ONYX - Issue 2 - Fall 2022

Between the carousel of school drop-offs and practice pick-ups and busy work schedules, building a new house added more excitement for a family of four at The Sanctuary development in Elkhorn. They decided to call professional interior designer, Ellen Turnage Allied Member ASID with Interiors Joan and Associates to design the inside spaces to help it feel like home the minute they move in.

“With it being an extremely busy household, she’s relying on me to put all those moving parts together” Turnage said, “she’s depending on us, design professionals, to make it come together for her.”

As a new construction, Turnage’s full, uninhibited skillset was at the homeowners’ disposal. Early discussions ballooned into ideas, ones Turnage guided and deftly fastened to physical space—one of harmony between modern and traditional design. “She was trying to capture that eastern coastal type of feel, that light, airy feeling, but still anchored to very traditional styling; a little more of an upbeat, modern, maybe a little bit

younger approach,” noted Turnage. “So we created a seaside palette of some very soft neutrals with mixed shades of indigo, with different designer fabrics, draperies, upholstery, and artwork.”

“It’s cleaner, fresher, newer, but still has the design approach of being timeless,’” she said. The two-story home strikes an alluring balance, with well-defined lines, natural colors, and ascetic trim providing the canvas for bursts of traditional flare.

“It’s an accumulation of all these different moving elements together,” Turnage said, “white marble in the kitchen, in the fireplace and around the hearth, a really unique butcher-block In the pantry area. You take that traditional classic look and you just give it a refresh, and it’s brand new. It’s stunning,” The new homeowners agreed. “Her face was so full of emotion,” Turnage said. “To see her standing there in awe with such a smile on her face I guess that was all I needed to know.”

FREDDIE HALL, JR

It’s About Service

Story by Tamsen Butler // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

To say that Freddie Hall, Jr. knows a thing or two about selling cars is an understatement. He’s been doing so since the late 1980s. He worked for the Iowa Department of Corrections before joining the auto sales industry. “A friend who sold cars told me, ‘Freddie, you’re good with people and you should sell cars.’ I took a leave of absence, started selling, and then never went back to my old job,” Hall said with a chuckle.

Hall is the Client Advisor who can boast about being at ONYX the longest; he was there when the luxury dealership opened in January 2020. He said he enjoys working at there for a variety of reasons. “We have the best brands. And in a time when other dealerships are getting rid of extras, we continue to serve our customers by offering conveniences that others stopped offering.

“It’s not a convenient time to provide convenience,” Hall quipped. “But we still do it at ONYX. It’s about service.” Hall said that every facet of ONYX’s operation is designed to serve clients. This same principal dictates how he sells cars, too. “I don’t set out to ‘sell cars’—I set out to serve clients.”

The seasoned Client Advisor knows that putting the client at ease helps them paint a better picture of what they’re looking for in a vehicle. Hall said it also helps that he’s a bit of a “goofball” and that he “tries to have fun” in every interaction.

Hall said his favorite thing about his job is “meeting the people! We get to serve people from a variety of backgrounds.” Not surprisingly, Hall is the type of person who naturally seems to get along with everyone he encounters.

Frequently serving as a mentor for new Client Advisors, Hall said he enjoys helping junior advisors find their way. “I don’t mind helping the young guys,” he said. He’s known around the dealership as a team player and stresses to fellow employees that they should conduct themselves in the same manner.

“If you need some help, I’m going to help you,” Hall said. “It’s not about what I get individually—accolades or anything else. It’s about serving the customer

and representing the dealership. It’s not about that salesperson. If he has a problem and he’s trying to take care of a customer and he needs help, that’s our responsibility to help him for the benefit of the total impact.”

As for Hall, his friendly demeanor and easygoing personality help put clients at ease. There’s no room for hard-sell measures in Hall’s approach. He shuns the classic aggressive sales tactics and instead works to build relationships with clients and learn what they truly need.

“Serving the client and finding the car that best suits their needs and whatever their budget is, that’s how you build that foundation for a long-term relationship,” Hall said. “One car sale will not make your career.”

Hall’s long roster of legacy clients is a testament to his ability to make and keep buyers happy. It’s common for clients to return to him multiple times because they know the service they’ll receive. As for Hall, he really enjoys cultivating these relationships and appreciates all his legacy clients.

Hall was born and raised in Omaha and is a Vietnam veteran. Serving in the Navy helped Hall see the world, but one deployment was enough for him. He has three children, 10 grandchildren, and one great grandson. He is active in his church and enjoys traveling and playing golf. And he is most definitely a “people person.”

When asked to describe what it’s like to work with Hall, ONYX Director of First Impressions Becki Waldron let out a bellowing laugh. “Oh, he’s just awesome to work with. He’s a great guy,” she said before leaning over as if to reveal a secret. “He knows everything.”

Not everyone is lucky enough to find the perfect career and excel at it for more than three decades, but Hall is one of the few. He’s right where he should be, serving clients with the kind of knowledge and service that isn’t expected nowadays—but is certainly appreciated.

Visit onyxautomotive.com for more information.

“I DON’T SET OUT TO ‘SELL CARS’—I SET OUT TO SERVE CLIENTS.”

FREDDIE HALL, JR

HELP AT THE READY ONYX Priority Roadside & Towing Program

Story by Tamsen Butler Photography by Bill Sitzmann

Years ago, ONYX After-Sales Director Rob Ramsey was on a business trip. His wife’s car struck an object in the road. She called her husband, and he jumped into action from afar. “Being in this industry, I was able to make a quick phone call and got her taken care of right away,” Ramsey said.

His connections allowed his wife to get back on the road with very little hassle. And while Ramsey (and his wife) were relieved that a minor inconvenience was quickly resolved, he also realized in that moment that “not everyone has this,” he said.

Most people’s experience with roadside assistance is one of frustration—delayed response to requests, long waits on service, or unexpected fees. When Ramsey and his ONYX colleagues set out to create an exceptional roadside assistance program for clients, they took into consideration the fact that most people need prompt, attentive service when they call for help.

“They’re already in adverse conditions–we don’t want to make them wait,” Ramsey said. “We wanted to give them a quicker response time. We partnered with a local towing company and really listened to the feedback of our clients.”

Ramsey said that client feedback had a huge impact on how the roadside assistance program was designed. “They told us the roadside assistance programs offered through the manufacturers aren’t really customerfriendly. They said sometimes it would take hours to get assistance and the clients would have to speak to representatives that aren’t local–or even within the United States.”

“We wanted to create a better experience,” Ramsey said. “We brought it in-house so we could control it.” This is how the ONXY Priority Roadside & Towing program began in Fall 2021.

The program is provided with every car purchase and available to every ONYX client.

The ONYX Priority Roadside & Towing program is designed for use within the Omaha Metropolitan area (within a 50 mile radius of the dealership). Outside of the confines of the 50-mile radius, clients should use the manufacturer’s roadside assistance program.

“Most dealerships don’t offer their own program like this,” Ramsey said. “Most dealers use the manufacturer’s program. This is exceptional.”

Exceptional isn’t a word used lightly and is perhaps best conveyed through this possible scenario: Suppose a vehicle experiences a bad tire blowout on the interstate (which wouldn’t be common on a BMW, clarified Ramsey, as most BMWs come with Run-Flat tires, which allow drivers to continue for around 50 miles on a flat tire). The driver would call ONYX, who would dispatch someone to fix the problem.

If, upon arriving at the scene and surveying the damage, the representative realizes that the repair will take considerable time, the rep contacts the ONYX Valet Team, who is sent out immediately with a loaner vehicle for the driver. The driver doesn’t have to wait around for lengthy repairs; they can get on with their day while the ONYX team takes care of everything, including towing the vehicle to their garage for repairs, if needed.

Ramsey said that most of the time, the roadside service team can take care of the problem quickly right there on the spot. From a jump-start to filling an empty gas tank, the ONYX Priority Roadside & Towing program can save drivers from big headaches. “If we can fix it, we fix it right there,” Ramsey said.

The feedback from clients has been incredibly positive, Ramsey said. “Our clients say the Roadside Assistance offers peace of mind.”

All calls for Roadside Assistance are answered by our exclusive, local Roadside Support Partner, Quality Towing. Repairs that can’t be done roadside are completed at the ONYX dealership service center. Clients know what is happening with their vehicle at every step, and don’t have to make multiple phone calls to find out the status of the repairs.

Like most perks offered through this luxury dealership, the Priority Roadside & Towing program was created based on clients’ responses on how to make life easier for them. It’s simply one of the numerous ways that ONYX is different from any other dealership in the Omaha Metropolitan area.

The phone number for roadside assistance is 402.596.2750.

A SWEET RIDE X2

Jay Noddle insists he loves his pair of BMWs—one for city, one for crosscountry.

Story by Kara Schweiss // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

ne of BMW’s taglines used to be ‘the ultimate driving machine,’” Noddle Companies President & CEO Jay Noddle said, and he couldn’t agree more. “In the mountains, along a long stretch, they’re great to drive. They’re fun to drive.”

Noddle likes the BMW brand so much that he owns two of its vehicles, including a 2016 M5 sedan he bought new that still serves as his everyday vehicle.

been a practical vehicle for his daily business and personal activities, but the longtime self-proclaimed “car guy” also appreciates BMW’s image—one that blends high quality with fine aesthetics and sends a subtle message about the driver.

“It says the guy’s got a little class and style; there’s a little sophistication there,” Noddle said.

Noddle’s second BMW is a newer model—a 2020 M8 two-door convertible that has proven to be the perfect vehicle for long road trips to Florida. He particularly likes driving it when he’s in sunny Miami.

“I don’t think either of my BMWs are particularly flashy…but this is a powerful, very fine automobile,” he said, adding that he doesn’t see many M8s on the road and likes the attention his sporty coupe gets from other drivers.

“It’s the longest I’ve owned a sedan. I really like it and I wouldn’t want to trade it in,” he said, explaining that he’s partial to the 2016 M5 body style, which was revised beginning with the 2017 model. “It’s very comfortable, it’s easy to get in and out of, it has a big trunk, and it’s easy to drive. From a performance standpoint, the car will get up and go.”

Noddle had much praise for the ONYX team’s ethics and service, which back up a quality brand and product. The team made sure he thoroughly understood how to access and operate his vehicles’ technical features and functions, he explained. And the relationship between client and dealership didn’t end when the sale was finalized or even after he drove off the lot.

“It starts with the people,” Noddle said. “ONYX has great protocols and great set-up for service and education. Some of these cars have a lot of technology. They do a good job getting you started and an equally good job following up. I enjoy doing business with them and I really enjoy the cars.”

It’s very likely he’ll go back to ONYX when it’s time to purchase his next BMW, Noddle said; but he’s in no hurry, especially because he expects his vehicles to endure, like his son’s 2005 M5 that’s still going strong.

As the head of a successful commercial property development company with projects spanning the Midwest, and also as a civically engaged community leader in Omaha, Noddle spends a lot of time behind the wheel in both the metro and beyond. He said his M5 has

“One thing I’ve found with BMWs is that they get better with time,” Noddle said. “I enjoy cars and these are two of the best.”

Visit onyxautomotive.com for more information.

“IT’S VERY COMFORTABLE, IT’S EASY TO GET IN AND OUT OF, IT HAS A BIG TRUNK, AND IT’S EASY TO DRIVE. FROM A PERFORMANCE STANDPOINT, THE CAR WILL GET UP AND GO.”

JAY NODDLE

THE LONGTIME SELFPROCLAIMED “CAR GUY” ALSO APPRECIATES BMW’S IMAGE—ONE THAT BLENDS HIGH QUALITY WITH FINE AESTHETICS AND SENDS A SUBTLE MESSAGE ABOUT THE DRIVER.

VALA’S PUMPKIN PATCH

A wonderland of fall fun in the metro

Story by Sara Locke // Photography by Vala’s Pumpkin Patch

FOR A MORE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, GUESTS ARE INVITED TO PLAY APPLE BLASTERS FOR A LITTLE TARGET PRACTICE, OR HEAD TO VALA’S BLACK-LIGHT PAINTBALL SHOOTOUT TO HUNT ZOMBIES IN A PSYCHEDELIC SIMULATED WAR WITH THE UNDEAD.

season, Vala’s will host three weekends of fall festivals from September 2nd to the 18th. The pumpkin patch will then open to the public from September 23rd to October 31st.

Smoked Meats, Sweet Treats, and Seasonal Eats

There’s something for everyone at Vala’s, from your favorite foodie to your endlessly energetic offspring. Visitors are encouraged to sample any of the dozens of signature pies from The Pie Barn (including savory chicken pot pies), spiced pumpkins sourced on-site, salty caramel apple, and a crumble just as sweet as the baker who made it fresh. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

At Grandma’s Kitchen, Grandma Lois’ recipes are as wholesome as they are hearty, and a hot meal on a cold autumn day is just what the family ordered: a plate of pot roast, fried chicken, or the

and Howl-at-the-Moon Snacks.

The non-edible attractions are just as sweet—and include fun for everyone— like a hayrack ride to the pumpkin field, apple orchard, or barnyard. Private fire pit are also available for an evening of toasted treats and toasty feet. Additionally, the lost pumpkin mine, the maize maze, and the haunted farmhouse, trail, and graveyard are ripe for exploration.

For a more hands-on experience, guests are invited to play Apple Blasters for a little target practice, or head to Vala’s black-light paintball shootout to hunt zombies in a psychedelic simulated war with the undead.

Little Ones Just Want to Have Fun

While there are many exciting, romantic, and scenic aspects that make Vala’s an adult destination, the main attractions are for the littlest of guests.

be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $39.99 plus tax on Saturdays and Sundays, $33.99 plus tax on Fridays, and $19.99 plus tax the rest of the week. For those planning to make more than one visit, the season pass provides the best value, and runs $84.99 per person. The season pass allows access to the entire park seven days a week from September 23rd to October 31st.

While the season pass can save some green, the one nonnegotiable is time— and a good one at that. Once past the doors, whether accompanied by a pack of small children, a team of hard-toimpress teens, or a date for the afternoon, guests will quickly find themselves lost among the many sights, smells, and sounds of the season.

Visit valaspumpkinpatch.com for more information.

PILE IN!

Five Brushstroke Destinations to Paint the Perfect Autumn Scene

Story by Julius Fredrick // Photography by Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks

Nebraska is well known, perhaps notoriously so, for its seasonal extremes: bone-chilling cold in the winter; and summertime months drenched with humidity and blazing heat. Between the solstices, temperate, breezy spring and its bursts of green provides reprieve. Though autumn, with its cooling skies, crisp scents, and crackling footsteps over warm-hued leaves, is cherished in equal measure. While there’s no shortage of beautiful, tree-nestled areas in Omaha to enjoy, the following destinations represent some of the most stunning fall-time locales statewide— each worth a final salute before snow and ice make their return.

Platte River State Park (31 miles from Omaha)

Less than 40 minutes from ONYX Automotive, Platte River State Park is among the most scenic environments branching from the well-traveled stretch of I-80 between Omaha and Lincoln. A huge swathe of deciduous trees—the variety that turn with the seasons—frames the park, revealing a landscape of orange and red. Watchtowers scattered throughout the park grant a birds-eye-view of the surrounding forest, the foliage flush with autumn glow. Babbling streams crisscross the park, with “Waterfall Trail” making good on its promise, even if it’s a small one. As near to the city lights as it is, Platte River State Park receives far less of the spotlight than neighboring Eugene T. Mahoney State Park—and that’s a good thing for urbanites seeking a less-crowded, but no-lessbeautiful, fall getaway.

Platte River State Park

THOUGH THE APPLE HARVEST HAS CONCLUDED AT NEIGHBORING ARBOR DAY FARM, LEAVES CONTINUE TO BURN CRIMSON WELL THROUGH OCTOBER, ESPECIALLY IN THE ADJOINING TREE HOUSE ADVENTURE AND TREE HOUSE TRAIL SITES.

Photography by Bill Sitzmann

Niobrara Valley Preserve

Visit outdoornebraska.gov/platteriver/ for more information.

Nebraska City & Arbor Day Farm (44 miles from Omaha)

It comes as little surprise that the birthplace of Arbor Day would be counted among Nebraska’s lushest retreats. Once a nursery and testing area for imported trees studied by Arbor Day founder Julius Sterling Morton for their effectiveness as windbreaks, the 72-acre Arbor Lodge State Historical Park is ensconced by a stunning array of trees—rendered all the more beautiful come fall. Though the apple harvest has concluded at neighboring Arbor Day Farm, leaves continue to burn crimson well through October, especially in the adjoining Tree House Adventure and Tree House Trail sites—which provide the perfect activity for families to enjoy before the cold sets in. Besides these arboreal hotspots, Nebraska City proper serves some of the most enchanting blends of smalltown charm and leafy extravagance found anywhere in the state.

To learn more about Nebraska City and the history of Arbor Day, visit nebraskacityne.gov/ and https://www. arborday.org/

Wilderness Park - Lincoln (64 miles from Omaha)

Tucked away in the most southwesterly portion of the capital, Lincoln’s Wilderness Park is unexpectedly true to its name, given its place within the state’s second largest metropolis— and third, come game-day at Memorial Stadium. However, savvy trail enthusiasts won’t be fooled by the park’s urban camouflage; 1,472 tree-packed acres support 30 miles of multi-use trails, ensuring naturelovers plentiful foliage to appraise. This is especially true amid autumn’s gradience, where hikers, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, and even horseback riders (limited to the park’s Red and Green trails) can explore the woodlands lining the Salk Creek floodplains relatively unperturbed by insects. Other, more interesting creatures inhabit the designated conservation area—including foxes, deer, and various species of songbird— inviting guests to hear and see, though not touch, the park’s captivating fauna.

For park hours, picnic sites, and navigation tips, visit lincoln.ne.gov/City/ Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/

Nebraska National Forest - Halsey (280 miles from Omaha)

Near the village of Halsey, littered pine needles and bulging roots break the seemingly endless tide of dunes that characterize Nebraska’s Sandhills region. Intrepid road-warriors are rewarded with an oasis of shade, provided by the western hemisphere’s largest hand-planted woodlands: Nebraska National Forest. Safeguarded by the Bessey Ranger District, the forest offers miles of trails, including the 36mile Dismal River OHV Trail System. The greatest draw for tree-lovers, however, is the Charles E. Bessey Nursery—the oldest active seedling nursery overseen by the USDA Forest Service. Though evergreens like Douglas firs and Ponderosa pines are the most widely nurtured, crowns of bur oaks and silver maples alight the grounds come autumn, entreating visitors to learn about and enjoy the trees at every stage of life.

Visit fs.usda.gov/nebraska to plant the seeds of discovery.

Smith Falls State Park (304 miles from Omaha)

Though topping out at the furthest destination from Omaha, Smith Falls State Park in north-central Nebraska may provide the most rewarding, if not unique, way to enjoy the season’s change. The eponymous Smith Falls represent the tallest waterfall in the state, where white torrents crash into the calm, clear waters of the Niobrara River below. By far the most popular activities in the park and surrounding sites are kayaking, canoeing, and tubing long stretches of the Niobrara, the river hemmed by more than 200 waterfalls of varying heights, and throngs of trees bursting with color under the autumn sun. Truly, fall takes on a whole new meaning in this flowing, picturesque slice of Nebraska.

Go to outdoornebraska.gov/smithfalls/ to fall in love with autumn once again.

Nebraskans, put down the rake, pick up the keys, and pile in the car this autumn for miles of leaf-strewn roads, highways, and trails exclusive to the Cornhusker State—and enjoy the “good life” at its sweater-weather best with a trip to these scenic, fall-time favorites.

CASA BOVINA

The Constant Evolution of New School Fine Dining

Story by Chris Hatch // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

f one tries to find a connection between Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Piedmont region in northwest Italy—a province nestled in the jagged hills of the lower Swiss Alps— the common ground between the two places appears scarce.

They’re 15 hours away from one another via plane, or 4,879 miles, according to the algorithmic genius of Silicon Valley’s best and brightest; not to mention several time zones and one ocean apart.

Then there’s the language barrier, the differing currencies…

So how does one tie together such distant points on a map?

There is a place where people can experience both northwestern Italy and midwestern Nebraska simultaneously—Casa Bovina, a dining establishment just north of the Lancaster Event Center on 84th Street in Lincoln.

That’s where a team of chefs and staff have turned their restaurant into a culinary wormhole that allows diners to be in two places at once.

Casa Bovina brings a unique fusion to the table, one that combines the best in old-school Italian cuisine and Nebraska’s finest beef. And of course, both regions are celebrated for their fine beef.

“It’s most certainly Italian-inspired,” Head Chef Zach Midgett said of their menu. “I do throw in some French techniques here and there, given that my cooking background is primarily French for the past decade of my life. But we’re definitely trying to stick to our origins in northern Italy, Piedmont area.”

While Casa Bovina is firmly rooted on current-day Nebraska soil, the restaurant is constantly seeking its own renaissance.

Embracing change is how Lincoln, Nebraska, ended up luring a game-changing gastronomic talent from the West Coast such as Midgett.

“I would say that the menu changes quite often,” said Midgett, who moved to Lincoln about a year and half ago to take a position at the esteemed The French Laundry before joining Casa Bovina. “What I tell people when they ask me this is, we kind of go with the seasons. You’ll see the entire menu change summer, fall, winter, spring. We’re always looking to evolve. Every week is different, every day is different.”

Midgett isn’t the only member of the team at Casa Bovina who prides himself on fusing ideas and flavors. General Manager Jordan Reed, a jack of all trades at Casa Bovina, is a gifted wine connoisseur. When he’s not working the floor of the restaurant, he’s coming up with dish-drink pairing recommendations for his guests.

“I started the wine list with a focus on Piedmont region, obviously, because of our cattle,” Reed said excitedly. “Then we focus on Italy, and then we focus on the rest of the world—be that old world or new world. It’s fun. You can go one of two directions when you pair. Most of the time I like to see what Chef comes up with, then kind of figure out what wines would be fun, or what would be kind of unique, or what would be a classic pairing.”

Guests can choose dishes from Casa Bovina’s Core Menu, with traditional meals that taste anything but traditional, or they can choose to go on a guided multi-sensory tour by picking from the Tasting Menu.

“The Tasting Menu makes our job really easy—to impress our guests who come in,” Reed said. “With the food Chef is putting out in his kitchen, instead of having to choose off the a la carte menu, we literally take the menu from you and then your server will bring out each dish, then explain it to you. Some [dishes] are made

tableside. It’s definitely an experience. And that’s something we want to provide to our guests.”

That experience is painstakingly monitored by the team at Casa Bovina to be as fresh and as local as is humanly possible. A nearly 2-acre garden on the grounds, and the 40 or so chickens that are watered and fed by the chefs themselves on site, help ensure freshness of the ingredients well beyond what most restaurants can provide.

“Our mercato is literally directly below the restaurant,” Reed said. “It’s a retail and butcher shop, primarily just to service the people of Lincoln and the Omaha area who can come in and see the butcher cutting their beef right in front of them.”

As GM and Chef banter about business, it becomes clear what truly makes Casa Bovina a special place: the effort to serve customers the best experience.

“Jordan and I go back and forth all the time, ‘do we put table linens down, or do we keep [this place] fun, kind of a more casual facility,” Midgett said with a laugh. “I think at the moment, it’s kind of upscale, but we don’t want people to be timid. We don’t want to scare people away. We definitely are welcoming.”

“Kind of whatever you want to make of the night,” Reed agreed. “If it’s a special occasion, or if you’re just coming in with some buddies…we can accommodate.”

As always, the next renaissance is right around the table for these two.

“There’s going to be a salumeria and smokehouse opening up on campus in September,” Midgett said, his voice getting excited at the next meat revolution to land in Nebraska. “It’s owned by Tony Encantro. His brand is called Encantro Cured, and we’re actually going to be the first USDA-inspected salumeria in this country, here, in the fall.”

SUPERCAR SATURDAY

Inaugural showcase of luxury autos attracts, connects passionate fans

Story by Leo Adam Biga // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

Luxury Car dealer ONYX Automotive partnered with Jamal Rahmanzai of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services for its first car show, the free Supercar Saturday Pop-Up, held August 20.

Owners of collectible cars with built-in cool showed off their freshly polished Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, and other sweet rides at ONYX’s showroom and lot in Heartwood Preserve.

A solid turnout of about 200 show cars and 800 spectators pleased show organizers. Attendees included many families with children, and food trucks fed the masses while they browsed.

“We’re super excited by how it went,” ONYX general manager Drew Friesen said. “The feedback from everybody was phenomenal. The owners who brought in their cars really appreciated the space. The spectators loved all the cars. ONYX employees who staffed the event thought it was the neatest thing. They all felt it was a very rewarding time. The coolest part was some high school-aged kids expressing interest in pursuing automotive technician careers. I thought that was just awesome.”

Friesen said it just made sense for ONYX, which represents BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and MINI vehicles, to host a car show like this.

“We’re a high-line luxury brands dealership, and the cars at the show were high-line luxury brands. There’s not a current dealer [in Omaha] doing any sort of auto show featuring cars like this. We feel like those car enthusiasts and collectors are our customers.”

Rahmanzai agreed: “A lot of our fans have shopped with ONYX before and are familiar with them, which is why it built a lot of excitement for our Supercar Saturday Pop-Up there. They’re a great local neighbor. They have the perfect parking lot and dealership showroom for showing the cars.”

Luxury and exotic car culture fans got their fill, courtesy of collectors.

“Owners of these very limited, rare vehicles were gracious enough to bring them out to the car show to show off to fellow car enthusiasts and spectators,” Rahmanzai said, who’s organized specialty car shows under the Supercar Saturday name since 2020. He and Friesen share a passion for high-end sports cars, luxury cars, and anything

rare on four wheels, so they decided to export Supercar Saturday from Berkshire to ONYX and host the pop-up event.

Naturally, spectators toured the cars that piqued their interests and tastes, taking photos and videos, and chatting with proud owners. Some lucky spectators, including kids, got to sit behind the wheel and start the engine of select vehicles. The Lamborghinis got the most love from kids and adults.

These car-centric celebrations, Rahmanzai said, “bring everyone together over the same passion and hobby.”

Rahmanzai’s well-curated events distinguish them from run-of-the-mill auto shows.

“Something we get a lot of compliments on is our organization with certain rows for certain cars, including a nice mix of domestic, European, Japanese lines of cars and then exotic cars.”

From the perspective of Friesen, the event checked off several boxes for ONYX, including the goals of forging relationships with classic car fans and building brand appreciation.

“We raised some awareness for what the BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Mini brands have to offer,” he said. “There are people out there collecting our brands, so it was an opportunity for like-minded people to engage with each other. We hope it leads to starting clubs around those vehicles to show off their cars and come together as a community.”

Friesen and company used the pop-up to inform owners and guests that ONYX buys collector edition cars and acts as a broker for clients trying to locate rare cars.

ONYX also treated the event as an open house to show off its own wares.

“We got to show people the other side of luxury,” Friesen said. “When people think of automotive luxury, they think of the cars themselves. But luxury has way more to do with the service provided. This event gave folks an opportunity to come into our establishment, look around, see peer cars, get to know our staff, and check out our service drives and facilities to see how we are ready to take care of automotive needs.

“We offer 100 different loaner cars and same-day service repair. We have three service drives—BMW, Mini, and Land Rover-Jaguar. We have three richly appointed selling floors. We’ve overstaffed to make sure no customer is ever waiting.”

With the pop-up being such a success at ONYX, Rahmanzai expects more events there to follow, possibly both a spring and fall show in 2023.

“ONYX allowed the best experience for the cars, car show enthusiasts, and spectators,”Rahmanzai said. “ONYX’s hospitality was great. They had all hands on board, which really helped with parking and just accommodating people with water and things.”

Holding more Supercar Saturdays is a win-win for car enthusiasts and ONYX alike, organizers and attendees agree.

“We see it as a good fit and partnership,” Friesen said. “Eventually maybe this turns into, yes, an exotic show, but also a classic show for our brands.”

BRIDGING THE GENERATIONS

For 75 years, Bridges Trust weathers storms, leverages opportunity

Story by Dwain Hebda // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

As a third generation CEO of the family firm, Ted Bridges embodies the unbroken code of ethics upon which Bridges Trust was established by his grandfather, Marvin Bridges Sr., and carried on by his father, Edson II.

But as the chief executive whose tenure sits at the crossroads of significant capital markets growth and unprecedented challenges caused by 2020’s COVID outbreak, Bridges’ impact on the wealth management company is uniquely his own.

“When I joined BT in spring of 1983, I was probably the ninth or tenth employee of the Firm at that time. We had about $150 – 200 million of assets under management,” he said. “By 2017, we had 22 employees, just short of $2 billion in assets under management and approximately 300 client relationships.”

“In the past five years, we’ve grown to over $8 billion of assets under management, 65 employees, and over 700 client relationships located in approximately 40 different states.”

Bridges pauses, as if letting those numbers sink in for the very first time, seeking the words to sum up the success of three lifetimes in his family.

“We’ve grown significantly over the years,” he said at last. “We have had incredible support and patience from our clients. I think the Midwest is known for a hard-working ethos. Bridges Trust displays such character and we’re people who are willing to roll up our sleeves and do well by the people who have trusted us with their money.”

Seeing how substantially Bridges Trust has grown, one almost forgets how remarkable it is that the firm is here at all. Independent family operations are increasingly scarce in today’s financial services landscape, especially those

like Bridges Trust which are smaller and operate outside the country’s major metropolitan areas and their attendant enclaves of the super-wealthy.

But where many see Omaha’s size and location as liabilities, Bridges underscores them as the major underpinnings of the company’s 75 years in business and as catalysts for the firm’s accelerated growth as of late.

“About half of our clients live within a couple hours’ drive of Omaha. Our practice is regional if not national as we have clients in 40 states,” he said. “But importantly, many of the clients that we serve are multi-generational in nature. We have a number of families we work with where we’re on generation three or generation four. I’m very proud of that.”

“Operationally, if someone says, ‘You’re not that big,’ our response would be ‘we’re not as big as some of the very largest [firms], but our size allows us to provide a level of service that is highend and high-touch relative to larger firms. There’s a boutique aspect to our DNA, to our culture, and to our capabilities. Our mindset allows us to be nimble and flexible enough to build client-specific investment solutions at scale, things some larger firms just can’t do.”

This build-to-suit mindset has not only proven very effective with their legacy clients; it’s also a particularly appealing selling point for the newest generation of investors, a segment accustomed to retail and service marketplaces that cater to their individual needs and lifestyle.

“We are not a one-size fits-all. We don’t have models that we box our clients into,” said Nick Wilwerding, the firm’s President and COO. “We listen to what their objectives are, both on the investment and/or wealth side for their families and institutions, and then we design the strategies that meet those objectives.”

NICK WILWERDING

Wilwerding said Bridges Trust has proven itself adept in blending its heritage skillset and financial acumen with modern technology to provide enhanced customer-facing tools. This aspect of operations, which provided a useful work around during pandemic restrictions, is now a key selling point to the rapidly growing number of clients who prefer to conduct traditionally face-to-face transactions online.

“We have seen a continued push from clients across our practice, regardless of size and complexity, that are demanding premier digital access, quick and efficient turnaround on requests, and more and more 24/7 accessibility to our relationship managers,” Wilwerding said. “I would say that has always been the case for some of our larger, more institutional relationships, but now we’re seeing it across all 700 of our relationships, regardless of size.”

“We’re delivering a robust digital experience and will continue to do so. Fundamentally, clients want to know their money is being well-managed, they want to understand what we’re doing and why. We’re looking to invest in better and better technology to facilitate and communicate that.”

“WE LISTEN TO WHAT THEIR OBJECTIVES ARE, BOTH ON THE INVESTMENT AND/ OR WEALTH SIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND INSTITUTIONS, AND THEN WE DESIGN THE STRATEGIES THAT MEET THOSE OBJECTIVES.”

More than mere bytes and bots, the company’s evolution in meeting the needs of its newest generation of investors is also rooted in an understanding of the changing dynamics of investors, even within longtime client families. Bridges said the firm has done a good job of connecting the dots between the perspective of the patriarch that made the family fortune and the succeeding progeny who inherit the proceeds.

“The Firm’s overall investment philosophy and process is our North Star and is applicable across generations, thereby helping clients acheive their long term objectives,” he continued.

“However, as we work across generations, investment objectives do change, and the culture of the family also changes. There will be more family members in gen three than there were in gen one for example, with many of those family members coming in through marriage,” Bridges explained. “Thus, the family’s values can change over time. Bridges Trust becomes the institutional memory for the family and we’re a resource to help educate and communicate within and across family generations over time.”

As for the next generation of the Firm itself, Bridges said while there’s not a fourth generation of his family immediately involved in the business, the Firm has been successful in hiring and developing significant depth and breath of talent such that the company’s next 75 years will continue to enjoy success rooted in its foundational principles.

“We have made significant investments in resources in order to effectively serve families over a series of two, three, and four generations. The breadth and depth of resources that we have to serve a family over multiple generations is where our Firm excels,” Bridges said.

“For instance, it’s likely gen one eventually gets to a point where conservation of wealth is the primary objective, whereas in gen two, generating cash flow to support lifestyle might be more important, and gen three might be, ‘We’re younger, we want to grow the capital, and we have more appetite for risk,’” Bridges said. “We work with families to achieve that balance, applying a broad investment philosophy and process with the needs of each generation in mind.”

“The only way you can do that is to be highly intentional about the people you add to the organization, making sure that those who you bring on embody the cultural elements that are the most important to the organization as it serves a larger growing client base,” he said. “Our role, ultimately, is to serve clients by understanding what their needs are and then building investment solutions with the goal of delivering results as efficiently as possible.”

“You can find people that have a heart for service, and you can find people that have a lot of professional investment management skills. Finding people who have both is more difficult, but we have built a team that has strengths in service and skill which defines our long lasting culture.”

“WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN RESOURCES IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE FAMILIES OVER A SERIES OF TWO, THREE, AND FOUR GENERATIONS.” TED BRIDGES