Business

Business Ethics Alliance Announces Signature Events for 2020 Every year, the Business Ethics Alliance puts on powerful, thoughtprovoking events for attendees at a variety of levels within an organization. Each signature event focuses on notable keynote speakers and panelists in a large group setting. The Alliance is dedicated to elevating ethics education across the community and is excited to share the 2020 schedule: •EthicSpace Conference – October 13 (location TBA): Second annual conference intended for Omaha’s business community on ethics development. •Executive Breakfasts – March 3 and September 15 at the Holland Performing Arts Center: Executive level leaders gather for thoughtprovoking ethics strategies shared by distinguished speakers. •Ethics Network Luncheon – November 10 (location TBA): For management levels professionals to network and put ethics as a cornerstone to doing business. •Mind Candy Dialogues – April 16 and August 27 at Temple Israel: Known as the most popular events, these dialogues challenge controversial topics and are free and open to the public. The Greater Omaha Alliance for Business Ethics at Creighton University—the Business Ethics Alliance—is the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to city-level business ethics education. To register for any of the 2020 events, go online to www.businessethicsalliance. org. Further questions can be directed to Alise Hernandez at (402) 280-3367 / ahernandez@businessethicsalliance.org.

Bark Avenue Omaha Celebrates 20 Years Bark Avenue Omaha is celebrating 20 years of business and exceptional service to four-legged friends and their families. Their caring and experienced staff of pet stylists, daycare attendants, boarding leads, and front counter supervisors are grateful for the loyalty of their customers that has made their business the success it is. Bark Avenue Omaha is a doggy daycare, boarding facility, and grooming salon. If you’re looking for a safe, fun place for your pet while you are at work or play, because you care but can’t be there, Bark Avenue’s daycare and overnight boarding provide a comfortable, happy, and secure environment. Their caring staff involves all furry guests in fun activities and gives them constant supervision with webcam available for viewing daycare during play times. Bark Avenue grooming salon features stylists with 75 combined years of experience. They pride themselves in the knowledge to groom all breeds of dogs, especially puppies and geriatrics. They advance their knowledge in every aspect of services and belong to numerous groups for advanced training, such as the Dog Guru and International Pet Groomer, Inc. Whatever your needs are for your furry family, Bark Avenue has you covered in one convenient location. They have been the Best of OMAHA winner for their pet services since 2008. To learn more about Bark Avenue Omaha’s services, visit their website at www.barkavenueomaha.com or call (402) 933-4007.

4 Strictly Business MARCH 2020 #PrintProudDigitalSmart DoubleTree by Hilton Omaha Southwest Hosts Grand Re-Opening On January 16, DoubleTree by Hilton Omaha Southwest celebrated their grand re-opening with a savory selection of appetizer’s, action stations, decadent deserts, complimentary drinks, and entertainment. In addition, representatives from the Greater Omaha Chamber were present to host an extravagant ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests were also able to enjoy the live music by artists David Zollo, Jason Boggs, and Randy Burk while sipping on a variety of beverage options provided by Kinkaider Brewing Co., Brickway Brewery, Pint 9 / Republic National, and Premier Midwest Beverage. The Double Tree went all out to celebrate their newly-appointed space! The Hilton conversion process began in June 2019 and full implementation of the exceptional Hilton flag was raised on November 5, 2019. In addition to the conversion process, the team at DoubleTree by Hilton Omaha Southwest has extensively been active in collaborating with local nonprofits such as The Coalition for Human Trafficking, YES (Youth Emergency Services), and Children’s Hospital. All of which were featured at the grand re-opening. Quality, active, and dedicated service to the community and to all of their guests is at the heart of the hotel. Conveniently located off I-80, the hotel offers easy access to many of Omaha’s most popular places such as the Baxter Arena and the Henry Doorly Zoo. They have a heated, glass-enclosed pool, free Wi-Fi, an open concept business center, and a 24-hour fitness center available to all guests. The in-house ‘Vida’ Restaurant and Lounge is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and room service dining. Hilton is a global hospitality company comprised of nearly 5,000 properties. To learn more about Hilton Hotels, visit their website at hilton. com. To contact the new DoubleTree by Hilton Omaha Southwest location, call (402) 905-9414. Classe Elites Matchmaking Agency Launches Remote Dating Service in Omaha Now offering their remote dating service in Omaha, Classe Elites Matchmaking Agency, LLC is celebrating their opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 4 with the Greater Omaha Chamber. The event is from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Classic Rock Coffee. Guests will have the chance to personally meet the co-founders of Classe Elites: Rayna Gochanour, Tina Beckwith, and Doug Swarts. These three individuals saw a need for a change in the dating world. As a result, Classe Elites decided to better serve their members and clients by going remote. A remote matchmaking agency means that the matchmakers don’t walk into a traditional 8-to-5 office each weekday. This provides a higher success rate with being able to work from any location. The matchmakers at Classe Elites are in front of more people and have that face-to-face interaction, staying better connected with members and clients to keep up with a fast-pace world. Today, almost everything is available at your finger tips with the press of a button, but relationships need more time and care. Classe Elites believes that when selecting your future significant other, one should never be swiping right or left as if you are sorting through a clothing rack, quickly getting pushed to the side, and leaving you feeling uninspired to want to continue the search for a partner. Classe Elites Matchmaking Agency, LLC strives to provide a personal experience while maintaining the utmost confidentiality. Their service encourages you to be yourself, to feel confident enough to look up from your phone, and engage with those in front of you. When investing in your future with Classe Elites, their team of professionals do the work for you to free up your time and take the stress away from you. Learn more on the website at classeelites.com or call (531) 777-0888.

Scantron Named to MSP100 US and Global100 Lists by Cloudtango

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Scantron Technology Solutions was recently recognized as a leading m a n a ge d s e r v i c e provider (MSP) by Cloudtango for excelling in several critical areas, such as support services, customer satisfaction, market growth, certifications, and innovation. Scantron was named to two lists: MSP100 US, which honors the best 100 MSPs in the U.S., and Global100, for the best 100 MSPs in the world. Cloudtango screens thousands of MSPs to find the top service providers in the industry. Cloudtango is the world’s largest MSP directory. It provides an easy way to pair businesses with MSPs throughout the industry. Their directory contains thousands of managed service providers searchable by service type, partnership, and location. Their goal is to help you to sort through all available service providers in order to find the right match. Visit cloudtango.org to learn more. Scantron Technology Solutions regularly stands above the crowd with their track record of successfully delivering premium IT services and their willingness to put service at the heart of their offerings. With more than 52,000 customer sites across the country, Scantron has helped their customers get greater value from their IT environments by making them faster, safer, and more reliable for more than 40 years. They continue to provide top of the industry IT support and solutions at local and national levels. To learn more about Scantron Technology Solutions, go to scantron.com/omaha.

#PrintProudDigitalSmart Cass County Economic Development Council Recognizes Businesses at Annual Meeting Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council (CCNEDC) held its 2020 Annual Meeting on January 29 at Round the Bend Steakhouse in Ashland where Executive Director Jennifer Serkiz highlighted the county’s 2019 accomplishments. More than 80 area business professionals attended the event. Dr. Brian Williams, Nebraska Public Power District economist, reviewed Cass County economic growth over the years. Senator Mark Kolterman, District 24 and CCNEDC’s annual meeting speaker highlighted the LB720 ImagiNE Nebraska Act. “I appreciate all the collaboration in the county this past year and as a result CCNEDC responded to 21 opportunities which generated seven site visits and four landed projects resulting in $4.7 million in capital investments and 26 new jobs in Cass County,” Jennifer said. Two local businesses were recognized by CCNEDC with the organization’s 2020 Business Recognition Award: T.J. and Tifini Olson, owners of Round The Bend Steakhouse, and Mark and Sue Shaw, owners of Shaw Smart Properties, LLC (Shaw Hardware, The Sweet Spot, and Fork and Hammer restaurant). This award acknowledges companies who have significantly contributed to all of Cass County through economic growth, support, community involvement, and improvement. In addition, Alan Mueller was recognized for his leadership of CCNEDC over the last three years and will remain a great asset to the organization as past chairman this next year. Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council is part of the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership. Learn more online at www.omahachamber.org/economic-development/cass-countyeconomic-development-council or contact Jennifer at (402) 978- 7909 / jserkiz@selectgreateromaha.com.

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MARCH 2020 Strictly Business 5 Sandhills Global’s FR8Star Records Successful Closing Quarter, Adds New Carrier Feature FR8Star, a trusted online marketplace and preferred shipping partner of Sandhills G l o b a l , a n n o u n c e d a successful closing quarter in 2019 with more than 25,000 specialized, less than load (LTL), and flatbed transport loads posted to the FR8Star broker and carrier network. FR8Star connects shippers with expert, bonded brokers and insured carriers, providing a secure and transparent bidding process to facilitate timely, hassle-free shipping. Continuing its momentum into 2020, FR8Star’s lead generation looks to grow past 1,500 quality leads per week, derived from AuctionTime. com, MachineryTrader.com, TractorHouse.com, and TruckPaper.com. FR8Star now also provides a carrier load board, a new feature that is exclusive to FR8Star carriers and completely free for them to use. The carrier load board enables carriers to quickly filter and sort loads, and to view all available information about each load, in order to find the loads that are most suitable to their expertise. Criteria for filtering and sorting includes location, shipment type, load/unload method, and special load requirements. Sandhills Global is the company behind these and other industry-leading platforms, including CraneTrader.com and ForestryTrader.com, all of which facilitate the sale of new and used heavy machinery, agricultural equipment, and commercial trucks and trailers. FR8Star is fully integrated into Sandhills’ retail platforms, streamlining the specialized transportation process for purchases, rentals, and leases. Buyers can simply click the FR8Star shipping link on any equipment, truck, or trailer listing to launch a quote request specific to that particular asset. To learn more, visit www.FR8Star.com or call (888) 281-2269.

Control Depot Recognized as 2020 Diamond Distributor by Honeywell Honeywell recently announced Control Depot as one of its Diamond Distributors for 2020. This prestigious award is presented annually to only 10 of the top Honeywell distributors in the nation. The title is based on sales volume, technical competency, and customer service. This represents the 12th year that Control Depot has been recognized with Diamond Distributor status. Control Depot is a Honeywell Authorized Systems Distributor (ASD) serving Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas. As an ASD, it sells and supports a wide selection of residential and commercial controls and components to contractors and building owners. This includes everything from a simple thermostat to complete webbased building automation system equipment. Control Depot has been an affiliated with Honeywell for the past 14 years. Control Depot is the first Honeywell Distributor in the area doing business as a true Honeywell counter line. They stock the largest selection of Honeywell controls and components in the area for residential and commercial applications. With unmatched support from a friendly staff, they are “Your Honeywell Partner of Choice.” Contact Control Depot at (402) 934-0078 / (866) 809-7408 (toll free) / sales@controldepotinc.com for more information on how their services can help you. You can also learn more online at www.controldepotinc.com.

Mid-Continental Restoration Co., Inc. to Establish Regional Office in Nebraska Mid-Continental Restoration Co, Inc. recently announced plans to open a regional office in Omaha. Established in Sioux Falls, SD in 1946, and now headquartered in Fort Scott, KS, MidContinental Restoration has been providing their services to Nebraska and 10 other states for almost 75 years. Establishing a physical location in Omaha is a part of a strategic effort to better serve clientele in the Omaha and Lincoln marketplace. Additional efforts include joining local Chambers and partnering with other area businesses. Mid-Continental Restoration specializes in building restoration and repair, including exterior cleaning, masonry repair and replacement, caulking and sealant replacement, concrete repair and restoration, and waterproof coatings. The company employs skilled craftsmen, trained in the proper techniques for restoring brick, mortar, limestone, terra-cotta, stucco, and concrete surfaces. Mid-Continental Restoration Co., Inc. is 100% employee owned and committed to providing professional restoration and construction services that cater to the needs of the owner. This is done by developing a level of trust that promotes honest and ethical cooperation in the best interest of all business transactions. Visit www.midcontinental.com to schedule a free building inspection and estimate with Mid-Continental Restoration. Questions about expansion plans can be directed to John Fagan, director of business development, at (913) 522-6636 / john_fagan@midcontinental.com.

FireGuard Participates in 36th Annual Safety & Health Summit FireGuard, Inc. recently attended the 36th Annual Safety & Health Summit hosted by the National Safety Council, Nebraska. The summit is the Midwest’s largest annual “must attend” events for safety, health, human resources, and environmental professionals. The FireGuard team focused on educating attendees on staying up to compliance and the importance of fire and life safety inspections. In turn, Fireguard was able to learn from other industry professionals in order to further their work in educating the community on safety issues. FireGuard enjoyed the day of necessary information from Nebraska’s leading experts and the networking experience. Locally owned and operated since 1994, FireGuard has grown to employ over 50 employees with 450 combined years of experience in fire protection. They have a fleet of over 30 vehicles that allow the FireGuard team to service the Midwest from as far as Colorado to Wyoming. Fireguard serves small companies, major corporations, and everything in between. They focus on sales, design, installation, and servicing of all commercial and/or industrial fire protection systems. For more information about FireGuard, Inc., please visit fireguardusa. com. You can also call (402) 592-1999 to learn more about the products and services they offer that can help protect you and your business.

#PrintProudDigitalSmart North Risk Partners Holds Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate Induction and New Signage North Risk Partners was joined by representatives of the Sarpy Chamber of Commerce on January 15 to officially celebrate their official induction as North Risk Partners. In addition to conducting a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the team also unveiled their new building signage at the event! North Risk Partners is pleased with the great turnout of clients, friends, and community partners, and they look forward to continuing their involvement with the community. North Risk Partners’ office in Omaha was formerly known as Benefit Professionals, Inc. Effective May 1, 2018, North Risk Partners officially merged with Bearence Management Group, another independent insurance brokerage firm with over 80 employees spread across three Midwest locations: Omaha, Mendota Heights, MN., and Des Moines, IA. The Omaha team, led by Lisa Daniels, Wendi Peterson-Stott, and Candace Chapman, have over 100 years of combined experience in the employee benefits industry. North Risk Partners specializes in strategic insurance solutions for businesses and individuals. The firm’s core areas of service are property and casualty, including commercial, home, auto, farm, and more; benefits, including health and life plans for employer-sponsored programs as well as individuals and families. North Risk also has a significant surety bonds practice that is now strengthened with the addition of Bearence. North Risk Partners advisors are committed to helping clients face risk head-on with right-fit insurance coverage and attention to opportunities for preventing avoidable losses. For businesses, the firm offers programming and compliance support in the areas of human resources, safety, worksite wellness, and more. For additional information, go online to www.northriskpartners.com. Septic Tanks • Grease Traps Hydro-Jetting • Car Wash Pits

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Farmers Insurance - Adam Stoskopf Agency Celebrates One-Year Anniversary Farmers Insurance - Adam Stoskopf Agency recently celebrated one year in business. To make the most of the occasion, Adam Stoskopf Agency combined their holiday party open house with a ribboncutting ceremony conducted by the Sarpy Chamber of Commerce on December 18. Staff, clients, family, and friends enjoyed Roma’s Italian catering, beverages, and a jolly atmosphere complete with festive lights and reindeer antlers.

Farmers Insurance agent Adam Stoskopf was born and raised in the Midwest. He is the greater Omaha area’s premier Farmers Insurance agent with offices in Papillion and Plattsmouth. His agency is focused on offering outstanding customer service and consultation to educate you on all your insurance options. Stoskopf has been with Farmers for over 12 years and has the proper skill set to be your trusted advisor.

Farmers Insurance - Adam Stoskopf Agency can provide auto, home, life, renters, recreational, and more types of insurance. Their skilled team of agents are knowledgeable in all aspects of insurance and can help you find the right type of coverage for your family and lifestyle. To get started on your insurance package, text QUOTE to (402) 509-1771. You can also call the office at (402) 682-7290 to schedule an appointment. Learn more online at agents.farmers.com/ne/papillion/adam-stoskopf.

Building Local Partnerships

Concentric Strengthens Team Through Group Activities, Living Out 2020 Campaign C o n c e n t r i c C o r p o ra t i o n believes company outings are the best way to bring their team together and offer a much needed break from their regular routine. In February, Concentric Corporation continued to live out their 2020 campaign, Together #WeAreConcentric, by bowling at The MARK for some friendly competition. Concentric is always finding new ways to boost team morale and create fun memories for those in the workplace. Being a team is incredibly important to the success of the company.

Concentric is bringing back the fundamentals of recruiting, which starts with the relationship. They are upgrading the approach in executive search and recruiting by being deliberate and purposeful, always taking the extra step with their audience’s best interests in mind. They uncover true motives in hiring and career advancement by having transparent and honest conversations. This allows an execution of what Concentric likes to call connecting excellence. Once they determine the tangible skillset, culture fit, and urgency of both sides, they become the bridge between future hires and career paths.

To learn more about Concentric Corporation, go to concentriccorp. com. Be sure to check out their social media (@ConcentricCorp) to see which team won the coveted gold medals and, of course, bragging rights until the next outing.

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Bridge to Better Living, a no-costto-client senior transition service, celebrated its 10th anniversary on February 20 with an open house at their new Lincoln office. The event also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Bridge to Better Living was founded by Mary Ann Stallings in 2010 after navigating the confusing and stressful living research for several family and friends who needed care. An aging population has brought an increasing number of seniors who will need one-on-one support while searching for independent, assisted, memory, or skilled care.

Bridge to Better Living expanded into franchise offerings in 2019 and has served thousands of families in the past decade in Omaha, Lincoln, and the surrounding areas. The company motto Placement with Passion ® is practiced daily by a staff of five transition consultants holding a history of over 125 years in senior care. A consultation with Bridge to Better Living is the first step to determining where a client’s needs and wants could be met. Support and assistance from the team members continues throughout tours to provide options and resources for the best decisions and after each move. Ethics and integrity are core beliefs of Bridge to Better Living. The Better Business Bureau recognized these values with the Small Business Integrity Award in 2019.

Bridge to Better Living’s new Lincoln office is located at 4230 Pioneer Woods Blvd., STE B. For help in finding a new senior living option, visit BridgetoBetterLiving.com or call (402) 802-3301.

#PrintProudDigitalSmart OSX Sales Solutions Brings 28 Years of Experience to Omaha Area Rob Copenhaver of OSX Sales Solutions has brought his decades of experience to serve businesses in the Omaha and Lincoln area, helping them achieve record sales numbers by building high-performing and accountable sales organizations. With OSX Sales Solutions, it is more than just creating a strategy document that a CEO has no time, no resources, or no experience implementing. It is also more than training sales skills that are soon forgotten if the sales organization infrastructure is not built to reward that new behavior. OSX is hands-on in implementation of a rebuilt sales organization. Rob couldn’t do what he does without having put in the foot work. After earning his BSBA and MBA at Creighton University, he hit the road and implemented his knowledge of optimizing sales for businesses coast to coast. Whether working with a start-up or well-established company, Rob is able to address where the sales organization requires re-building, has room for growth, and where support is needed. Rob specializes in reading trends and creating a sustainable practice for his clients who will be better equipped to adapt to changes. He will improve prospecting and customer acquisition rates, analyze current staff, hire and onboard new staff if necessary, set sales targets and metrics, leverage technology, reposition your organization given your market, build quotas and compensation plans, install a pipeline management process, and grow sales revenue to new record levels. As an outsourced VP of sales with OSX Sales Solutions, Rob can also run your sales department and manage the team to ensure the newly rebuilt processes are being followed. Ultimately, he can mentor your sales manager into a sales leader providing that training and education that is typically lacking for sales management. To learn more about OSX Sales Solutions, contact Rob at (402) 858- 6246 / rcopenhaver@salesxceleration.com or go online to osxsales.com.

Millard Business Association Launches New Referral Group, Millard Masterminds The Millard Business Association (MBA) is excited to announce the launch of a new referral group—the Millard Masterminds. The group had their first meeting in February. The addition of the Millard Masterminds makes seven referral groups within the MBA. Referral groups are the heart of the Millard Business Association. These groups are made up of MBA members from noncompeting industries who help grow each other’s businesses by increasing their connections, introducing them to potential leads, and keeping them up to date on what’s going on in the community. A big part of what makes MBA so special is members become an extended family who truly understand what others are going through in their business. From making connections to surviving crises and celebrating victories, the Association is all about people, business, and community. To find out more, contact the Millard Business Association at info@ millardbusinessassociation.org or go to millardbusinessassociation.org.

MARCH 2020 Strictly Business 9 Greater Omaha Chamber Announces 2019 Regional Capital Investment Exceeds $1B The Greater Omaha Chamber recently announced 2019 annual accomplishments for the region’s seven-county economic development partnership, noting results of more than $1 billion in capital investment, 36 new projects, and 2,300 new jobs for the previous 12 months. Ranked one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., according to Go Banking Rates, Greater Omaha was also home to more than 48 new tech startups in 2019 thanks to efforts by The Startup Collaborative, a business accelerator and incubator for Midwest entrepreneurs. Exponential growth was also noted in the tech sector with Google announcing a $600 million investment in Sarpy County last October, and Uncubed reporting Omaha as the fastest-growing tech boomtown in the U.S. The Chamber additionally reported the launch of OPTiN, an Omaha/ Lincoln digital solution connecting tech employers and job seekers, and noted the kickoff of the sold-out Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity and Equity (CODE) conference. “Together, these efforts represent an intentional effort to attract new tech talent, improve the economic well-being of the underemployed population and show companies how to succeed in hiring and retaining a diverse workforce,” said David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber. Additional accomplishments included: •The work of the Chamber’s Urban Core Committee, which continued to guide the planning for the heart of the city. •The 2019 launch of ConnectGO, a transportation initiative focused on crafting a long-term strategy for building a fully integrated, multi-modal transportation strategy. The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration. The full annual report can be found online at www.omahachamber.org/2019annualreport.

Sherman Executive Consulting Launches Expert HR, Operations Solutions in Omaha Dulce Sherman, owner and chief executive advisor, launched her small business, Sherman Executive Consulting, in January to meet the need that many nonprofits and small businesses experience when it comes to having direction from a human resources professional. Most owners or CEOs wear multiple hats, including HR. Sherman’s solution is to free up the leader’s time so they can focus on their business strategy and growth, while she offers her HR expertise through a strategic partnership. Sherman takes clients through an HR audit process and provides recommendations based on business needs that are identified. Because Sherman is Latina and bilingual in both English and Spanish, she can diversify her services to entities that may benefit from having a culturally competent HR professional. Sherman earned a Master of Arts degree in business, a graduate-level certificate in organizational development, and has 25 years in HR leadership in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Her current role as the COO for a small nonprofit has given her the first-hand understanding of what it’s like to run a small business. Sherman completed the requirements of the NAM Guiding Principles in less than one year which is important for small nonprofits as it relates to funding and compliance. She is currently enrolled in the inaugural LeadDIVERSITY and Nonprofit Executive Institute programs. To learn more about Sherman Executive Consulting, contact (402) 305- 2236 or Dulce@ShermanExecutiveConsulting.com. The website will be up and running within the month at www.ShermanExecutiveConsulting.com.

Midwest Retail Properties Lists Commercial Space at Starwood Shopping Center Midwest Retail Properties (MRP) recently announced the listing of three newly available commercial spaces at Starwood Shopping Center, located at 9939-9959 Redick Cir. The spaces for lease range from 1,950 to 2,604 square feet and can be customized to accommodate retail, office, or medical purposes. Starwood Shopping Center is a Walmart shadow center located in Omaha and anchored by Cato, Dollar Tree, GameStop, and Verizon. The property is visible from Highway I-680, providing access to 54,300 vehicles per day (VPD) and gaining attention from the adjacent 208,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter. Main access to Starwood Shopping Center is from Highway 133 providing additional traffic counts of 25,500 VPD. New landscaping surrounding the property was recently added to enhance the exterior of the building. The property is newly painted to match the color scheme of the neighboring Walmart. Midwest Retail Properties is a national Walmart-anchored shopping center owner. Their mission is to create sustainable returns by investing in people. Currently, MRP owns 27 Walmart shadow shopping centers in 19 different states across the Midwest and Southeast. MRP sets itself apart from other landlords by working with tenants to not only buildout their space with their in-house construction management team, but also by providing a stellar property management representative. To learn more about leasing a space from MRP, contact John Cusumano at (314) 628-8499 / john@mrpstl.com or visit mrpstl.com.

Best Care EAP to Hold Conflict Resolution and Management Boot Camps in March Best Care EAP (Employee Assistance Program) will host two full-day boot camps in March: Conflict Resolution Boot Camp on Wednesday, March 10, and Management Boot Camp on Wednesday, March 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Best Care EAP office, 9239 W Center Rd., STE 201.

Conflict Resolution Boot Camp tackles the tough job of handling workplace conflicts. The camp will give you all the resources you need to prevent team work and morale from falling when conflict arises. Best Care’s Management Boot Camp is the “basic training” boot camp that provides everything a new manager or seasoned professional will need to survive in today’s ever-changing work environment. Learn how to keep employees motivated while setting clear expectations, promote independence while encouraging initiative, and most importantly, “think” like a manager! With Best Care EAP as a business partner, you can provide support to help employees focus on their jobs when problems in their personal lives get overwhelming. To register for the work shop, contact (402) 354-8000 / EAP@BestCareEAP.org. Learn more about Best Care EAP at www.bestcareeap.org.

#PrintProudDigitalSmart Sarpy County EDC Announces 2019 Capital Investment in Excess of $730M Over 300 people attended the Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation’s (Sarpy County EDC) Annual Meeting on February 6 at the Embassy Suites La Vista Hotel and Conference Center. In addition to highlighting economic indicators and development activity across the county, Sarpy County EDC announced seven landed projects in 2019. Those projects total more than $738 million in capital investment and 427 new and retained jobs. Landed projects include a new field office for Black Hills Energy (30,000 SF) in Papillion, Google data center (300,000 SF) in Papillion, JE Dunn’s new warehouse facility (57,000 SF) in Papillion, talent assistance for Red Berry Innovations in Springfield, R&R Realty 2nd Flex Building (250,000 SF) in Papillion, and Physicians Mutual mail processing facility (67,107 SF) in Bellevue. Sarpy County EDC also presented several awards and recognitions, including the Partner in Economic Development Award which was award to Jered Morris, senior vice president of sales and growth at Olsson. In addition, the Business Progress Award was given to Nebraska Brewing Company. Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation is a proud partner of the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership. The mission of SCEDC is to grow and diversify Sarpy County through recruitment, expansion, and development of industrial and service enterprises—creating new employment opportunities, capital investment, and an exceptional quality of life. Learn more online at OmahaChamber.org/Sarpy or contact Andrew Rainbolt, executive director, at (402) 233-7155 / arainbolt@ selectgreateromaha.com.

The Kindler Hotel Opens Boitano’s Lounge for Business Afterhours Events The Kindler Hotel in Lincoln recently announced that they will be hosting business afterhours events in their posh new Boitano’s Lounge area. Boitano’s Lounge is a fresh and exciting venue for grabbing a drink and a bite to eat with co-workers and friends before and after events downtown, such as plays at the Lied Center. Its warmcasual yet metropolitan surroundings, cascading waterfall reception area, and polished bar are the ideal setting for good conversations with new and old friends and creating new connections in the community. The atmosphere of Boitano’s Lounge is perfectly suited for your next business afterhours event as the new premier social gathering place in Lincoln. The Kindler Hotel, Lincoln’s first and only luxury boutique hotel, proudly offers an unmatched and distinctively memorable guest experience through their 45 luxury hotel rooms and sophisticated Boitano’s Lounge with its locally-sourced, seasonal menu and 30+ craft cocktails. To reserve a room and begin planning the ultimate getaway or staycation, visit thekindlerhotel.com or call (402) 261-7800.

MARCH 2020 Strictly Business 11 Evolving Solutions Launches Holistic Enterprise Monitoring Analytics Practice Evolving Solutions, a leading hybrid cloud and infrastructure services provider, launched a new end-toend monitoring, predictive analytics, and issue detection practice called Enterprise Monitoring and Analytics. The new service will be headed by Nate Austin, an expert with 20 years of application performance management and monitoring experience. The Enterprise Monitoring and Analytics practice focuses on the endto-end monitoring, predictive analytics, and issue detection across the entire mission-critical application stack. The most common component of this technology is application performance management (APM), which monitors and manages the performance and availability of business applications. APM detects and diagnoses complex application performance problems to maintain an expected level of service. “We believe this service will be an invaluable asset to our clients in Nebraska and beyond,” says Austin, practice director, Enterprise Monitoring and Analytics. “Clients are struggling with enterprise monitoring and analytics because the complexity of applications has increased significantly. It was challenging enough when it was a single application; now there are 15–20 other applications plus multiple clouds where applications are running.” “Being able to measure and optimize all aspects of enterprise cloud performance is critical for our clients that require their applications to be operational 100% of the time,” says Jaime Gmach, president and CEO of Evolving Solutions. “Without it, they risk having an outage or application slowdown, which can be extremely costly.” Evolving Solutions is a technology solutions provider with offices in Omaha and Minneapolis, MN that helps clients modernize and automate their mission-critical infrastructure to support digital transformation. The business is client-centric, providing consulting and delivering technical solutions to enable modern operations in the hybrid cloud. Evolving Solutions has deep partnerships with IBM, HPE, Cisco, Dynatrace, NetApp, Nutanix, Azure, Red Hat, AWS, and over 70 other vendors that help deliver exceptional results to service clients’ technology needs. Learn more at www.evolvingsol.com.

Cox to Award $36K to Area Schools through Innovation in Education Grant Cox Communications has announced that they will be awarding $36,000 to schools in the area through the Innovation in Education Grant provided by Cox Charities, which is generously funded by Cox employees. Teachers in the greater Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area were able to apply for grants that will directly impact their classrooms through March 1. Cox Charities Innovation in Education grant applications are available for public and private schools (grades pre-K–12). The Cox Charities Innovation in Education program provides grants of up to $2,500 each to Omaha-area schools to fund classroom programs and curriculum that encourage and promote students’ academic success and enhance the educational experience. Cox Charities was created to strengthen Cox communities through the support of programs that positively impact Omaha communities in the areas of education, technology, health, and the arts. In addition to the Innovation in Education grants, Cox Charities offers Community Investment Grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and a portion of the funds help Cox employees in times of need. Cox Charities was founded in Omaha in 2014 to engage employees and strengthen community and education programs. In 2020, the employees of Cox Communications pledged to donate more than $145,000 to continue fulfilling their mission of strengthening Cox communities in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. To learn more about the Cox Charities Innovation in Education Grant, visit www.coxcharitiescentral.org/omaha.

Center Sphere Announces Network-Wide March Events Each month, the Omaha Chapter of Center Sphere hosts events such as Coffee & Connections, several social hour events, as well as professional development, sales, and leadership trainings, all at no additional cost to members. Dates for Center Sphere’s upcoming networkwide events in March are as follows: •Wednesday, March 11, 4–7 p.m.: Second Wednesday Networking Happy Hour hosted by Chapters 402-O 8 and 11. (Location TBD). •Thursday, March 12, 7:30–9 a.m.: Network-Wide Coffee & Connections, hosted by Goldfish Swim School, 2502 S 133rd Plaza, STE 102. •Thursday, March 26, 4–6 p.m.: Network-Wide Social Hour, hosted by Lakeside Village Retirement Community, 17475 Frances St. •Tuesday, March 31, 11–11:45 a.m.: Meet The Network Q & A at The Omaha Bakery, 608 S 72nd St. •Tuesday, March 31, noon–1:30 p.m.: Maximize Your Membership Training at The Omaha Bakery, 608 S 72nd St. Center Sphere hosts a wide array of networking events all over the metro designed to help members expand their network and grow their businesses, many of which are also helping to raise money for local nonprofits. They provide a platform for individuals to create their own networking experience that works for them. The Omaha network is currently made up of over 50 chapters and 800 members. If you would like more information, please go to www.centersphere.com or contact Lona Anderson at (402) 650-5380 / Lonaanderson@CenterSphere.com.

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New Raising Cane’s Location Opens in Omaha The newest Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers location recently opened at 5011 L St. in Omaha. There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce on January 16 to celebrate the grand opening. Throughout the day, Raising Cane’s gave away free t-shirts and box combo vouchers to the first 100 customers that walked in. Additionally, 20 early birds had the chance to win free Cane’s for a year! With approximately 400 people in attendance, this event was a crowd pleaser. Raising Cane’s focuses on their one love—chicken fingers! Because they are specialized in a small amount of products, including their chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, signature Cane’s sauce, etc., they can provide the quality and speed that they feel their customers deserve. They strive to never compromise the quality of their food, cut corners, or clutter their menu with new products that don’t fit their core menu offering. The new Cane’s crew is excited to serve you in a fun, safe, and clean environment. To learn more about Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, go to raisingcanes.com. Make sure to check out the new location on the corner of 50th and L St., open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 10 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

#PrintProudDigitalSmart Better Business Bureau Warns Against Coronavirus Scams Better Business Bureau (BBB) cautions that everyone needs to be skeptical of emails and websites promoting coronavirus prevention products and tips. Right now, issues associated with coronavirus and a potential pandemic are of global interest, and that means scammers have a very large pond to go phishing in. Media reports on the outbreak of coronavirus in the Wuhan region of China already have prompted a social media scam targeting Chinese-Australian citizens in Wuhan with a phony online evacuation form, according to a report by Australia’s ABC news outlet. During the 2009 swine flu epidemic, McAfee Avert Labs, an online security company, reported that messages promoting virus treatment and prevention, or otherwise sensationalizing the outbreak, accounted for 2% of all spam sent in the days following the first media reports of the outbreak. Various websites promoted “survival guides,” masks, prevention tips, and treatments, most of them of little value in fighting flu. BBB offers the following advice to avoid coronavirus-related scams: •Avoid opening emails from unknown sources. Do not click on links in the body of the email or open any attachments. Instead, delete the email. •Disregard online offers for vaccinations against coronavirus because a vaccine does not exist. •Make sure the antivirus and anti-malware programs on your computer are up to date and all operating system security patches have been installed. Free information on the virus, the outbreak and preventive measures is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Better Business Bureau has been serving the local communities since 1936. The overall mission of BBB is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. Learn more online at bbb.org/nebraska or call (800) 649-6814. OMNE Partners Lists New Office Space in Recently Completed Exchange Bank Building OMNE Partners is excited to now be leasing office spaces in the recently completed Exchange Bank Building located on 8008 West Dodge. This one-of-a-kind Class “A” building offers an inviting client experience with on-building signage and covered parking available. The building is located only minutes east of the I-680 interchange. It sits prominently directly north of Children’s Hospital. The spaces available range anywhere from 3,527 to 14,600 square feet. The building features large windows, detailed brickwork, and a large parking lot. OMNE Partners is a team of real estate professions that offer industry-leading expertise while maintaining a communication level and knowledge of a local partner. They are known for embracing new challenges while caring deeply about the well-being of their team, clients, and community. Founded in 1997, they’ve spent the last 23 years becoming one of Omaha’s most trusted commercial real estate firms. They maintain that trust by implementing a relationship driven service. To learn more about OMNE Partners, visit omnepartners.com. The leasing agents for the Exchange Bank Building are Marc Siemers, (402) 881-5035 / msiemers@omnepartners.co, and Peter Frei, (701) 261-8742 / pfrei@omnepartners.com.

MARCH 2020 Strictly Business 13 TAGG Launches Community-Wide Campaign Encouraging Everyone to Raise $20 in 2020 TAGG—Together A Greater Good— the Midwest-based tech start-up known for the free fundraising app creating mutually beneficial relationships between local businesses and organizations, recently launched a 2020 campaign seeking to gain the support of more than 20,000 Nebraskans. TAGG, which partners with over 300 businesses and has generated more than $400,000 for local schools, nonprofits, religious institutions, and youth sports teams since its 2015 founding, is aiming to double the amount of donations it has facilitated to date by having individuals commit to raise “$20 in ‘20.” Community members in Omaha and Lincoln metro areas are encouraged to sign up and choose which organization they are going to raise $20 for, motivating people of all ages to selectively support charitable merchants first and keeping funds local. Reaching the $20 goal and recruiting friends results in being entered to win prizes from participating businesses. To learn more and get registered to be a part of the $20 in ‘20 campaign, visit togetheragreatergood.com/tagg20in20. “Our goal in launching the ‘$20 in ‘20’ campaign is to create a grassroots movement positively impacting all facets of our community,” said Leslie Fischer, co-founder. “We recognize the importance of every dollar spent and want individuals to be able to give back without spending an extra penny.” Through the free TAGG smartphone app, participating businesses donate a portion of their customers’ purchases to the customers’ chosen cause using receipt capture technology. The newest version of the app, released in 2019, includes “near me” and map view directory of businesses in the metropolitan area willing to give back. Some of the newest businesses to join the app’s growing list of participating merchants include Osaka Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, WestEnd Lounge, The Corner Kick, Grover Ice, select Runza locations, and 17 Hy-Vee stores including all Omaha, Papillion, Council Bluffs, Plattsmouth and Fremont locations. The free TAGG—Together A Greater Good—app can be found on both the Apple and Google Play stores. To learn more about TAGG and the company’s mission, please visit www.togetheragreatergood.com.

Three Nebraska-Based John Deere Dealerships to Merge into AKRS Equipment Three Nebraska-based John Deere dealerships announced plans to merge their businesses. Green Line Equipment, Stutheit Implement, and Plains Equipment Group are combining forces to provide leading service, support, and product solutions to farmers, ranchers, and landowners. The newly-formed corporation named AKRS Equipment Solutions (“AKRS Equipment”) symbolizes trust, commitment, and innovation in agriculture. The companies plan to officially close on the deal by the end of the month (March 2020). “The common cultures and values of these three companies and how they serve their customers is really something special,” said Russ Rerucha, the newly-appointed Chairman of the Board. The three companies have a long-standing history of exceptional customer support and service. Kevin Clark has been named president and chief executive officer of AKRS Equipment. Clark is currently the chief executive officer of Plains Equipment Group. “The size and scale of AKRS is important as the industry changes with new technologies and services,” Clark said. “The combination of these businesses will allow us to serve our customers now and into the future with the rapidly evolving challenges in our industry.” AKRS Equipment Solutions will consist of 27 John Deere dealerships located across Nebraska and part of Kansas with headquarters in Lincoln. AKRS Equipment aspires to be the Midwest’s Premier John Deere dealership, bringing a wide selection of new and used equipment to farms, ranches, and small businesses. To learn more, go online to www. plainsequipmentgroup.com.

Business Ethics Alliance Launches “Omaha Way” Program for Emerging Leaders The Business Ethics Alliance has launched Omaha Way—a new type of young professional program that will that hosts events and go beyond the typical peerto-peer network. The Alliance hopes to bring emerging leaders together with seasoned professionals to learn about ethics the “Omaha Way.” The Omaha Way program strives to do something no young professional group in Greater Omaha has done before: train emerging leaders in the importance of business ethics from the moment they enter their professional careers until the time they take the top roles at their organization. This is the “Omaha Way” where those who have led the Omaha community for decades pass along history, lessons, and knowledge to those that will lead Omaha in the future. “Our Omaha Way programs leave our city in good hands. We plan to bring young professionals and seasoned leaders together in a variety of unique, fun formats which will allow the torch-passing of ethical lessons from one generation to the next. The result is energized ethics education,” explained Dr. Beverly Kracher, executive director and CEO of the Business Ethics Alliance. The Greater Omaha Alliance for Business Ethics at Creighton University—the Business Ethics Alliance—is the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to city-level business ethics education. Learn more online at www.businessethicsalliance.org. For more information about Omaha Way, contact Alise Hernandez at (402) 280-3367 / ahernandez@businessethicsalliance.org.