specifics to get you started: • Download the LinkedIn App for your mobile device (Android, Blackberry, iPad, iPhone, Windows Phone). BestOfOmaha.com

•

• • •

Complete your profile. This helps LinkedIn connect you with people you used to work with and people in industries similar to yours. Build your network. Import contacts from all your other channels. Invite people you know to connect with you. Add a personal note about how you know the individual and why you want to connect. Go further than the typical template invitation and make yourself memorable. Join groups that interest you. Look for groups that you’re marketing to or that may help you move your business. Consider forming a group. Lead the way and post. Refer to articles. Build a Company Page, especially if you are an entrepreneur. Check the Channels (business news topics) on LinkedIn Today, the site’s e-zine. LinkedIn will recommend Channels, but you should check in regularly to follow Channels that help you improve in your career. B2B

Wendy Wiseman Vice President & Creative Director of Zaiss & Company, a customerbased planning and communications firm in Omaha

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Fall 2013 • B2B Omaha Magazine 45

the know-it-all

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” - Peter F. Drucker

Grassroots Organization NOT JUST FOR POLITICS ANYMORE

HE THOUGHT OF COMMUNITY

to participate in a Tele-Townhall. Hundreds did choose to participate. This participation allowed us to poll the citizens again, as well as secure a huge city council attendance. With this being my first such use of a political company to generate grassroots support for my business interests, there were several lessons learned. Spend time with both the field people and the managers to be certain that they understand the big picture. Each person making contact with citizens needs to have a feel for what the hot topics are in the local community. They need to understand, with a moderate level of detail, the project being promoted. To be able to use local landmarks to describe location, and how the project will impact the community on a practical and emotional level. Accurately describe the project from the perspective of both the opposition and the proponent. By offering both perspectives, one can stand before the governmental and political body and show that the presentation was neutral. More than a typical promotional approach, like selling a home or a car, this must be balanced. This is because when the citizens appear in the public forum and hear the impassioned presentation of both sides, they should find that what they were told was indeed balanced. This keeps your supporter’s positions solidly committed. Unlike regular elections or product purchase, governmental action on many large issues will affect communities for generations. If a property is zoned for industrial, that use will be carved in stone for many decades. Citizens will step up to

the gravity of the situation and the importance of the decision if they are informed and invited to participate. Every communication with citizens must convey the importance of the matter, as well as the part each citizen might play in that decision. You will find that many will grasp this opportunity to break from apathy and participate in a meaningful way. Local government workers, and especially elected officials, may resent this grassroots effort. An awakened citizenry is a threat to their typically unquestioned authority. While this may be something you are accustomed to in business, the participating citizens may be better served by being forewarned that their reception may be rather cool. For the modest expense involved and relative ease in this effort, I think that a well-planned and prepared grassroots effort is just what most communities need. Too many citizens have been lulled into apathy, cocooned in their daily routine. You may find that your project inspires great community support. Support that will result in you prevailing in securing necessary governmental entitlements. I know that I’m being a bit vague by not naming names. The point of this topic is to be thoughtprovoking, not a step-by-step instruction. My direct experience has led me to the conclusion that I will involve the community with every big project.

B2B Omaha Magazine • Fall 2013

OmahaMagazine.com

organizing has been something that would raise my ire with thoughts of... well, you know the kinds of thoughts. When it was suggested that the same efforts might be useful for purposes I’m interested in, I was taken aback. If you read further, you might find that there is something in community organizing that you may find useful in your business endeavors, too. In the U.S., there are a couple of companies that have been extremely professional in their approach to getting candidates elected: motivating the citizens in districts to participate in a meaningful manner to get a candidate re-elected or elected to office; changing apathy to active interest, and, on occasion, to participation. It was one of these companies that approached me to help with a difficult zoning matter. Over a three-week period, we had people meet with and discuss a project for which I was seeking governmental entitlements with fully half of the registered voters in the city. Armed with a tablet computer, the door-to-door people knew who they were approaching, as well as the citizen’s voting participation, history, and party affiliation. This level of knowledge made their approach more of a “warm” contact. With each citizen contact, responses and interests were recorded for our use later. Citizens were asked to sign a postcard, which was pre-addressed to their specific council person. Hundreds did so, which resulted in a deluge of postcards to every council representative. Just before the council hearing for the zoning matter, we called every residential telephone in the city, asking whether the resident wished

Any views and/or opinions present in “The Know-It-All” are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of B2B Omaha Magazine, or its parent company, and/or its affiliates.

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