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ISSUE 03 | SPRING 2022

F O R YO U R N E X T C E L E B R AT I O N AT MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE Let us provide an unforgettable evening, our dedicated private dining coordinator is available to assist in creating a handcrafted experience.

13665 California St., Omaha, NE 68154 | (402) 445-4380 mahoganyprimesteakhouse.com

DESIGNERS: Nancy Pesavento, ASID & Lisa Cooper, Allied Member ASID We have worked with the client for numerous years. Our first project was a family lodge located on a lake setting in Wisconsin. With the success of that project, they were confident we could achieve their goals for the renovation of their traditional family home. The main goal was to replace the heavy, traditional aesthetics with a fresh signature look that was architecturally sophisticated. We wanted to achieve better sight lines and more open views to enjoy the outdoor and pool environments. The interiors also featured unique tile designs, beautiful natural wall coverings and exquisite custom furnishings. The powder bath featured a custom designed vanity and mirror and was accented with a black textural wall covering. The renovation evolved around not wanting to part with the beautiful, serene setting the existing home occupied. The transformation of the home was so dramatic that our client’s goals were achieved as we created a functional yet timeless design for their family to enjoy for years to come.

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ISSUE 03 | SPRING 2022

ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT PHIL HATTEN

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT DAN LYNN

RESTAURANT GATHER

ENTERTAINMENT OMAHA COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE

ROAD TRIP ARBOR DAY FARM

FEATURE RACING TOWARD A DREAM JOB

FEATURE TWO YEARS, ONE OF THREE TEAMS

CLIENT BENEFIT ONYX WINE

Publisher Todd Lemke

Managing Editor Daisy Hutzell-Rodman

Graphic Designer Derek Joy

Associate Publisher Bill Sitzmann

Ad Sales Gil Cohen gil@omahapublications.com

Accounting/ Operations Manager Kyle Fisher

Contributing Editor Tom Coleman, ONYX Published by Omaha Publications. Omaha Magazine, LTD. is a publishing company that prints six regular publications created in-house. In addition, they publish the annual Best of Omaha® and Best of B2B® contests, as well as Faces of Omaha and custom projects. Subscribe online at omahamagazine.com/pages/subscribe. Omahamagazine.com | 402.884.2000

ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT

FINDING PASSION IN PEOPLE Phil Hatten

Story by Terry Jensen // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

NYX Automotive Land Rover and Jaguar Sales Manager Phil Hatten has been in the car industry for 30 years, and he still loves coming to work in the morning. The biggest reason is all the people he encounters. He thoroughly enjoys the spirit of cooperation and teamwork that represents success. The last three decades have seen major changes in the automobile sales industry, and Hatten has experienced it all. “I’m one of the holdovers. I was with the organization before ONYX, so I just came with the dealership,” Hatten explained. The gleaming, new ONYX Automotive showroom is indicative of success for the dealership and Hatten. “The industry has changed over the years, but my hard work ethic has not,” Hatten said.

“THAT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I’M PROUD OF, WE HAVE A VERY CONSISTENT AND COHESIVE TEAM.” PHIL HATTEN As one of two new car sales managers, Hatten’s biggest responsibility is to keep the sales team motivated. “That’s been the biggest challenge, how do you keep the staff motivated? That’s probably one of the biggest things I’m proud of, We have a very consistent and cohesive team. They really have each other’s back. It shows every day.” Hatten is passionate about the brand his team represents. “Land Rover/ Jaguar is a very infectious brand. Not only do the clients come back and are repeat buyers, I don’t know that I could represent any other brand. It really is a brand that kind of gets ahold of you and it’s a fun brand to represent,” he explained. “They’re unique, they stand out on the road, they’ve got great styling. Their performance and reliability has just evolved over the years. And they’ve just become one of the more iconic brands on the street today.”

Hatten thinks relationships make ONYX Automotive exceptional. Over the years, he has developed a lasting connection with most of the clients—many of whom have bought more than one vehicle from him. “That’s a testament of how we treat people as a dealership, and how I choose to treat the customers. They know that they can rely on me, I’m gonna do what I say and I’m gonna say what I mean,” Hatten said. “Many customers return to work with the same ONYX team members year after year. The sales team has a great record of longevity that vehicle owners have come to trust.”

“WE HAVE A NO-NONSENSE APPROACH TO SALES WITHOUT ALL THE BACK AND FORTH. WE GIVE YOU OUR BEST DEAL RIGHT UP FRONT.” PHIL HATTEN ONYX Automotive’s commitment to integrity also inspires loyalty. “We have a no-nonsense approach to sales without all the back and forth. We give you our best deal right up front. We post our prices on the internet. We have a reputation of being very fair with not only the prices of our cars but also the values of peoples’ trades.” It is a reputation Hatten is proud to stand behind. Whenever he gets the chance, Hatten and his wife enjoy spending time with their four grown children and three young grandchildren. “I’m an outdoors guy, I like boating, I like doing just about anything on the water...fishing, hunting,” he admitted, “but I’m really all about family.” After all, people matter most to Hatten.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

DEFENDING THE BRAND

Lynn’s Loyal to Land Rover Story by Daisy Hutzell-Rodman // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

an Lynn, owner of Biosecurity Technology, is having a great first couple of months of 2022. It started it in December 2021 with the announcement that his company won CBRE’s 2021 Innovation of the Year Award as part of the annual Supplier Partner Innovation Challenge. According to the press release distributed to the winners, “This challenge recognizes CBRE service partners who demonstrate exceptional innovations to improve and create healthier workplaces while also maintaining an attainable price point for these new products, processes, and best practices.” Biosecurity Technology specifically won for its Bio-Safe Antimicrobial Cleaning Solution. Outside of work, Lynn and wife Patricia opened the year with the purchase of a special Range Rover. In February 2022, they purchased the Land Rover Defender Trek edition from ONYX Automotive. The vehicle, which had a price tag of $105,000 on the lot, is one of 70 in the world. That appealed to Lynn. “I bought it just to look at because it’s kind of unique,” Lynn said. “I just thought it was one-ofa-kind, and I thought I would enjoy sort of tinkering with it.” This Trek is based on the Land Rover Defender 110 P300, with a 2.0L i4 engine that puts out 296 hp, and is ready for more off-road adventures. The vehicle includes a winch and synthetic cable in it, steel wheels, and lights at the top for nighttime off-roading. It’s wrapped in orange with the Land Rover Trek logos and a ladder up to the top for an old-school feel.

“I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS ONE-OF-A-KIND, AND I THOUGHT I WOULD ENJOY SORT OF TINKERING WITH IT.” DAN LYNN

It has two exhaust tips and a receiver hitch, as well as a shovel on top so people can dig themselves out when they get stuck on the road and extra gas cans. The design inside includes exposed rivets, and the shift area displays “Land Rover Trek 2021” and mentions the production number of the vehicle. People should not expect to see the Land Rover on the streets, or even the trails. “We have a condo garage at Victory Lane and we parked it in there,” Lynn said. “We’ve cleaned it, washed it, put it away. The service has been really great, the cars have been very dependable. I understand how they stand behind their product.” The couple have been purchasing Land Rovers for about 10 years. They started with a Westminster, and have been pleased with the service and attention they have received from ONYX Automotive. “I’ve got a good relationship with Sean the service guy there,” Lynn said. “They just make you feel part of the family. That has brought them back to the dealership again and again, but it’s

“I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN IT. IT’S LIKE PUTTING ON A PAIR OF JEANS, IT JUST FEELS COMFORTABLE.” DAN LYNN the familiarity with the product that keeps them buying Land Rovers. “We love the look of them, we love the ride,” Lynn said. “I feel comfortable in it. It’s like putting on a pair of jeans, it just feels comfortable.”

RESTAURANT

GATHERING GREENS AND FRIENDS Old Market Restaurant Embraces Communality Story by Daisy Hutzell-Rodman // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

“ALL THE GREENS ARE PRODUCED ONSITE.” HEATHER SWAIN

resh salads can define an entire meal, or a start of a meal, but a standard salad of chopped iceberg lettuce, one tomato slice, one cucumber slice, and perhaps one red onion ring can make or break a dining experience in one dish. The salads at Gather Omaha, however, are fresher-than-fresh. In fact, they come straight from the garden. “All the greens are produced onsite,” said farm operations manager Heather Swain. Gather Omaha is the concept of Graeme and Mara Swain, Heather’s brother and sister-in-law who started the now-closed 7M Grill. Diners at Gather will find their dinners include fresh arugula, leafy and classic romaines, kale, or a premium mix of bok choy, napa cabbage, and wasabi mustard greens. The restaurant also has the fresh herbs basil, cilantro, parsley, mint, and rosemary. The greens go directly to the kitchen from a farm located in the basement of the restaurant. The sealed room contains 63 aeroponic towers, and each tower produces between 80-100 ounces of greens or herbs. That’s important, as the venue goes through a lot of fresh produce. Heather said they can go through three to four pounds of leafy romaine in one night, and they use a lot of herbs, which are used in many of the hand-crafted cocktails as well as the dishes. The carrots that come za’atar-roasted and the blistered tomatoes on the house salad, however, are a different matter. While Heather would like to produce other plants, the style of gardening at Gather has limitations. “You can’t house any flowering plants in the same room as the leafy greens, so anything that’s flowering we’d have to house in a different location, to avoid cross-pollination,” Heather said. “We are trying to figure out how to get certain things.” That means deciding between sectioning off a part of the current location to allow flowering plants or obtaining another location off-site. The innovative use of making fresh greens available was the first of its kind in Omaha.

“Honestly, there wasn’t a playbook for it,” Heather said. “Every one of the inspectors, everyone who came through, didn’t know how to react.” This farm-to-table, low-waste concept is seen throughout the restaurant. General manager Brandon Dowty said one of the restaurant’s first and foremost goals is to reduce its carbon footprint. “We pay extra for the recycling containers,” Dowty said, mentioning that many downtown restaurants do not pay the extra fee needed to keep recyclables out of the trash. “The clamshells for takeout are cornstarch-based.” Even diners who are not intrigued by the underground farm and fresh greens available at the restaurant can find the dining concept of Gather appealing. While traditional restaurant menus include appetizers, main dishes, and desserts that are meant to be ordered by each diner individually, Gather’s menu encourages family-style eating with sharable small plates, such as charcuterie or Crispy Brussels Sprouts; along with large, entree-size plates and a section called “For the Table.” “With For the Table, that’s where we encourage family-style eating,” Dowty said. “The bone-marrow fried rice—normally that’s treated as an appetizer, however, if you add a protein to that, it’s an entree.”

“A LOT OF PEOPLE, THE FIRST TIME IN, THEY ALL WANT TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE MENU, AND THE MINUTE YOU SAY IT’S HOMEMADE PASTA, THEN EVERYONE WANTS TO TRY IT.” BRANDON DOWTY

The idea is to sit and dine—not grab a dish and snarf it down before an evening event, but rather to spend a couple of hours there with a glass in hand, talking, eating, and spreading joie-devivre with friends. Dowty said he and his friends normally purchase two-to-three small plates, one entree apiece, and share the pasta. It’s a concept Graeme and Mara practice as well as serve. “They believe in getting a little bit of everything and passing the plates around,” Heather said. “Whenever we go out to dinner, Graeme says ‘order what you like, but just know that you are going to be sharing it.’” Some Omahans might find this a familiar story—Graeme and Mara’s original Gather is in Jackson, Wyoming, and they brought some team members, including Chef de Cuisine Zeb Rogers, to Omaha with them. Rogers and Dowty said the bison is their favorite dish. “I think it’s an underused meat,” Rogers said. “The quality is great. There’s a lot of benefits to it.” Those hesitant to try this uniquely American dish can rest assured that it doesn’t taste as exotic as it sounds. “I grew up with hunters, so I’m not one for super-gamey-tasting meat,” Dowty said. “I’m a meat-and-potatoes guy, so that with a glass of wine is a fantastic meal for me.” At presstime, Gather was only open for dinner, but that may change before year’s end. “[Lunch service] is still in the works,” Dowty said. “Maybe more sandwiches and salads.” Visit gather-omaha.com for more information.

The other item on the “For the Table” menu is one of the most popular, according to Dowty. “A lot of people, the first time in, they all want to try different things on the menu, and the minute you say it’s homemade pasta, then everyone wants to try it.”

ENTERTAINMENT

OMAHA COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE

Nationally Known Actors, Critical Acclaim Story by Daisy Hutzell-Rodman Photography by Robertson Photography

“A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE AWAY FROM OMAHA AND PERFORM PROFESSIONALLY, THEN COME BACK.” KATIE BROMAN

maha Community Playhouse can no longer say it is the largest community theater in the nation— and that is a sign of progress.

OCP’s budget of $4.5 million, until this past year, made the beloved organization housed at 6915 Cass St. the largest in the country. Since August 2021, the theater has slipped into second place in that regard. Regardless of this fact, Omahans have a special place to view locally acted, locally produced theater. The first show to be performed onstage as part of Omaha community theater was in April 1925, and was titled The Enchanted Cottage. The leading lady was Dodie Brando, mother to a one-year-old Marlon Brando. The cast of that first show also included Jayne Fonda (later Jayne Schoentgen), whose brother Henry Fonda would appear in shows later that season. Henry Fonda and Marlon Brando later moved to California and became Oscar-winning actors. Fonda kept engaged with his Omaha community theater roots, returning for events such as a fundraiser in 1959 for the building that now houses OCP. The 1970s brought Charles Jones as director, while James Othuse became the scenic designer. Their first show was The Music Man, but their big contributions were creating a beloved version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and launching the Nebraska Theatre Caravan, the professional touring wing of Omaha Community Playhouse. Jones stepped aside in the late 1990s, and ushered in the era of Carl Beck and Susie Baer Collins. The high standards of Jones, Othuse, Beck, and Collins continue with executive director Katie Broman. It takes a community to bring together a community theater play. Auditions are held months in advance—a production opening around Memorial Day has auditions in late winter. Rehearsals last five weeks, during which time sets are built, and the costume department is measuring the performers and sewing the appropriate clothing for the roles.

“Christmas Carol is large,” Broman said. “The cast is 40-50 people. The orchestra is only about five people, while a normal orchestra might be 10-15 people.” That doesn’t include lighting designers, scenic designers, or sound designers. There are staff members such as people in marketing, development, the box office. That is what’s required for a play. Musicals contain another layer of expense. “Our very first expense, before we even announce the show, is royalties,” Broman said. “We have to pay a licensing house to get the rights to the shows. Some of them, the better you do, the better they do.” That’s why shows that people adore on Broadway don’t always make it to the community theater level. Other times, the wait and gamble pays off. In 2013, OCP produced a musical they had been waiting to stage for 25 years: Les Miserables. It was a monumental expense, as it required 250-plus costumes, 300 lighting cues, and 18 locations for which scenery had to be built. Yet it earned the most revenue in OCP history outside of A Christmas Carol, broke box office records, and swept the local Theatre Arts Guild Awards, earning 13 trophies. “There were over 300 people who auditioned,” said actor Cork Ramer, who performed the role of Thenardier in that show. “I thought there would be like 100. Those of us who were fortunate to make it to callbacks—it was like 30 guys in this room, and I said OK, this is callbacks, and there’s still 30 guys. Usually there’s that many for an initial audition.” Ramer has been in OCP performances since 1988, when he was with the Midwest tour of A Christmas Carol. He said Omaha is a great place to be an actor, in large part due to OCP. The quality of it, the technical side of it, especially, the scenic artists, the costumers, has been of such high quality,” Ramer said. “I really had that hit home to me when I scored a part in the national tour of 1776. It was exciting, I got to rehearse in Times Square. But the work I did at OCP was better than the work of this national tour where they cast from all across the country and they were paying people very good money.” Ramer is a good example of one of Broman’s favorite reasons OCP is in the area.

“A lot of people move away from Omaha and perform professionally, then come back,” Broman said. “That’s always great.” Ramer also has mutual respect and appreciation for Broman. “That dear heart has been very good for the theater community,” Ramer said. “An institution like OCP can die quickly if they have the wrong leadership. I’ve seen it happen in other theaters. She has a [great] demeanor. Katie knows that the better hires she makes, the better the Playhouse is going to be.” One of those hires is Stephen Santa, who started as the new artistic director in November 2021. “I’m very excited about Stephen being there,” Ramer said. “He seems like a very capable young man.” Being a part of OCP has enabled actors from Henry and Jane Fonda to Andrew Rannells to Ramer the chance to perform great roles, roles they may not have been able to perform in larger markets.

“I WANTED TO PLAY DON QUIXOTE SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS OLD, AND I GOT TO.” CORK RAMER “I wanted to do Thenardier, and I got to. It’s not often I get goosebumps during a show, but I did every night at that production,” Ramer said. “I wanted to play Don Quixote since I was 16 years old, and I got to.” The actors playing in these productions have almost always done so on a volunteer basis. Broman pushed the OCP a bit farther in August 2021, when cast and crew began to be compensated as independent contractors. That compensation means there is one community theater in Salt Lake City that claims a bigger budget than OCP. It’s because of OCP’s continual progress that they can no longer say it is the largest community theater in the nation—and that is impressive. Visit omahaplayhouse.com for more information.

ROAD TRIP

ARBOR DAY FARM

Ensuring Trees Are No Longer Rare Story by Julius Fredrick // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

IT’S TIME TO CRACK THE WINDOWS AND ENJOY SOME FRESH AIR, SUNSHINE, AND THE RUSTLING OF LEAVES IN BLOOM

“THE FOUNDATION IS MAKING A GLOBAL IMPACT, PLANTING TREES ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND THE PEOPLE HERE AT ARBOR DAY FARM PLAY A BIG PART IN THAT… OUR MISSION IS TO PLANT, NURTURE, AND CELEBRATE TREES.” DUSTIN FUHRMAN

rees were so rare in that country, and they had to make such a hard fight to grow, that we used to feel anxious about them, and visit them as if they were persons,” laments a line from Willa Cather’s My Antonia, arguably the greatest meditation of the Nebraskan frontier. Indeed, the lack of trees was chief among setbacks encountered by settlers of the newly incorporated Nebraska Territory in the mid-19th century, the absence of natural bulwarks against high winds rendering huge swathes of country impossible, if not impracticable to cultivate—despite miles of arable land. Renowned arborist and Nebraska City transplant Julius Sterling Morton confronted this issue on April 10, 1872, in his “Fruit Address,” rallying Nebraskans to plant an estimated 1 million trees that year. The event was met with two (green) thumbs way up, and Arbor Day became an annual sensation. From the adoption of Arbor Day throughout the country—and eventually much of the world—to Nebraska National Forest making trivia rounds as the largest hand-planted forest in the United States, the symbiosis between Nebraskans and their trees is widebranching and deeply rooted. Less than an hour away from West Omaha’s ONYX Automotive dealership via Highway 75, a road trip to Nebraska City’s Arbor Day Farm is a great way to get a feel not only for BMW’s sport mode, but also the state’s ongoing commitment to arboreal exploration, education, and stewardship.

“We’re really the place where the mission of the Arbor Day Foundation comes to life,” said Dustin Fuhrman, manager of the Tree Adventure experience at Arbor Day Farm. “The foundation is making a global impact, planting trees all over the world, and the people here at Arbor Day Farm play a big part in that… our mission is to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.” Fuhrman and crew are revving up for consecutive green lights in 2022. It’s not only the 50th anniversary of the Arbor Day Foundation’s inception, but also the 150 tree rings tallied—that’s the 150th anniversary—of Arbor Day itself. Though the Arbor Day weekend festivities and autumn’s AppleJack Festival are ripe with seasonal hype, there’s plenty for nature enthusiasts to celebrate year-round. The Tree House Adventure includes the Tree House Trail, a scenic pathway snaking beneath the blended canopies of northern red oaks, American lindens, pawpaws, white mulberries, and Osage orange trees, among others. “Discover who walked here” boxes allow visitors a window into the footfalls of native fauna, while scent stations along the trail give families a newfound nose for the forest’s medley of fragrances. An adjoining apple orchard provides fresh fruit to pick in the fall. The crown jewel of the Tree House Adventure, however, is the Treetop Village. According to the Arbor Day Farm website, the all-ages attraction “is the only place in America where you can explore 11 different treehouses scattered across three acres and connected by unique bridges and netted walkways— all without ever touching the ground.” Providing an in-state sanctuary for fledgling naturalists to learn ecology while having fun is an important offshoot of Arbor Day Farm and the Arbor Day Foundation, but their environmental benefaction remains the wellspring of their efforts. “We’re not just celebrating the [Arbor Day Foundation] mission on the attraction side, but also on the retail side; planting a tree when visitors buy a T-shirt, planting a tree when they buy a candle, planting a tree when they buy one of our water bottles,” Fuhrman noted. “Staying sustainable, producing organic and locally made things is part of our goal here…it all really ties together with the mission itself.”

Beyond Arbor Day Farm, this mission is promoted by two of Nebraska City’s most ambitious properties, their palatial facades and stately halls a history lesson in architecture, aestheticism, and sustainability: the Arbor Lodge Mansion and the Lied Lodge and Conference Center. Once a nursery and testing area for imported trees studied by Morton for their effectiveness as windbreaks, the 72acre Arbor Lodge State Historical Park was the original site of the Morton family home, originally a modest four-room dwelling that eventually expanded into a 52-room mansion. These additions were made decades apart, and the mansion reflects this in its motley mesh of stylings. Gothic, Italianate, Victorian, and neoclassical design elements are all present here, with a Tiffany skylight trellised with grapevines providing a lovely glint of Americana. Self-guided tours are available all year. According to the park’s brochure, visitors are encouraged to “take in the terraced rose garden, koi pond, monument square, picnic and playground areas, and a lilac grove with more than 200 species of lilac.” The Lied Lodge and Conference Center, meanwhile, is decidedly more amenityfocused, though hardly less spectacular in appearance. Great beams of varnished wood support the main lobby’s vaulted ceiling, and an elevated logcabin aesthetic blends provincial charm with modern comfort throughout. An on-site spa, Olympic-sized pool, and award-winning restaurant offer guests some R&R after a day of exploration on the Farm and a trek along “Doug’s Trail,” which connects the two properties. Spring is here, and the open road beckons. It’s time to crack the windows and enjoy some fresh air, sunshine, and the rustling of leaves in bloom—a simple bliss Nebraskans may have never known if not for one of the state’s proudest ongoing achievements, Arbor Day. Visit arbordayfarm.org for more information.

of Omaha

THE 2022 MINI COOPER SE HARDTOP 2 DOOR RECHARGED WITH TONS OF NEW FEATURES

The legendary design and all-electric power of the 2022 MINI Electric Hardtop 2 Door has been updated with fresh technological and stylish features. Fully loaded with more standard premium features, the MINI Electric drive is even more fun than before.

CUSTOMIZE YOURS STARTING AT: $29,900† ONYX Automotive 14800 Davenport St Omaha, NE 68154 ONYXAUTOMOTIVE.COM

Vehicle shown: 2022 MINI Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door. †Price shown is Manufacturer ’s Base Retail Price. Excludes destination/handling, tax, title, license, retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. Residency restrictions apply. *For complete details regarding ONYX Maintenance Program coverage, including the new vehicle limited warranty, please visit ONYXAUTOMOTIVE.COM, call 402.393.9700 or visit ONYX Automotive. © 2021 MINI USA, a division of BMW of North America, LLC

THE

SHOWSTOPPING LOOKS. NONSTOP ADVENTURES.

A FRESH TAKE Make a bold impression in the new BMW X3. A revamped exterior and a comfortable, driver-oriented cabin create a space that’s as luxurious as it is practical. Strong. The new, larger kidney grille and angular, aerodynamic front bumper design give the X3 a muscular appearance.

Bright. Slimmer Full LED headlights provide precision illumination at night – and sharp looks during the day.

Energetic. Freeform exhaust tips are integrated into the vehicle’s exterior lines by a refreshed rear bumper design.

Comfortable. Standard Sport Seats, threezone climate control, and larger available screens come together in the cabin of the new X3.

CUSTOMIZE YOURS STARTING AT: $43,700†

ONYX Automotive 14800 Branch St Omaha, NE 68154 ONYXAUTOMOTIVE.COM

Vehicle shown: 2022 BMW X3. †Price shown is Manufacturer’s Base Retail Price. Excludes destination/handling, tax, title, license, retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. Residency restrictions apply. *For complete details regarding ONYX Maintenance Program coverage, including the new vehicle limited warranty, please visit ONYXAUTOMOTIVE.COM, call 402.393.9700 or visit ONYX Automotive. © 2022 BMW of North America, LLC

FEATURE - JOHN PRENDERGAST

RACING TOWARDS A DREAM JOB John Prendergast Helps BMW in Indianapolis Story by Terry Jensen // Photography Provided

NYX Automotive technician John Prendergast saw the opportunity to join a crew of technicians at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last fall as an unparalleled adventure. Spending a week at the iconic race track with a select group of BMW experts from around the country gave Prendergast a new respect for the relevance of teamwork. Prendergast’s fascination with automobiles developed at an early age. During his high school years, he worked in a Volkswagen repair shop rebuilding VW Beetles and Busses, but his first car was a Suzuki Samurai. ›››

‹‹‹ He worked in a diesel repair shop while attending auto technician training at a local trade school at age 18.

“THAT WAS A PRETTY LONG NIGHT, TO HAVE THAT THING READY TO GO FOR RACING IN THE MORNING.” JOHN PRENDERGAST

Prendergast’s first professional job was as a Ford mechanic in 2000, but he moved to servicing BMWs less than six months later. Prendergast’s been there since, largely because he enjoys the attention to detail that BMW commands. While he has done his share of oil changes and routine maintenance, it is the challenge of more complex diagnostics that he continues to find most rewarding. “As complicated as they can be, BMW does do a pretty decent job of getting us some good information,” Prendergast explained. For this technician, meaningful manufacturer support makes the difference. His dream was always to own one of the older muscle cars, like a Chevrolet Chevelle SS. Lately though, his tastes are changing. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve really started to enjoy some of these GT cars, and some of their racing capabilities on the more course-type track,” Prendergast said. His passion for the BMW brand led him to accept an invitation to join the BimmerWorld BMW team at the Indianapolis Speedway in October 2021. It was a rare chance to experience a genuine Indianapolis-style competition. He got the experience through a reward program for BMW technicians. Prendergast was nominated by his manager, Nick Appletoft, who submitted the application. He was chosen based on his years of service and his mentoring of the other technicians. Appletoft felt he was a great candidate based on his experience with the brand.

Prendergast had teamed up with maintenance crews for the annual SRO GT4 America Sprint X & Intercontinental GT Challenge Indianapolis. The event, made up of a series of daily qualifying races, culminated in an eight-hour race at the week’s end. Designed originally as a strategy to recruit experts for the race team’s crew, technicians were rewarded for their brand loyalty and expertise with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Prendergast was one of only a handful of professionals selected to participate.

These repairs encompass everything from spring changes and minor adjustments to multiple brake repairs. For example, during this year’s preliminaries, it was necessary to tear down one of the engines completely to repair it for the next day’s competition. “That was a pretty long night,” Prendergast said, “to have that thing ready to go for racing in the morning.” Semitrailers stocked with parts were kept on site to allow quick and easy access to critical components. Everything the technicians might need was kept close at hand. ›››

“BMW works directly with them and gives them engineers for the BMW motorsports vehicles,” Prendergast explained. Technicians are responsible for prepping the vehicles before the race and performing necessary repairs throughout the preliminary events.

DRIVING PERFORMANCE OMAHA

THE 2022 JAGUAR F-PACE Our luxury performance SUV brings together award-winning desgin, Jaguar performance, and intuitive technolgies to make every journey feel extraordinary. Visceral performance meets unmistakable Jaguar style.

PROGRAM COMPLIMENTS JAGUAR ELITECARE

CUSTOMIZE YOURS STARTING AT: $50,900† ONYX Automotive 14800 Branch St Omaha, NE 68154 ONYXAUTOMOTIVE.COM

Vehicle shown: 2022 Jaguar F-Pace. †Price shown is Manufacturer’s Base Retail Price. Excludes destination/handling, tax, title, license, retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. Residency restrictions apply. *For complete details regarding ONYX Maintenance Program coverage, including the new vehicle limited warranty, please visit ONYXAUTOMOTIVE.COM, call 402.393.9700 or visit ONYX Automotive. © 2022 Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

LAND ROVER DEFENDER THE SHAPE OF ADVENTURE

OMAHA

CUSTOMIZE YOURS STARTING AT: $51,700* Everything about the Land Rover Defender bears testimony to the vehicle’s undeniable spirit of adventure. Individually customize your off-road system preferences and explore your way with Configurable Terrain Response®.† And whether you’re in the middle of the concrete jungle or the middle of nowhere, use the intuitive Pivi Pro infotainment system‡ to stay connected. So, whether you’re rock crawling in Moab or cruising West Dodge, the Land Rover Defender is ready for anything.

ONYX Automotive 14800 Branch St Omaha, NE 68154 ONYXAUTOMOTIVE.COM

Vehicle shown: 2021 Land Rover Defender. †Price shown is Manufacturer’s Base Retail Price. Excludes destination/handling, tax, title, license, retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. Residency restrictions apply. *For complete details regarding ONYX Maintenance Program coverage, including the new vehicle limited warranty, please visit ONYXAUTOMOTIVE.COM, call 402.393.9700 or visit ONYX Automotive. © 2022 Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

“I’D SAY ANY OF THE TECHS THAT ARE ABLE TO GO, I THINK THAT AS HARD WORK AS IT WAS, IT WAS A VERY REWARDING OUTCOME.” JOHN PRENDERGAST

‹‹‹ Prendergast’s BimmerWorld team had two cars participating in the race, and each car had two drivers who alternated driving. Monitoring tire pressure in the pits, switching out spark plugs, coils, injectors, and alternators required a genuine team effort. Working with a group of eight technicians from around the region gave him the opportunity to connect with other professionals in the field. “I’m used to working with people, but at the same point, with this being a team aspect so much you have like eight hands in on the one thing…so it’s kind of trusting, trusting all eight hands that are going into this repair,” he said. That teamwork paid off at the end of the week when the BimmerWorld car placed first for their class in the final race. The winning team earned the opportunity to “kiss the bricks” at Indy. The tradition of kissing the Yard of Bricks after winning a race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most famous rituals in motor sports. The bricks in the final 36-inch strip of the Speedway were kept intact at the start/finish line when the track was modernized with asphalt. Now this is all that remains of the 3.2 million bricks that made up the original 2.5-mile oval. Prendergast found sharing the victory with their team a dream come true.

Back in Nebraska, Prendergast spends his free time cheering on his favorite home teams. Daughter Lillian is senior cheer captain at Fremont High School, and son Landen is a junior who plays hockey for the Fremont High Tigers. Prendergast also enjoys snowboarding and fly fishing, making annual trips to Big Sky, Montana. He plays guitar as well as teaches lessons, and enjoys listening to different styles of music. Prendergast also owns a new-to-him home in the Fremont Historic District and is making restoration plans. “It was definitely hard work but a very rewarding experience,” Prendergast said of his trip to Indianapolis. “I’d say any of the techs that are able to go, I think that as hard work as it was, it was a very rewarding outcome.”

FEATURE - CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

TWO YEARS: ONE OF THREE TEAMS ONYX Automotive Wins Big Story by Daisy Hutzell-Rodman // Photography Provided

MW takes great pride in their product, so much so that they consider the Center of Excellence award an elite recognition in their company. It’s given to less than 10% of all centers nationwide—and ONYX Automotive, which has been in existence for only two years, was one of the 2022 winners. ONYX Automotive General Manager Drew Friesen accepted an award for the dealership. He received the award for the Balanced Scorecard at the BMW Central Area meeting in Florida in February. ONYX Automotive was one of three dealers in the Midwest region to be at 100% on the scorecard, which includes volume, percentage of sales, customer retention, Net Promoter Score, and lead conversion.

Friesen said he is proud of the award, but “we couldn’t have done this without the team.” Indeed they could not have. One of the special parts about this award is that it is selected from those people who have achieved 100% on the scorecard. “When you’re talking about a prestigious brand and you win their Center of Excellence Award, you’ve done something really special,” BMW Aftersales Director Rob Ramsey said. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. It would be comparable to a Super Bowl or a World Cup.” Achieving that 100% mark was a feather in ONYX Automotive’s cap, but Friesen said it took ingenuity, starting with the way the dealership hires people.

“One of the things we did this year was we said ‘are we competitive in the workforce’?” Friesen said. That is a different statement than is usually practiced by dealerships. ONYX Automotive decided to look at the workforce in general, rather than the dealership industry in specific, and has used incentives such as work/life balance and a great benefits package to make sure he hires, and retains, quality talent. The strategy has worked. ONYX Automotive boasts more than 60% retention, in an industry and era when studies have shown a turnover rate of more than 65% in some departments. Friesen said it’s about “making sure people have a why…It’s a lot easier to take care of clients when associates enjoy what they are doing.”

Along with having those incentives in place, having the right people in place is important to ONYX Automotive as well, so clients walking in the door know that a service or sales rep has the client’s best interest at heart. “Being a high producer is great, but we are looking for customer service and hospitality attributes,” Friesen said. “We’re looking for team players.” A large part of the awards is the volume, and in 2021, ONYX Automotive sold 705 new BMWs. That is a point of pride for the team at ONYX Automotive, who understands that inventory has been tight over the past year. “We lead the market area in [lot] turnover,” Friesen said. “We are 93% turnover every month.” In other words, Friesen and his team are selling 93% of the cars on the lot each month. This means ONYX Automotive customers can see great new BMWs each time they return to the dealership. Sales, however, mean nothing if the service department doesn’t help new owners keep their vehicles running smoothly. Service effectiveness also had a huge impact on ONYX Automotive winning the award. “Customers buy cars because the service was great,” Friesen said. “When our competition has gone away from courtesy cars and vans, we have doubled-down. I’ve added 20 staff members just to drive cars and provide courtesy service.”

Those courtesy cars and vans once considered common at dealerships have been eliminated in many cases as the tight market needs those vehicles for sales. ONYX Automotive, however, believes this service is essential. “We leave those cars in there 3-6 months,” Friesen said. “Some people reserve those loaner cars so that, when we retire them from the service fleet, they can buy them.” Clients often have questions, from why is a light illuminating on the dash to when their car will be ready to take home to whether or not the make and model they want can come in their preferred color. Those being helped at ONYX Automotive can rest assured that their questions will be answered promptly. “We monitor how quickly we respond to customers,” Friesen said. “We are looking to respond in the shortest amount of time with the most accurate answers possible.” Loyalty also counts as part of the service portion, and ONYX Automotive has that in abundance. The database of BMWs in Omaha over the last several years shows that 84.2% of customers are returning to their preferred brand of BMW when it is time to buy a new vehicle. Friesen said the average owner buys a new car about every three years, which makes leasing a great option for people as well, and the rate at which people are leasing is 58%, meaning ONYX Automotive has done an incredible job of retaining customers.

“To me, it means that we have the right people in the right place doing the right things,” Ramsey said. “The most important thing is that we’re taking care of things and we’re taking care of the customers. That’s the ONYX image we want. It’s important that we serve our community, and that we do it right. It’s about encouraging and influencing our team with positivity.” Friesen and Ramsey emphasized it was a collaborative effort of automotive service and client service that enabled ONYX Automotive to win the award. “For a store in its second year, I think it’s pretty special the amount of work our teams have done to achieve this high of a level of award.” Ramsey said. As of presstime, the trophy associated with the Center of Excellence Award was not yet at ONYX Automotive, but Ramsey said management is planning an event for the team once the trophy is in their hands, and that they want to repeat the award for 2022. “It’s not easy,” Ramsey said proudly. Visit onyxautomotive.com for more information.

CLIENT BENEFIT

A THANKYOU GIFT TO SIP, SAVOR, AND DISPLAY ONYX Wine Story by Linda Persigehl Photography by Bill Sitzmann

“ONYX HAS BEEN A SPONSOR OF THE NEBRASKA BALLOON & WINE FESTIVAL IN ELKHORN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND JUST FROM A DEMOGRAPHICS STANDPOINT, A LOT OF LUXURY CAR BUYERS ARE WINE LOVERS.” SCOTT SUTTON

hen ONYX Automotive customers visit the luxury car dealership to pick up their new vehicle, they’re presented a souvenir of their buying experience— handcrafted, elegant bottle of reserve Cabernet, beautifully etched with the ONYX Automotive logo. The wine also serves as a thank-you gift for their patronage, and the bottle—a work of art on its own—can be displayed and enjoyed for years. ONYX General Manager Scott Sutton said the dealership began giving away the custom wine bottles to customers about a year ago. “We used to give out apparel and other branded stuff for the [auto] manufacturers we carry, but we wanted to do something different, and just for building our brand,” he said. “Our marketing director, Tom Coleman, brought this idea to us, and we did some research and found Mano’s. We had a conversation with their team about the investment we needed to make, and decided it could work.” Mano’s Inc. is the Midwest’s premier provider of customizable wine bottles. The company creates deep-etched and hand-painted bottles in custom designs at its facility in Kansas City. Its company website said a minimum of 25 skilled artists touch each bottle they create. The bottles are then filled with its reserve red wine, corked, and shipped directly to corporate clients in all 50 states. Most of Mano’s wines come from fine vineyards along the central California coast, including Monterey, Lodi, and Sonoma county. ›››

‹‹‹ Sutton said a wine gift makes sense for their company. “ONYX has been a sponsor of the Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival in Elkhorn for the last several years. And just from a demographics standpoint, a lot of luxury car buyers are wine lovers.” Corporate clients can be as creative as they like when designing their bottles, said Mano CEO Kyle Rensenhouse. “They might want a bottle that’s city-specific, with the city name or skyline etched on it, or their company name and logo, or some might include just a car model or brand logo. Companies might add some thank-you messaging on a label as well. We create a mock-up of the bottle, then tweak the custom design.” Rensenhouse said the company provides custom bottles to 20 to 30 auto dealerships across the U.S. Cryptocurrency companies, professional sports teams (including the World Champion Los Angeles Rams), and investment firms (such as Berkshire Hathaway) are also clients. “The bottles are a thank-you the client can see and feel,” Rensenhouse added. “And they’re a piece of art that lasts. Some [people] may not even open the bottle and drink it, but just put it on display. Even if they do [drink it], it’s still a beautiful keepsake.” Sutton said the ONYX salesperson typically presents a gift bottle to the customer right after the new owner has had an introductory walk-through on their new vehicle. The wine keepsake has been received very favorably by his clients, he said, enthusiastically.

RENSENHOUSE SAID THE COMPANY PROVIDES CUSTOM BOTTLES TO 20 TO 30 AUTO DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE U.S. CRYPTOCURRENCY COMPANIES, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS (INCLUDING THE WORLD CHAMPION LOS ANGELES RAMS), AND INVESTMENT FIRMS (SUCH AS BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY) ARE ALSO CLIENTS.

“I’ve had a ton of positive feedback from customers. They say the wine is good, but the bottle is the showstopper. The presentation is beautiful. It’s a unique gift, and people remember it.” Visit onyxautomotive.com for more information.

NOW OPEN TO ANY VEHICLE IN YOUR GARAGE!

Due to a recent change in the Heartwood neighborhood covenants, we can now open the ONYX Express Wash Club to any vehicle registered at the household of an ONYX Automotive client.

NEXT STEPS:

1) Bring your vehicle to the attendant window at the ONYX Express Wash. 2) Tell them your home address and that you would like to enroll an additional household vehicle.