Strictly Business Lincoln - January 2021 by Strictly Business - Lincoln & Omaha, Nebraska

STRICTLY-BUSINESS.COM

LINCOLN • JANUARY 2021 TM

Improve Your Connection. Improve Your Business. • SETTING PERSONAL GOALS • BUSINESS PLANNING • SUPPORTING NONPROFITS CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS • DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT • UNION BANK & TRUST • XCEL ROOFING • NORTH RISK PARTNERS • ACCESS FAMILY MEDICINE

Sandy Pollack

Amber Crunk

Ross Reynolds

Nathan Lee

Kyle Ropers

Brandon Elwell

Pollack & Ball Law Firm

Gabel Construction Z.A.A. Inc./Strictly Business Magazine PO BOX 57397 Lincoln, NE 68505

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Z.A.A. Inc. LINCOLN, NE PERMIT 1328

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Pemberly Place

SP Group, P.C.

Professional Realty Group John Henry’s Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning of Woods Bros Realty

JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

PAIGE ZUTAVERN - President (402) 730-0096 | Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com

Happy New Year from Strictly Business, Looking Forward to Exciting Times Ahead Going into this new year, our little Strictly Business family has a lot even more businesses into the fold through new, creative advertising of excitement as we look ahead to our future as an ever-prominent opportunities in the magazine. I'm looking forward to shaking many publication and effective advertising avenue in the Lincoln and Omaha new hands this year once we're able to unapologetically do so again. business communities. A couple things we're working on include a new Personally, my New Year's resolution would be to love myself better so website that will be more functional for mobile view, a social media add- I can, in turn, love those around me better. on for advertisers to help them take their marketing reach further, and Diane Gumaer, Writer—First and foremost, an online-only "Expert Blog" editorial package. I’m looking forward to 2020 being over. A As we fine-tune these offerings, we're constantly new year brings new hope, and I think we all listening to feedback from our clients to help need a dose of that. I also look forward to the them get the most out of their partnership with ongoing journey to improve myself, from whole us. At Strictly Business, we're so client-focused. body-and-mind health and wellness to, gulp, Even when we did a gift exchange for Christmas getting better organized. My personal pledge last month, we ordered our favorite pies from is to spend more time in contact with extended a client and shopped at our clients’ businesses friends and family, even if it is by phone or mail. for presents. We have a lot of fun together as a I’m excited for the release of my first co-authored team, and nothing brings us more joy than to see book just weeks from now and, as always, can’t our clients succeed. When our local businesses wait to spend another year with my sweet, are thriving, we're all thriving. loving husband Jon and see what we conquer Aside from the goals I have for Strictly Business together next! in 2021, I'm looking forward to growing Pictured (L-R): Tegan Colton, Zelda, Diane Gumaer, Josie, Dillon Crawford, Art Director—2020 was Paige Zutavern, Hannah Hundley, Dillon Crawford personally as well. Last year brought so many certainly an adventure for my family and I...lots new challenges, which meant there were a lot of trials and tribulations. The greatest lesson that this year taught me of new opportunities to grow, learn, and become a stronger business was to truly appreciate what I have right now, right in front of me. For owner and individual. I anticipate this year will be just as interesting as that lesson, I am grateful. 2021 presents many more opportunities for our community navigates back into a reality that isn't dictated by fear. growth, and I look forward to seeing what can be accomplished. My main The journey back to normalcy will no doubt be met with caution, but I'm goal is to finally get married to my amazing fiancé (2020 was not ideal beyond ready to see the smiling faces of my neighbors again as we dine, for that). Among other things, I'm looking forward to house shopping. shop, travel, and live our lives without apprehension. My resolution for We're excited to find a home to start our lives together in as a family. the New Year is to remain steadfast in my support of local businesses, in addition to being the best friend, mother, wife, and employer I can be, Tegan Colton, Social Media Strategist—In 2021, I'd like to focus keeping God at the center of it all. I've asked my team to share what more on my career and practicing healthy habits for my life, including embracing self-love and self-care! 2020 has been hard on so many, they're looking forward to this year, as well. including myself, and I'm eager to move forward into 2021 with a Hannah Hundley, Editor/Director of Operations—Next month, I will healthier mindset that will allow me to be an encouragement to myself be celebrating three years at Strictly Business, which is the longest I've and others during these difficult times. We got this, together! ever worked for a company. This is something I'm very proud of and Let Strictly Business help you lock in your status as THE EXPERT humbled by. It's so rewarding to be a part of something bigger than in your industry, utilizing print, the internet, and social media. myself; something that allows me to be actively engaged with so many Find out how by contacting Paige at (402) 466-3330. amazing local businesses and organizations. In 2021, my goal is to bring

CONTENTS NEWS 4 Business 27 Personnel

35 Nonprofit 51 Health

ASK THE EXPERT 19 ComPro Insurance

SPOTLIGHTS 55 Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

COLUMNS 20 Star City Six

FEATURE STORIES 64 Setting Personal Goals

Strictly Business Magazine

56 58 60 62

Union Bank & Trust Xcel Roofing North Risk Partners Access Family Medicine

68 Business Planning 73 Supporting Nonprofits 4

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

57 59 61 63

Strictly Business Upcoming Events Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Downtown Lincoln Association Lincoln Independent Business Association

PO BOX 57397, Lincoln, NE 68505 P 402.466.3330 • F 402.466.3476 STRICTLY BUSINESS is not responsible for unsolicited material. All rights to submission, including letters, will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to our unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially or creatively, unless otherwise negotiated with the author. Nothing may be printed in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. The publication of any advertisement in STRICTLY BUSINESS is not an endorsement of the advertiser or of the products or services advertised.

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ABOUT THE COVER

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From local coffee shops to large corporations, ALLO provides the technology that works for your business starting with phones, internet, and TV. ALLO’s 100% fiber-optic network delivers the speed, reliability, and 24/7 support your business needs to Improve Your Connection. Improve Your Business. move forward in a quickly changing world. In addition to their cutting-edge technology, they take it even further with core values that put their customers first: local, honest, hassle-free, and exceptional. 2020 has been an unprecedented Pictured on the cover (L-R): Mike Grubbs, year for businesses. Many have shifted Kathy Carstenson, Tadd Vanschoiack, Hollie Messinger, (2nd line) Scott Clark, their work and employees' home Megan Ehmen, Ryan Hutzel, Tim Hahn, while others have continued providing (3rd line) Tony Thrash, Tony Tichota, essential services in person. Demand Todd Francisco, Sandi Gilsdorf. for quality internet and reliable communication services has been on the rise and ALLO’s network has easily met the challenge. In October, the Lincoln Journal star interviewed residents across the city and reported, “ALLO customers, by and large, say they are not seeing slowdowns in speed or other issues.” ALLO made it their goal to create positive change. While known for faster internet and superior customer service, they believe that is just the baseline for being a local business. Community outreach, especially in challenging times, sets them apart from their competitors. In January 2020, ALLO announced free Gigabit internet service to 77 non-profits in Lincoln for 10 years. Many of these organizations face strict budgets and ALLO’s donation of service will help them continue the meaningful work they do in Lincoln while staying connected. ALLO recently completed their sixth year of their ALLO for Education referral program. Since its inception, donations across all ALLO communities have totaled over $372,000, with over $125,000 going to local schools in Lincoln this year alone. “Technology used to be an added bonus and it is now an absolute necessity in the classroom and at home. ALLO’s all-fiber network offers unmatched speed, giving students the opportunity to explore far beyond the walls of their school.” ALLO President Brad Moline said. STRICTLY-BUSINESS.COM

• SETTING PERSONAL GOALS • BUSINESS PLANNING • SUPPORTING NONPROFITS CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS • DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT • UNION BANK & TRUST • XCEL ROOFING • NORTH RISK PARTNERS • ACCESS FAMILY MEDICINE

LINCOLN • JANUARY 2021 TM

Sandy Pollack

Pollack & Ball Law Firm

Nathan Lee

Gabel Construction

Amber Crunk

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Brandon Elwell

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PRODUCTION TEAM: Editor/Operations Hannah Hundley – Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Copywriter Diane Gumaer – Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Art Director Dillon Crawford – Design@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Social Media Strategist Tegan Colton – Tegan@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com SALES TEAM: President/Sales Paige Zutavern – Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Publisher/Founder/Accounting Shayne Zutavern – SZutavern@Yahoo.com

Hannah

Dillon

TO REQUEST A FREE SUBSCRIPTION FOR YOUR BUSINESS...

Email: Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Online: www.Strictly-Business.com/subscribe-strictly-business

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Diane

@sbmaglincoln

StrictlyBusinessMagazine

JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

BUSINESS NEWS Gabel Construction Adds Epoxy Flooring Under New Ownership When Nathan Lee and his wife Haley took over ownership of Gabel Construction, he brought with him many years of experience in epoxy flooring, in addition to polishing and sealing of concrete. Nate grew up doing epoxy flooring and also laying other types of products on concrete. His parents owned their own company called Midwest Floor Care and he started working for them when he was 12 years old. Nate eventually took over and renamed the company Epoxy Concrete Sealers. He then went on to partner with his brother, owning a percentage of a company known as Surface Sealers Inc. After 11 years, Nate decided to go out on his own and bought Gabel Construction back in March 2020. Gabel has specialized in concrete pouring along with other services since it began in 1977, but with Nate’s 30-year background, it made sense to add epoxy flooring to the company’s offerings. Epoxy is a growing trend among homeowners and commercial buildings alike. It’s known for being very durable and, thanks to its endless customization options, can be incredibly modern and stylish as well. Gabel Construction knows the ins and outs of epoxy application, and wants to help you transform your space with this budget-friendly and long-lasting flooring choice. In addition, if you’re looking to shine up your existing concrete or smooth out some cracks, Gabel Construction is able to get the job done with the highest level of products and customer service. Gabel Construction is proud to be family-owned and operated. Other services they provide include basement waterproofing, foundation repair, yard drainage and landscaping, egress windows, and snow removal. To learn more, visit gabelconcrete.com or call (402) 440-1857.

Care Consultants for the Aging Announces January 1 Name Change to CCA Home Care Effective January 1, the former Care Consultants for the Aging in Omaha and Lincoln now has a new name—CCA Home Care! Entering their 30th year of in business, it was time for a bit of a facelift. But don’t worry; the premise of the company is not changing. They remain Nebraska’s most affordable home-care option, and the name change better represents the services they provide to their elderly clients and referral patients. CCA Home Care also unveiled a new logo with the name change, as pictured here. CCA Home Care provides a Home Care Registry, screening and referring caregivers who work for families. The care is client-directed, ensuring that you make the decisions regarding care for your loved one. This unique service has proven time and again to be of superior quality, as evidenced by the company’s reputation for providing the highest level of care possible, and at affordable prices. The total charge for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) help through CCA is $21.50-$26.50 per hour, depending on the length of visit and care needed while the CNA is present. All of CCA Home Care’s caregivers are CNAs and work directly for the client. They do not require any minimum of hours or financial deposit to begin services and can offer assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting, walking/transferring, meal preparation, medication reminders, Alzheimer’s and other dementia care, hospice support, light housekeeping, and much more. For more information, visit CCAHomeCare.com, email office@CCAHomeCare.com, or call (402) 398-1848.

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BUSINESS NEWS Nebraska Repertory Theatre Continues Season with Three Theatrical Productions Following current coronavirus protocols by streaming their stage shows to your home, the Nebraska Repertory Theatre season continues with three thrilling, moving, and electrifying theatrical productions. With five showings February 17–21, the Rep will start by featuring a revival of last season’s A Thousand Words, following Grandpa as he takes you on the adventure of a lifetime. From April 7–11, you can enjoy one of the St. Louis Black Rep’s finest works. In the fall of 2020, Nebraska Rep began a two-year collaboration with this premiere theatre company. When conditions allow, The Black Rep will be in residence in Lincoln. In the meantime, patrons will enjoy the artistry of Director Ron Himes, who coordinated both fall #realchange events as well as having directed Nebraska Rep’s 2019 production of Dutchman. Rounding out the season with four showings May 6–9 is Dracula: Mina’s Quest by Steven Dietz, bringing a frightening and provocative new adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula to the stage under the directorship of David Long. It’s guaranteed to leave you clinging on the edge of your couch. The Nebraska Repertory Theatre is the state’s only professional regional theater. Season tickets are available for just $60 or $30 for students/OLLI members, and single tickets are $25 or $12.50 for students/OLLI. For details or to purchase tickets and reserve your show-streaming dates and times, visit nebraskarep.org, call (402) 472-2072, or email info@nebraskarep.org.

Lincoln Airport Announces LNK NEXT Project to Modernize, Increase Efficiency of Terminal The Lincoln Airport Authority is excited to announce its LNK NEXT terminalmodernization project, which will update amenities at the 50-yearold terminal, add two new gates to expand airport capacity, leave room for additional expansion, and add infrastructure to allow TSA to run full pre-checks. The renovation also will consolidate the ticket counters and allow for food-and-beverage service, including the Flyers Club, post-security. Lincoln’s Sampson Construction teamed up with Christman Construction out of Michigan and were selected to serve as the construction manager-at-risk. Work on the terminal is expected to begin in spring 2021 and take about 14-18 months to finish, putting completion into the second half of 2022. Consolidating the airline ticket counters in the departure-flight area will enhance passenger flow and simplify future expansion. The project also will reposition the baggage claim and rental-car counters to enhance traffic on level one of the airport facility. Since the terminal was designed in 1974, its split-use, disconnected layout has required two fully staffed security checkpoints and two separate checked-baggage facilities. Consolidating these checkpoints and bag-screening facilities will add efficiency to the passenger experience through minimized bag movement and reduction in the number of times personnel would have to be split up. The Lincoln Airport Authority operates the Lincoln Airport, a public/ military airport located five miles northwest of Lincoln that delivers more than $1 billion per year in value to the economy. To stay updated about LNK NEXT, visit next.lincolnairport.com. To learn more about the Lincoln Airport or to book a flight, visit lincolnairport.com or call (402) 458-2480. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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REGA Engineering Group Joins Investigative Engineers Association Member Firm REGA Engineering Group recently joined the Investigative Engineers Association Member Firm (I-ENG-A), a nationwide network of independently owned engineering firms that provide forensic investigative engineering services. Members of I-ENG-A provide services that investigate, document, test, and secure property/evidence, allowing accurate reporting for the property and casualty insurance industry. By joining the network, REGA Engineering Group now has access to I-ENG-A’s broad-based knowledge and skill of its other members, including forensic engineering training and a database of information that assists with comprehensive, cost-effective claims settlement. The new addition of expertise will provide a quicker turnaround time and fewer fees for REGA clients. The investigative engineers at REGA reconstruct the events that give rise to property, casualty, and liability claims. Services requested by the clients of investigative engineers include: auto/component failure analysis, cause and origin, scope and damages, mitigation measures, subrogation claims, fire and arson investigation, structural analysis/ review, traffic accident reconstruction, slip and fall analysis, product failure analysis, mold contamination investigation, earth movement analysis, and laboratory testing. REGA Engineering Group, Inc. has been providing civil engineering, surveying, land development, forensic engineering, landscape architecture, and obstruction observation to its clients since 2003. REGA is licensed in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Minnesota. To learn more, contact Business Manager Christy Irvin at Christy@regaeng.com / (402) 484-7342 or visit regaengineering.com. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 7

BUSINESS NEWS Willeke Financial Group Launches Website Refresh to Prioritize Virtual Business

Delta Restoration is Now 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, Offers Same Services and Quality

Willeke Financial Group Owner Craig Willeke recently announced the launc h of the company’s completely refreshed website (willekefinancialgroup.com) to support an increased focus on virtual business operations. The new site has improved navigation, archived newsletters, and video blogs, as well as online scheduling capabilities. The website refresh also allows clients and potential clients to directly schedule a video conference or phone call without the usual back-and-forth emails or phone calls.

Local franchise owners of Delta Restoration in Lincoln, Jeff and Sandy Carstens and their son Connor, recently announced that their parent company, BELFOR Franchise Group, has rebranded all of the Delta Restoration franchises to 1-800 WATER DAMAGE. Though all of the services and quality of customer care will remain the same, the name and look have changed. 1-800 WATER DAMAGE has been under BELFOR Franchise Group longer with more established franchises than Delta Restoration. As one of the rising stars of the $210 billion restoration industry and over 100 locations open across the country, 1-800 WATER DAMAGE is one of the fastest-growing brands in the fast-growing restoration brands in the nation. As an industry leader in property restoration and carpet cleaning, franchise owners such as the Carstens are making a real difference in the lives of home and property owners impacted by disasters. Jeff and Sandy launched their restoration services in Lincoln mid 2019. They have a true family-focus and years of experience in the industry. Notably, the Carstens have owned and operated a thriving Chem-Dry® Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning franchise in the region since 1987 and are members of the company’s prestigious Presidents Club, which recognizes the top 10% of Chem-Dry operators nationally. Jeff also owns N-Hance Wood Refinishing of Lincoln. 1-800 WATER DAMAGE helps home and business owners return their property to its original condition while restoring what truly matters— health and safety. Their team is fully vetted, IICRC-certified, and insured for your safety. Learn more online at www.1800waterdamage.com/ lincoln or call Jeff at (402) 202-9406.

Upgrading the website was crucial given the pandemic world we now live in, which has transitioned Willeke Financial Group to being an almost entirely virtual practice. Craig has found that this change has worked well for most clients, not only for pandemic safety, but also for convenience. Post-pandemic, he expects that the Willeke Financial Group practice will have virtual meetings as the first choice for clients due to the efficiency and convenience of meeting online. In-person meetings will still be offered postpandemic, by request. Willeke Financial Group helps clients develop successful financial habits by leveraging the power or proactive planning to make the right decisions automatically. They’ll help you envision what’s down the road and even around the corner, then create a plan that makes it simple for you to stay on track and move forward. For more information, call (402) 483-6656 and check out the new website at willekefinancialgroup.com.

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Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

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BUSINESS NEWS Transworld Business Advisors Celebrates Sale Yield Champions Promotes Pro Ag 1 of Eight More Area Businesses in 2020 Training Program to Grow Ag Profits Transworld Business Advisors of Lincoln S e n i o r B ro ke r M J Cassner and Broker Christine Dwinell represented buyers and sellers for the sale of eight more businesses in Lincoln and the region between April and November of 2020. Thanks to their efforts, Ernesto Pineda in April became the owner of El Mejor Mexican Restaurant at 3111 NW 12th St. near the airport. In July, Tunde and Mopelola Bankole became the new owners of Cici’s Pizza at 5100 N 27th St. A Place to Grow, a child development center located at 4920 N 26th St., was acquired by Erma Bush in August. In the same month, two Harbor Coffeehouse locations, at Piedmont Plaza and downtown, were bought by Bobby Bevins. In September, Kevin Kiefer became the new owner of Kitchen Tune Up, which is a home-remodeling business located in the Tri-Cities. Most recently, Transworld brokered the sale of a subcontracting FedEx delivery business, and Amy and Matt Mick purchased Vanity Fur, an exclusive pet grooming boutique located at 1676 Van Dorn St. Transworld Business Advisors is the worldwide leader in business and franchise brokerage. To learn more about buying or selling a business with Transworld, visit tworld.com/Lincoln or contact MJ at (402) 413-1095 or mjcassner@tworld.com.

Krueger Welcomes HomeShield Roofing & Exteriors to Lincoln Trade Center West K r u e ge r D e ve l o p m e n t recently welcomed HomeShield Roofing & Exteriors, LLC into their new office at 6131 S 57th St., STE A, located in the Lincoln Trade Center West. Trade Center West is one of Krueger Developments commercial centers. Located in the heart of South Lincoln, Trade Center West is perfect for almost any business venture. HomeShield selected a space that allows for a full showroom, displaying residential and commercial roofing and siding products to better help their clients visualize options when it comes to making decisions on the exterior of their home or business. HomeShield Roofing & Exteriors is a husband-and-wife operation. They serve Lincoln, Omaha, and the surrounding communities. With over 20 years of exterior experience, they’re here to help with anything from a free exterior inspection and walking you through the process of an insurance claim, to helping decide on best products for your new construction building/home! Learn more at www. homeshieldroofingandexteriors.com or contact Owner Kristina Hill at (402) 499-5165 / kristina@homeshieldne.com. For more than 30 years, the family-owned and operated Krueger Development has contributed to Lincoln’s commercial and residential marketplace by developing communities, retail centers, and multifamily residences. For more information on commercial spaces at Trade Center West, contact Allison Santana at (402) 423-7377 / asantana@ kruegerdevelopment.com or visit kruegerdevelopment.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Yield Champions is promoting their Pro Ag 1 Training Program to help agricultural operations and businesses grow profits and enhance their crop yields. Through the program, ag-industry experts from throughout the country will help producers understand soil science and basic microbiology and chemistry that can help take their farming operations to the next level. They’ll learn how to diagnose soil nutrient requirements, decrease costs, and increase yields. Following are the training program dates and locations for January and February: • January 18-19 – Sioux Falls, SD • January 21-22 – Kansas City, MO • February 10-11 – Wichita, KS • February 15-16 – Lincoln, NE Yield Champions has had the privilege of working with some of the best crop producers in America for more than 40 years. They’ve been able to bring them information, resources, and creative and innovative concepts that have helped them go well over their previous levels of production, while reducing their input costs on both a per-bushel and per-acre basis. Their mission is to equip agricultural producers understand the challenges of the changing production industry. Their team of agricultural professionals can provide producers with online resources to help them explore all they have to offer and advise them about how to access their training program and products. For more information or to register for the Pro Ag 1 Training Program, visit yieldchampions.com or intensifymycrop.com.

Forensic Investigative Engineers

I-ENG-A OF NEBRASKA A Division of REGA Engineering Group, Inc.

601 Old Cheney Road, Suite A Lincoln, NE 68512 Phone (402) 484-7342 nebraska@ienga.net www.regaengineering.com www.nebraska.ienga.net Civil Engineering ∙ Planning ∙ Surveying ∙ Landscape Architecture Investigative Engineering ∙ Construction Observation

JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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Call 877-445-9462 or visit kineticbusiness.com/Lincoln to get connected to whatever comes next. Kinetic Business by Windstream: Limited-time offer. Offer available for new customers only. Subject to availability and all applicable terms and conditions. Promotional price requires a 24-month commitment. After promotional period, standard rates apply. Promoted prices include Fiber Internet with up to speeds based on speed qualification and dynamic IP. One Month Free: Qualifying new Kinetic Business Internet customers will receive a one-month credit to offset service charges for Kinetic broadband and broadband/voice bundle, fiber broadband and fiber broadband bundle, and dedicated internet over fiber broadband facilities. Customer will be responsible for all applicable equipment charges, taxes, surcharges and fees (excluding DAF). Contract may apply for Kinetic Business fiber broadband and dedicated internet over fiber services and Kinetic Business will waive the standard $200.00 Installation Fees. Business Class Internet: Windstream cannot guarantee speeds or uninterrupted, error-free service. Speed availability, capabilities and provisioning vary depending on network and terrain conditions, Internet, website, or network congestion, and customer geographical location. Windstream makes no representations related to download or upload speeds. Windstream assumes no responsibility or liability for interruption of services or service performance differences actual and advertised performance. In select areas, includes Internet transport, Internet access, and unlimited incoming calls. Outbound calls, except for toll free and 911, will be charged at 10 cents/minute. Operator Service and 411 will be charged at tariffed rates. No features or long-distance carrier rates allowed. Kinetic Business Internet Speed: Monthly fees may apply. For speeds over 25 Mbps, services are provisioned in a range including a minimum and maximum speed. Windstream will provision customer’s location for the fastest speed available within the available range at the time of order but cannot guarantee speed or uninterrupted, error-free service. Equipment: Up to $10 equipment fee may apply. Windstream-provided modems will be capable of in-business wireless networking, but devices supported by in-business wireless networking connections may experience speeds not equal to advertised speeds or the speed referenced in your High Speed Internet plan. With wireless networking, actual throughput speed may be impacted by several factors including interference from other equipment or devices at the location, distance from the modem, modem location, number and types of devices connected, physical obstructions, and time of day. To obtain advertised speed, connecting a device directly to the modem to provide a wired connection is recommended. Modem equipment must be returned upon termination, and if not, Windstream reserves the right to charge for the modem or a $100 fee. OfficeSuite UC: Requires 24-month contract. OfficeSuite UC requires 25 Mbps or greater internet connection. Always On: Limited-time offer. Windstream Internet connection required. Subject to wireless coverage availability and the Terms and Conditions and Acceptable Use Policy at www.windstream.com/Terms-and-Conditions/; if you have a written agreement with Windstream, those terms will control. Taxes, fees and other charges, equipment rentals, and one-time installation fee of $150 may apply. Requires 24-month commitment. Early termination fees apply. Windstream cannot guarantee speeds or uninterrupted, error-free service. Speed availability, actual performance, and provisioning may vary depending on customer location, terrain, Internet and network conditions, website traffic, and quality of customer equipment. This product does not support Static IPs while in 4G Failover mode. Windstream equipment required. Equipment must be returned upon termination, and if not, Windstream reserves the right to charge for unreturned equipment. Raydiant: Raydiant is an unaffiliated third party service provider of Windstream; to the fullest extent allowed by law, Windstream disclaims any and all liability for any services provided by Raydiant, regardless of whether the services are ordered through Windstream or directly with Raydiant. Please visit https://www.raydiant.com/terms-of-service/ to view the terms and conditions applicable to this service. © 2020 Windstream Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Kinetic and Windstream are registered service marks or trademarks of Windstream Services, LLC and/or its affiliates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

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BUSINESS NEWS

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Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery Offers Advice to Help Children Cope with Grief Everyone deals differently with the grief that follows the loss of a loved one, including children, so Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery recently offered some advice about how to help children cope with their feelings after a tragic loss. Wyuka specializes in helping people come to terms with death, and children need your attention to their concerns and needs throughout the journey. When a tragedy happens in the life of a young child, they might not understand exactly what is happening. Following are some tips from Wyuka for helping a grieving child. The person who is closest to and most trusted by the child (usually a parent) should explain to a child what has happened soon after a death occurs, in private surroundings. Use language that the child can understand and allow them to ask as many questions as possible. Psychologists advise that the adult follow the child’s lead and answer their questions in language that makes sense to the child’s age group. Don’t hide your feelings, and encourage children to express theirs. Don’t use Euphemisms like “gone,” “left” or “passed away” because they might not understand the permanency of death. If possible, also keep your child’s routines as normal as possible and, as time passes, share memories and talk about the person who died. Wyuka Cemetery is a nationally recognized historic cemetery and a vital living piece of Lincoln’s history since its founding more than 140 years ago. They offer you and your family complete funeral-care services, in addition to full pre-planning services. For more information, visit wyuka.com or call (402) 474-3600.

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Lincoln Set to Host State High School Nebraska Bankers Association Hosts IRA Bowling Through 2025 and HSA Educational Programs in February On December 9, the Lincoln Convention The Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA) announced plans for introductory and advanced virtual courses about Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Health Savings Account (HSA) Frontline Fundamentals in February. The programs will be delivered online by a group of highly trained retirement-plan consultants who thoroughly understand the laws affecting IRAs and have daily contact with financial organizations that offer IRA products and specialize in providing practical solutions to the most complex IRA issues. IRA Essentials is on tap for February 8–9, from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The course will provide participants with a solid foundation of IRA knowledge, with exercises included throughout the sessions to help participants apply information to job-related situations. This is a beginner’s course. On February 10–11, from 9 a.m. to noon each day, the NBA hosts Advanced IRAs, which builds on participants’ knowledge of IRA basics to address some of the more complex IRA issues their financial institutions may handle. This is an advanced session, so previous IRA knowledge is assumed. Finally, on February 12, again from 9 a.m. to noon, the Association is offering HSA Frontline Fundamentals to provide a foundation of HSA knowledge and help participants apply the information to real-world scenarios. Founded in 1980, the Nebraska Bankers Association is the voice of Nebraska’s $77.9 billion banking industry, which comprises small, regional, and large banks that together employ more than 15,000 people and safeguard nearly $67.1 billion in deposits. Learn more and register for the virtual courses at nebankers.org by clicking on Education, or call (402) 474-1555. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

and Visitors Bureau won the bid to host the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) State Bowling Championships in Lincoln for the next five years. Lincoln was awarded the bid to host the state tournaments from 2021 through 2025, featuring Sun Valley Lanes and Games as the host for the event. The first event in 2021 will be held February 8–9. “The atmosphere surrounding NSAA championship events is one-ofa-kind and an incredible experience for student athletes and their families,” said Jeff Maul, executive director of the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Bowling is a popular sport across our state and its growth continues to connect athletes from all corners of Nebraska. We are thrilled to offer a worthy stage and necessary amenities to hold these championship events for the next five years.” The championships are expected to bring 120 athletes to Lincoln and 16 teams competing across two days of competition. The Lincoln CVB encourages those coming to Lincoln to take advantage of the numerous initiatives and deals with local hotel and lodging partners. The Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is proud to serve as the lead tourism agency representing and promoting Lincoln and Lancaster County. Lincoln continues to build on its world class reputation as one of the Midwest’s most beloved cities with first class facilities and plays host to national and international conferences and sporting events. CVB promotes the city to millions of visitors showcasing Lincoln’s live music scene, culinary treasures, and attractions. Learn more online at lincoln.org. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 11

BUSINESS NEWS Strictly Business Teams Up with Carriage Glen Leadership Harbor to Host 31-Day Journey for Living a Spiritually Empowered Life and Friends to Sing Carols to Residents On December 17, the Strictly Business team invited friends and clients to join them for afternoon caroling at Carriage Glen, a wonderful senior community in Lincoln designed for those ages 55+ who wish to enjoy an independent lifestyle. It was truly a special time as residents came out on their balconies to hear some Christmas classics, such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Jingle Bells”, “Deck the Halls”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “Away in a Manager”, and “Silent Night”. Executive Director Kim Kallhoff cares so much about making sure each individual who calls Carriage Glen home has opportunities for engagement and spirit-raising fun, especially during COVID times when seniors have to be extra careful. The Strictly Business team was more than happy to extend some Christmas cheer in a safe way during this past holiday season and look forward to more caroling events at additional senior communities in the coming years. Carriage Glen is professionally managed by Essex Communities. Carriage Glen in Lincoln is located at 7005 Shamrock Rd. The community’s updated apartment units boast smooth granite countertops, luxurious new carpet, and sparkling new appliances. There is an optional dining program for residents’ convenience, under-building tempered parking, storage, transportation, and a coffee shop, wellness area, and library. Learn more online at carriageglenoflincoln.com or call (402) 484-5113.

Leadership Harbor LLC is virtually hosting a 31-Day Journey for Living a Spiritually Empowered Life—also known as The Heart of the Matter— with Coach Brian Peterson, starting January 3 at 7 p.m. The event is based on a book by Pastor Joshua Finley, who designed the program to guide others on a 31day journey through self-discovery and spiritual health. Each day, participants will receive teaching to equip them to live a richer and more purposeful life, jumpstart their prayer or meditation practices, and build a daily routine that deeply connects them to the Divine. The program is designed to help you be internally focused, helping you find your anchor and be mindful despite the chaos in the world around you. Tickets are available for $39 on the Leadership Harbor website. After purchasing the virtual ticket, you will receive a link to the event. Come join Coach Brian and let Leadership Harbor help you fully access the energy, insight, and affirmation you need to live a richer life, no matter the external circumstance! Leadership Harbor LLC is ready to help you gain traction towards your goals, regardless of what is going on in the world. It empowers people to realize their potential with confidence and influence. For more information about Leadership Harbor, or to purchase tickets to The Heart of the Matter, visit leadershipharbor.com or contact Brian Peterson at (402) 310-7500 / brian@leadershipharbor.com.

Happy New Year from Oak Electric!

402-440-5969 | www.oakelectriccompany.com 12

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BUSINESS NEWS BNI to Host Awards and Recognition Event January 28 at Grata It’s time to celebrate the success of BNI members in 2020! There will be an awards and recognition event held on January 28 at Grata, 6891 A St., from 5 to 7 p.m. Registration is strongly encouraged as it will help gauge the attendance and set up for the event. There will be no charge for members, who register through January 15. Registrations for all guests will be $10, as well as members, starting January 16. This year’s events will be focused on relationship building and cross-chapter networking with fellow members throughout your area. The award’s events will recognize those members who have been in BNI for more than five years, 10 years, and even 15 years. In addition, BNI will celebrate the chapters that have set the high standards in the Region, as well as the member of your chapter that lives out another one of the Core Values, the BNI Philosophy, GIVERS GAIN! This event leads into International Networking Week, the first week of February. International Networking Week presents a great opportunity to expose people to BNI and to grow your membership. As quoted by BNI Founder, Dr. Ivan Misner “The goal of International Networking Week is to recognize and celebrate the role that networking plays in the development and success of businesses around the world.” To learn more about becoming a BNI member and this event, visit bniheartland.com or call Brandon Souba at (402) 321-0323.

Governor Pete Ricketts Recognizes Berry Law for Receiving Medallion for Hiring Veterans Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts recognized and congratulated Berry Law and three other companies in the state for earning Medallion awards from the U.S. Department of Labor’s HIRE Vets program. In a small ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol on Thursday, December 3, the governor officially awarded the Medallions to Berry Law, ALLO Communications, Persevus, and Executive Airborne Solutions for making concerted efforts to attract and employ Veterans. The HIRE Vets award is the only federal employment award that recognizes business efforts to successfully recruit, hire, and retain Veterans in the workplace. This is the third year that the award has been presented. Berry Law and Persevus won Platinum Medallions—the highest honor granted—and ALLO and Executive Airborne Solutions received prestigious Gold Medallions. The Medallions are based on metrics for veteran hiring and retention based on the size of the business, along with company efforts to integrate and mentor veterans. “Veterans are our country’s greatest natural resource,” said Berry Law CEO John Berry. “We reach out to hire veterans, not just to honor their service but because they are generally great at providing an immediate positive impact to the team. The same skills and values that allowed them to succeed in the military can directly translate into civilian success.” Berry Law was founded in 1965 by legendary Attorney and Vietnam Veteran John Stevens Berry, Sr. With more than 250 years of combined legal experience, Berry Law is well-equipped to handle the most serious legal needs. Reach the Veterans line at (888) 8832483 or visit their Veterans website at ptsdlawyer.com. For more information, visit jsberrylaw.com or call (402) 446-8444. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

“How did you hear about us?” “Strictly Business!”

(402) 466-3330 www.Strictly-Business.com

LeaAnn Moore CRC® CPFA®

lmoore@midfin.com 402-434-8050 (office) Lincoln, NE 68508

Today, women are making more financial decisions than ever before―both as individuals and business owners. Many are looking for more information regarding options and strategies that can help them achieve their financial goals. Let’s discuss how you can start your own financial plan!

“Financial issues are more likely to be top of mind for women than men.” Source: 2019 Insurance Barometer study, LIRMA & Life Happens

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Greenfield’s Serves up Catered Treats for the Most Important Meal of the Day On the tenet that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Greenfield’s is catering breakfast and brunc h items to business meetings, events, and for business owners who just want to provide their hardworking employees with a nice treat! Last month, for example, Greenfield’s collaborated with Lincoln nonprofit NeighborWorks to provide catering for their 35th Annual Opening Doors Event, offering a complimentary breakfast meal of fruit parfaits and biscuit sandwiches to participants at their special early-morning event. Greenfield’s Café is happy to provide catering to any business or nonprofit that wants to provide delicious breakfast or lunch to their guests or employees. Try the Smokey Nashville Chicken and Biscuit Sandwich—which features a flakey, jumbo biscuit, crispy chicken tenders, sausage gravy, and a fried egg drizzled with chipotle hollandaise and Nashville maple sauce. The “almost-famous” Nashville Sandwich will be sure to please any crowd. Get it today for dine-in, takeout, curbside, or delivery. Greenfield’s Café offers a variety of catering options perfect for breakfast and brunch; they also have many great lunch and dinner options as well, like the BBQ Platter and the Chicken Parmesan. To order catering for your next event or party, call (402) 420-3232, or visit greenfieldscafe.com to learn more. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 13

BUSINESS NEWS Vision Maker Media Accepts Media Proposals WISB Meeting and Presentation Scheduled about American Indians, Alaska Natives for Wednesday, January 13 via Zoom An affiliate of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), Vision Maker Media is accepting proposals for its 2021 Public Media Project funding—centered on experiences and perspectives of American Indians and Alaska Natives—from January 4 through February 12. Project funding available ranges from support for research and development projects to funding for production through post-production efforts, with grant awards ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. At a time when the media is so significant to who we are as a society, Native voices are an essential part of the American narrative. Vision Maker Media believes that by empowering Native communities to tell their stories through film, we can cultivate a more diverse, more knowledgeable world. Vision Media Maker is a CPB-funded media organization with a mission to empower and engage Native people to share their stories. In 2019, they had 10 films go to broadcast and today have more than 37 files currently in broadcast and 56 Native filmmakers in public-media broadcasting. The deadline to apply for Vision’s Public Media Project funding is February 12. To learn more and apply, visit visionmakermedia.org/get-funded. If you have questions, contact Assistant Director Charlie Perry at cperry@netad.unl.edu.

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The next Women in Sales & Business (WISB) monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meeting will be hosted via Zoom, in lieu of the regular in-person meeting to maintain compliance with current health measures. The session will begin with the regular business meeting, followed by a presentation by WISB Member Stephanie Johnson, who will be talking about leadership and vision moving into 2021. Guests are welcome, and current members are encouraged to attend with a guest; the cost to attend is $10, but is FREE for first-time guests. All women who attend should be prepared to make a brief introduction of themselves and their business. Women in Sales & Business began meeting in 1987 to offer businesswomen in Lincoln the opportunity to network within an allfemale setting. Today, WISB’s goal is to encourage and develop creative leadership in women. They are dedicated to promoting their growth through the accumulation and sharing of knowledge—and are always looking for new members to join the group! The Zoom invite for the January 13 meeting will be posted to WISB private and public Facebook pages (@wisblincoln), where you can also register for the meeting. For more information about the organization or to ask about joining, visit wisblincoln.org or contact WISB Program Chair Megan Gibbs at (402) 488-4564.

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BUSINESS NEWS Lied Center Offers Streaming to New Murder Mystery Broadway Musicial, A Killer Party The Lied Center for Performing Arts is now offering online streaming access to the movie-version of the brand-new Broadway play, A Killer Party – A Murder Mystery Musical. The world-famous musical—seen in more than 70 countries with over 100,000 streams—stars Broadway theater favorites from Hamilton, Mean Girls, Wicked, Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, Waitress, Beautiful, Jersey Boys, and more. Through the Lied Center, you can purchase a virtual ticket to stream A Killer Party online—plus never-beforeseen bloopers and an additional scene. The musical is available for instant online streaming in two packages: The Sleuth Package includes instant access to A Killer Party, a 15% discount off all A Killer Party merchandise, a download of the playbill, and a download of the A Killer Party soundtrack for $16.99; while the Guest Package grants you instant access to A Killer Party and a 15% discount off all merchandise for $9.99. Once your purchase is completed, you will have the ability to stream the movie until July 31! Purchase tickets today to enjoy a safe, socially-distant theater event at your home with friends and family. Proceeds benefit the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

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The Lied Center for Performing Arts presents the world’s most iconic artists and major regional, national, and international performances. To learn more, call (402) 472-4747. Tickets for A Killer Party – A Murder Mystery Musical are available online at liedcenter.org.

402-476-8888 | 5100 N. 27th St. Lincoln, NE

Sweetwater Hemp’s Ice and Water Hemp Extraction Facility to Open in Early 2021 Sweetwater Hemp was born in 2017 after the Cruise family of Pleasanton, NE started researching and planning with Craft Hemp consultants. Following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the company became licensed to cultivate, extract, process, and handle hemp. Soon, in early 2021, Sweetwater Hemp will launch the world’s largest ice and water extraction facility using the latest technology—and no solvents. Sweetwater Hemp Company produces only the highest quality of CBD oil products. There’s minimal to no loss of terpenes during extraction, resulting in purer full-spectrum oils. With this advanced technology, Sweetwater’s facility can even isolate and extract other important cannabinoids and terpenes, enabling it to create products that provide optimal therapeutic value for customers. The entire extraction process takes approximately 12 hours. Sweetwater Hemp Company uses only water and ice to extract, convert, and decarboxylate beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Using this process and all its advanced equipment, the company is able to produce 99% pharmaceutical-grade, 100% solventfree CBD oil in various CBD/terpene profiles. In addition, Sweetwater Hemp Company provides services for hemp farmers in need of assistance. The Sweetwater Ag Services division provides an array of services to advocate for and support these farmers to grow and succeed within the hemp industry. Farmers can partner with Sweetwater Hemp for agronomic support, such as advice on how to avoid loss and increase profitability. They can also purchase the highest-quality certified hemp seeds on the market. With more than 150 continuous years of farming under its belt, the Cruise family of operates several successful agricultural businesses. This includes an acre-sized greenhouse providing produce to more than 300 Walmart locations and a farming operation with a 3,000-acre output of corn and soybeans every season. Sweetwater Hemp Company is the family’s latest addition to its growing stable of businesses. To learn more, visit www.sweetwaterhempcompany.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Kinetic Business by Windstream Launches Podcast, Features Local Business Owner Kinetic Business by Windstream recently launched a Connecting Business video podcast series to continue playing a crucial role in helping businesses connect with customers and each other, and their Episode 3 guest was True North Technologies Owner Renee Sobotka of Lincoln. The new series connects real business experts and provides thoughtful discussions about real business solutions, while discovering simple, smart ways to grow a company in today’s uncertain business climate. During the third Connecting Business podcast, Renee talked about how the hectic and dynamic pace of a startup allowed her to leverage communications technologies and learn how to “fail fast” by recovering quickly from mistakes and putting her business on solid ground. During the last year, Sobotka and her team worked with Kinetic Business to help her customers—other businesses—connect in new and unique ways. Throughout the Connecting Business series, host Christina Munoz taps into personal insights and professional experiences from subject-matter experts to explore how businesses can better connect with customers. Christina also works with guests to craft solutions that fit business needs and respond to opportunities more quickly, more efficiently, and with greater productivity. To view the Kinetic Business by Windstream Connecting Business podcast featuring Renee Sobotka, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or visit Kinetic Internet by Windstream on YouTube, scroll to The Connecting Business podcast, then select Episode 3. Alternatively, find the series on Twitter (@KineticSMB). For more information about Kinetic Business by Windstream and the trusted technology you need for your business to succeed, visit kineticbusiness.com or call (402) 437-7226. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 15

BUSINESS NEWS Apartment Association of Nebraska to Host Free Maintenance Training Program

Home Builders Association of Lincoln Announces New Dates for 2021 Home Show

The Apartment Association of Nebraska (AAN) is hosting a tuition-free maintenance training program at its 12143 West Center Rd. campus in Omaha, beginning January 4. The 12-week intensive training program, conducted by AAN’s Nebraska Maintenance Academy, is the first of its kind in the Midwest and trains 12-13 students each class to enter the multi-family housing industry as maintenance technicians. The training leads to full-time permanent positions at apartment complexes and multi-family management companies throughout the state. Each student’s 12-week training consists of: 8 weeks of (unpaid) hands-on classroom training to receive certification in electric, HVAC, plumbing, OSHA, drywall, carpentry, appliance repair, tile and flooring, and pool maintenance; plus, four weeks of (paid) training to cover turns, customer service, work orders, workshop safety, grounds work, and employer expectations. Students best considered for the training program include (but are not limited to) non-college-bound high school students, veterans, and anyone desiring a meaningful career change. The Nebraska Training Academy will immediately place those successfully completing the 12week program into full-time careers. 45 students from all over Nebraska will be considered, so be sure to secure a spot today. The Apartment Association of Nebraska (AAN) supports, informs, and connects the multi-family housing industry through education, legislation, and professional networking. To learn more about AAN’s Nebraska Maintenance Academy or to secure a spot in their program, visit aaneb. org or call (402) 333-5331.

For 49 years, the Home Builders Association of Lincoln (HBAL) has produced the Nebraska Builders Home & Garden Show, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dates for the 2021 Show have been moved to March 12–14. HBAL and the Lancaster Event Center are taking the necessary steps to ensure that exhibitors and show visitors feel safe while attending the Home Show. They continue to work closely with the local health department to operate safely under the latest health directives and guidelines. The Lincoln Home Show is the perfect “one-stop shop” to start your home building or remodeling project. This year will feature approximately 150 exhibitors in Pavilions 1 and 4 at the Lancaster Event Center. For more information about the Nebraska Builders Home & Garden Show, including a directory of exhibitors, visit our website at hbal.org/builders-home-garden-show. Since 1951, the Home Builders Association of Lincoln has been working to promote the home building and remodeling industries in Lincoln. With nearly 600 member companies and counting, HBAL provides numerous opportunities for its members to build their businesses through networking events, educational seminars, and charitable activities. To learn more or inquire about becoming an HBAL member, call (402) 423-4225 or visit hbal.org.

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BUSINESS NEWS Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Opens New Clinic, Offices, Adding 30 New Jobs in Lincoln The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska recently opened a new 25,000-squarefoot pharmacy and clinic in the former Black Hills Natural Gas Building in Lincoln, which it purchased for more than $4 million in 2020. The new clinic and pharmacy will offer dental, medical, and mental health services to scattered members of the Ponca Tribe and Natives from other tribes, at the same time adding nearly 30 jobs to Lincoln and serving more than 2,500 patients annually. The clinic’s care will be tailored to its patient base, designed to make Ponca citizens and members of other tribes comfortable inside its doors. This includes conventional counseling, prescriptions, and traditional Ponca approaches, like a sweat lodge or a talking circle. The tribe also plans to move many of its tribal offices and services to the new building from their original location on 17th and E Streets. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is a federally recognized tribe headquartered in Niobrara, NE. They offer a broad range of health, social, educational, and cultural services through their five office sites in Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Niobrara, and Council Bluffs, IA. To learn more, visit poncatribe-ne.org.

Pollack & Ball, LLC

Attorneys at Law Sanford J. Pollack John C. Ball Heather S. Colton

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BBB Provides Businesses with Tips for Virtual Meetings As the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated and more people are working from home than ever before, the number of virtual meetings has increased drastically. This is why the Better Business Bureau has put together the following tips to help businesses have professional and successful meetings remotely: • Be mindful of time. If not properly sorted out in advance, technological hindrances may cause you to be late. If your meeting is at 9 a.m., try to log in a few minutes earlier. This will give you an opportunity to ensure you aren’t keeping anyone on the other side of the screen waiting too long. • Be aware of your setting. It is encouraged that you try to find an optimal location in your home for a virtual meeting. Be sure the area you are in has adequate lighting, not too much noise, and a neutral background. A setting free from audible and visual distractions will lead to a more efficient and professional meeting. • Dress accordingly. Virtual meetings are still professional business meetings. Wearing your normal work attire during a virtual meeting will help to keep you in the working mentality, maintain professionalism, and help you adhere to your normal routine. • Focus on your verbal communication. Nonverbal signals including eye contact, posture, head nods, facial expression, etc. that are heavily relied on to inform a speaker at a presentation as to how they are doing is hindered in a virtual meeting. As an attendee, be sure to verbally acknowledge that you understand or agree with what is being said. Make sure that your camera and microphone are on! Use the chat box feature and let the presenter know that you are listening and think they are doing a great job. The Better Business Bureau has been serving local communities since 1936. The overall mission of the organization is to be a leader in advancing marketplace trust. Learn more at bbb.org/Nebraska or by calling (800) 649-6814. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Toastmasters District 24 Announces Times for All Online Meetings, Clubs in January In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Toastmasters District 24 has moved all meetings and clubs online at MeetUp, and they recently released a master schedule for upcoming sessions. Many members are thriving in this new environment, and a host of prospective members are finding time to join meetings as guests, allowing them to decide if now is the time to work on building their public speaking skills. If you are interested, feel free to visit any of the following selection of Toastmasters clubs that are scheduled on MeetUp in January: Omaha Toastmasters Club 229 is held every Monday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Ameritoasters Toastmaster Club is every first Tuesday of the month from 5 to 6 p.m.; Noonshiners Toastmasters is every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m.; Greater Communicators is every Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m.; Toast of the Town is every first Thursday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon; West Dodgers Toastmasters is every second and fourth Thursday of the month from noon to 1 p.m.; Why Not Speak is every Thursday from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.; Shelftalkers is every second Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m.; and Dynamic Speakers is every third Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. All meetings on the schedule are open to guests, so feel free to choose the ones that work best for you. For details about each type of online meeting, visit meetup.com/ District-24-Toastmasters-Meetup. Toastmasters International empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Toastmasters District 24 includes over 60 clubs and 1,000 members across Nebraska and Council Bluffs, IA. To learn more, visit d24tm.org, www.toastmasters.org/resources, or follow them on Facebook (@D24TM). JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 17

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From event setup to a full-service bar, the Talon Room will meet all of your event needs to go above and beyond.

Let us execute the event of your dreams. Call Matt today to book your event! 402-641-0943 ∙ www.TalonRoom.com ∙ 230 N. 12th St. #1 Lincoln, NE

Communities Two Available Communities! 35th & Superior 93rd & Old Cheney

BUSINESS NEWS NAWIC Members Donate Gifts to Help Women and Children in Domestic Abuse Shelter As part of their mission to give back to the community, members of the National Association of Women in Construction Greater Omaha Chapter 116 generously donated gifts to help women and children who were staying in the Catholic Charities Women’s Shelter over the holidays. Many of the women and children who arrive at the shelter do so with just the clothes on their backs. Thanks to NAWIC, eight families each received dozens of gifts made ready for pickup and delivered by the NAWIC elves. Individual members signed up to “adopt” families in the shelter and purchase specific gifts that met their needs—and a few of their wants. NAWIC sisters purchased a total of 116 gifts, including toiletries, clothing, shoes, boots, coats, and toys to help make the season bright for these families. NAWIC provides women with education, support, and networking to help advance their careers in construction, build their technical skills, and help them become leaders. All women working in construction are eligible for membership, including those working in the trades, project management, marketing, administration, and executive leadership. Meetings for the Greater Omaha chapter are on the second Thursday of each month in varied locations (mostly on Zoom during COVID), and are open to the public. For more information, visit nawicomaha.com or email nawicomaha@gmail.com.

Top Spot Provides Labor Relief to Company Experiencing Employee Loss to COVID Issues Several Models available to choose from! It’s good to be home!

Top Spot Cleaning & Solutions Too recently stepped in to provide warehouse cleaning labor relief for a company in the area that lost too many employees to COVID-related issues. Since early November, Top Spot has been performing cleaning throughout two warehouses, including sanitizing breakrooms, bathrooms, seven days a week, with double shifts on the weekends. The contracting company is keeping Top Spot on the job through at least April 1. So far, Top Spot has been able to pull off the extra work with their existing staff, but they are looking to hire one more part-time employee. “With several COVID positive tests at the warehouse, we’ve stepped in and performed several full treatment applications in addition to regular cleaning during the last few weeks,” said Top Spot Owner Doug Neill. “Top Spot continues to be the most affordable, quality, well-trained COVID-relief company when you have positive tests that need treatments, because apparently this thing isn’t going away any time soon. We’re here and available to help however it’s needed to get our communities through this.”

To reserve your lot contact Jayson Becker at Bancwise Realty 402-610-1013 | Jbecker@bancwise.com Gardenviewcommunities.com 18

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

Early in the wake of COVID’s arrival, Top Spot Cleaning & Solutions Too introduced a new chlorine dioxide (CLO2) and SIMIX disinfecting package to help businesses in the Lincoln area protect employees from COVID. SIMIX is a high-pH sanitizing product used to remove the top layers of biofilm. A surface with a high pH continues to fight microbes and viruses. They also provide fogging or gassing services with CO2 to disinfect high surfaces and, with gassing, decontaminate the entire air-handling system for any business that feels their space may have been compromised by COVID-19. To learn more, visit topspotcleaning.com or call (402) 570-4307. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS

N E W ! Half-Day

Preschool Options

Granite City Food & Brewery Places Heated Igloos on Patio for Safe Eating During COVID Granite City Food & Brewery is among the Lincoln restaurants getting creative to maintain outdoor dining options during COVID. On December 2, 2020, they added heated, ice-fishing “igloos” on their patio—so cold temperatures don’t mean the end to patio season! Each igloo fits a party of up to six people and is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so reservations are strongly encouraged as they have become immediately popular during the pandemic. There is a two-hour time limit on each reservation, but no additional fee is charged to dine out in an igloo. Complete with twinkle lights and a space heater, you’re sure to be cozy, no matter what Mother Nature throws your way! Granite City Food & Brewery offers brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner, including some of the best craft beers, scratch food, and Lawless Brunch in town. They also provide catering with Ez Cater and host private events that provide one-of-a-kind experiences to suit your celebration. From brunch buffets to signature lunchboxes and plated dinners, they guarantee that they can provide something to please every person’s taste buds. For more information, visit gcfb. com/location/lincoln-nebraska. To book an igloo, can Granite City at (402) 466-1900.

Arnie’s Pet Food Store Offers Tips for Selecting the Right Food for Your Dog Selecting the right pet for your dog might seem an easy task, but Arnie’s Pet Food Store recently warned pet owners about the pitfalls of choosing the wrong food and offered tips to help you keep your pooch healthy. For starters, don’t depend on ads you see on television that appear to have all of the answers. They spend millions of dollars to convince you that their food is best for your canine companion, but there are formulas for puppies, adults, and seniors, as well as ones for large- or small-breed dogs, or dogs with health conditions, including reproductive, sensitive stomach, overweight, allergies, and so much more. In short, selecting a proper dog food takes more than just watching a 30-second commercial. Here are a few tips from Arnie’s to help you select the right food for your dog: • Puppies should not be switched to high-protein adult dog food before they are ready, because it causes rapid bone growth leading to adult health issues. • Dog foods that are high in carbohydrates can cause diabetes, heart and kidney problems, and obesity. • Many brand-name dog foods cook nutrients out using high temperatures to mass-produce dog foods, then add synthetic nutrients back in; they’ll coat your dog food in a non-nutritional flavoring so your dog will eat it. • Research industry dog-food recalls: For example, Hills Science Diet, one of several companies that pays vets to prescribe pet foods, was recalled in 2019 for elevated levels of Vitamin D, which is toxic, even fatal, to dogs. Finally, if you are confused about what food to get for your dog, ask a professional. The folks at Arnie’s Pet Food Store have the answers you need. Their pet foods are not produced by corporate conglomerates, but rather by award-winning family-owned and operated businesses. Their recipes contain 100% all-natural ingredients with trackable sources. They are high in meat proteins and low in carbohydrates. Visit Arnie’s at Alamo Plaza, 56th and Hwy 2, where they care as much about your pet as they do their own. To shop online, visit shop.arniespetfoods.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

for kids 3 - 5 yrs old 9 am - 12:30 pm |Follows LPS Calendar

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Labor Department Awards Gold Medallion to ALLO in Recognition of Hiring Veterans The U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded ALLO Communications the prestigious Gold Medallion from the HIRE Vets program, which recognizes companies that are committed to hiring, training, and developing Veterans. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts officially awarded the Medallion to ALLO during a small ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol on Thursday, December 3. Launched in 2018, the HIRE Vets Act Award is the only federal accolade that recognizes business efforts to successfully recruit, hire, and retain Veterans in the workforce. ALLO was one of just four Nebraska companies to receive the award in 2020, with other Medallion winners including Berry Law, Persevus LLC, and Executive Airborne Solutions. "We are honored to be recognized as one of four companies to receive the award in Nebraska,” said ALLO Director Todd Heyne. “ALLO is dedicated to hiring veterans, as they bring a wealth of dedication and knowledge to our customers and company. The HIRE Vets Medallion Award recognizes ALLO's commitment to veterans and the positive impact they bring to our organization—a job well done to ALLO's managers, veterans, and recruiters for this well-deserved recognition! ALLO is actively seeking the skills and assets that veterans bring to its communities, and we look forward to adding more veterans to our growing team.” ALLO Communications specializes in providing world-class communications services by creating gigabit communities. The company provides broadband, telephone, and video solutions to businesses, residents, and governmental entities over fiber networks and currently has operations in Lincoln, plus eight other Nebraska communities and two cities in Colorado. For more information, visit allocommunications.com. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 19

I've known Tom for a long time! Always courteous and professional. Our new trees look great!!!! - Scott Mausbach

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BUSINESS NEWS LHRMA Lincoln Circle on Tap for January 8 The Lincoln Human Resource Management Association (LHRMA) announced that its Lincoln Circle event will run from 9-10:30 a.m. on January 8, via Zoom. LHRMA is a community of people involved in designing, organizing, supporting, and leading organizational diversity and inclusion efforts in and around Lincoln. This event represents the organization’s regular monthly meeting—on the first Friday of each month—during which they try to do four things: make it easy for folks doing this type of work to find and connect with other folks doing the same; learn from what local organizations are doing and have done relative to diversity and inclusion; help each other get better by sharing their experiences and expertise; and love each other. The mission of the Lincoln Human Resource Management Association is to provide for the interchange of ideas, experiences, and methods concerning the relationships between management and employees, and to provide professional ethics and acquaintanceship among those involved in professional humanresource management. To register for the Zoom meeting, visit lincolnnhr.org/event and select “Lincoln Circle – January.”

NDOL Partners with Kearney Works to Open New Job Center The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) opened a new job center location at 315 60th St. in Kearney on November 18. The new location shares an office with Kearney Works in Heritage Plaza. NDOL’s Reemployment Services team will be on site from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, with an increased presence planned for 2021. Kearney Works will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new space allows for a partnership that maximizes resources and programs. “This partnership is critical to expand the resources available to employers and job seekers. Kearney Works has struggled to meet demand and we are thankful for the Nebraska Department of Labor for their support in adding their services in Kearney,” said Elizabeth Roetman, Kearney Works Executive Director.

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Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

The combined offices will assist with job search, training and education programs, career assessments, mentoring, resume preparation, and other reemployment services, including unemployment benefits. NDOL will also assist with utilizing the neworks.nebraska.gov website, workforce training grants, apprenticeships, and Veterans’ services. The joint location was established thanks in part to Mayor Stan Clouse and the City of Kearney. “Bringing the two entities together in a partnership will provide a workforce solution customized to meet the needs of the community. I want to thank Commissioner John Albin, Reemployment Services Director Bradley Pierce, and Regional Manager Randy Kissinger with the Nebraska Department of Labor for their support,” Mayor Clouse said. Learn more about the Nebraska Department of Labor online at dol. nebraska.gov. Appointments at the new location are available by calling (308) 455-3007. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

ASK THE EXPERT: COMPRO

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COVID-19 Vaccine

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As we learn more about the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, our clients are asking questions about the costs associated with it. It is a very fluid situation but standards are developing for the payment of the vaccine. The most important underlying principal is to provide access to the vaccine to as many people as possible in the quickest way.

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In general, the manufacturing of the vaccine and transportation to local distribution sites is being paid by the federal government. State and local officials are responsible for determining which groups of people will receive the vaccine and for administering the vaccinations.

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When you receive your vaccination, your insurance company will not be billed for the cost of the medicine. They may be billed for the costs of administering the vaccination to you. In general, a health insurance policy that provides preventive care as a covered benefit will provide the COVID vaccine at no charge to enrolled members. This is true for both employer group plans and individual policies. If someone is charged for their vaccine, it would be wise to follow-up with the insurance company to verify the accuracy of the fees. Those employers sponsoring self-funded or level-funded plans may incur costs for the administration of the vaccine as an expense of their claims fund. A health insurance policy that does not provide preventive care, such as a short term plan or a limited benefit plan, may not cover the cost of the COVID vaccine.

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Those who are enrolled in Medicare will pay nothing for COVID-19 shots. This means no copayment and no deductible will apply. Has your business reached the point where employee benefits are no longer optional if you want to attract and keep the best talent to accelerate your companyâ€™s growth? Is it time for fresh ideas to evaluate your employee benefit plans? Call the experts at ComPro to get your questions answered. The staff at ComPro is knowledgeable as the market adapts and as the laws governing our business continue to change. We work as a team and value the strong relationships that we build with our clients. Let us help you Connect the Dots!

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JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

STAR CITY SIX

SANDY

Sanford “Sandy” Pollack Doug

Brad

Leslie

Russ

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POLLACK & BALL LAW FIRM The law offices of Pollack & Ball, LLC have been serving the Lincoln community since 1996. Sanford “Sandy” Pollack is the senior partner at Pollack & Ball Law Firm. Tell us a little about your business. - We represent clients in the areas of criminal law, family law, and personal injury law. The firm has grown over the years to meet the needs of our clients. In 2005, the firm moved to its current address of 1003 H St., which is the restored “Candy House.” Our firm is honored to have restored the house to its original beauty and condition. Located across the street from the Lancaster County Courthouse, its location allows for immediate and convenient access to the courts. The cornerstone of our practice is our commitment to clients. We recognize that the most successful legal solutions are the result of a strong relationship between our firm and our clients. We have built our reputation as effective advocates for our clients and look forward to serving you in the future. How did you get started in the business? - I graduated from law school in 1995 and worked for a small firm in Omaha for exactly six months. I saved every dollar that I was paid. I knew I wanted to start my own firm but did not have the capital. After six months, I had saved $10,000, bought a computer, leased an office, and started Pollack Law Office. What has been your most important achievement professionally? - Growing from a sole practitioner to a thriving three-attorney firm in downtown Lincoln. In 2000, John Ball joined the firm which is now Pollack & Ball. A few years later, Tina Marroquin joined as our third attorney. Tina was appointed as a District Court Judge and then Heather Colton joined as an associate attorney and is now a partner. Tell us a little about your family. - I have been married to Amanda for 10 years, and we love to travel. We each had two children from previous marriages. My oldest is Josie who works as a disability advocate. Her husband Josh is in the nurse anesthetist program at Bryan. They have a second grader named Danica. My son Jordan graduated from UNL in August with a degree in criminal justice. Amanda’s oldest, Jake, is a first-year medical student at UNMC; and youngest, Sydney, is a freshman at Iowa State in their fashion program.

Chris

Matt

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I’ve been known to golf a little bit at Hillcrest. What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I was raised in Florida and had very little exposure to cold weather when I started college at Penn State. Once the snow and ice hit, I had serious difficultly learning how to walk safely…I fell many times. I was quickly nicknamed “Florida Feet.” What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Never count your money when you’re sitting at the table.

Jake

What is your favorite movie? - Rocky…the quintessential movie about an underdog who succeeds.

Julie

What is your favorite TV show? - Survivor. What is your favorite local restaurant? - Venue Restaurant & Lounge. Barrie is the best bartender in town! Member FDIC

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Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

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If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 476-7474; sp@pollackandball.com; www. pollackandball.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

STAR CITY SIX

AMBER

Sip the SeaSon

Amber Crunk

PEMBERLY PLACE Pemberly Place is a senior living community located in southeast Lincoln. Amber Crunk is the team development coach at Pemberly Place. Tell us a little about your business. - At Pemberly Place, we offer independent living, assisted living, and memory support. We are proud to be locally owned and operated. How did you get started in the business? - I started as a cook in a long term care community while in high school and then became a CNA. I have worked primarily in a memory support community, but I have also worked privately and in the assisted living community. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - I am really passionate about helping the elderly, but I do not know how to slow down at times and relax. I am always trying to preserve their dignity and learn from a great generation. What has been your most important achievement professionally? - I was awarded the Nebraska Health Care Association Congressional briefing scholarship and was able to go to Washington, D.C. and advocate on behalf of our residents and profession. Tell us a little about your family. - I grew up on a family farm in Union, NE (the greatest place on earth, to me). I am the daughter of George and Helen Crunk. I have one sister, an amazing niece named Gracie, and a nephew named Bennett. My significant other and I have a wonderful two-year-old son named Fletcher. What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? Joining the Military at age 17 and leaving right after graduating high school. I share a birthday with my mother, so it was the first birthday we had not celebrated together. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy relaxing and reading a good book in front of a fire with coffee. What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I was enlisted in the United States Army for eight years. I was a member of the 348th Military Police Unit out of Ames, IA. I met some of my best friends in the military who I am proud to call my brothers and sisters for life. Who inspires you? - My grandmother. She was my best friend and biggest fan. I would do anything for one last conversation with her. My son also inspires me. I will do everything in my power to give him a better life than I had growing up, and that will be hard to beat. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Remember the past for the sake of the future. If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “The Sky is the Limit” by Rebelution. Which talent would you most like to have? - I would love to learn how to speak multiple languages, including German and Danish. If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Mortuary science or forensic anthropology. One day, I do hope I will be able to work in the mortuary field. What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Mental Health Association of Nebraska and Oxford House Inc. What is your favorite movie? - The Patriot. If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Bob Marley. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (531) 500-3438; amber@pemberlyplace.com; www. pemberlyplace.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

STAR CITY SIX

ROSS

Plumbing &

Water Cleanup

WE DO BOTH

Ross Reynolds SP GROUP, P.C.

SP Group, P.C., founded in 2003, is an entrepreneurial accounting firm that serves growth-oriented companies and talented individuals in the Midwest. Ross Reynolds is a CPA at SP Group, P.C. Tell us a little about your business. - At SP Group, we provide tax planning, tax preparation, business startup services, estate and trust preparation, QuickBooks support and training, payroll setup and reporting, business entity selection, IRS representation, and assurance services. I love the fun, competitive team culture that we’ve fostered at our company.

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What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? The entire year of 2020 was incredibly difficult for a multitude of reasons—starting back in March with the extension of tax season to July 15, the uncertainty of the economy, the several government assistance programs that came out, the world being affected by a global pandemic...just to name a few. As a firm we really took pride in staying ahead of the curve and educating ourselves on everything that Congress was doing to help small business owners which are the majority of our clients. One of the biggest pieces was the Paycheck Protection Program loans that came out in April and it seemed that the rules regarding it changed every single day for about two months straight, so staying on top of everything and keeping our clients updated and in the best position to get through the pandemic was incredibly important to us, and took a lot of hard work by everyone here. Tell us a little about your family. - I grew up in Lincoln and have lived here my entire life and absolutely love it. I have an older brother, Tyler, who is a successful realtor here in Lincoln. His wife Mikaela is a registered nurse. My mom was a speech pathologist with LPS for 30-plus years, and my dad started and owned Reynolds Design & Remodeling for over 30 years. My brother and I grew up working with him, which instilled the meaning and value of hard work and showed us what it took to own and manage a business. Even though he is now retired, my dad and I still like to do some side projects together flipping houses to keep him busy. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I love to golf. Any excuse to get out on the course, I will take. I enjoy playing new courses I’ve never played. I like to travel as well but obviously that’s a little more difficult lately… What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I am fluent in Spanish. I might be a little rusty right now but can still get by! I lived in Granada, Spain for nearly a year while in college and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I would love to go back as soon as possible once this pandemic is over. Who inspires you? - My dad has been the biggest inspiration by far. I’ve watched and learned from him my entire life and it has shaped who I am. One of the biggest compliments I’ve ever received was someone telling me that I reminded them of him. If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I wouldn’t mind being in the NBA. What is your favorite movie? - Braveheart or Gladiator. What is your favorite local restaurant? - MoMo Pizzeria & Ristorante. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 420-7758; rreynolds@spgrouppc.com; spgrouppc.com.

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

#PrintProudDigitalSmart

STAR CITY SIX

NATHAN

Nathan Lee

GABEL CONSTRUCTION Gabel Construction provides epoxy flooring, basement waterproofing, foundation repair, yard drainage and landscaping, egress windows, and snow removal. Nathan Lee is co-owner of Gabel Construction. Tell us a little about your business. - Gabel has specialized in concrete pouring along with other services since it began in 1977. When my wife Haley and I took over in March of 2020, I brought my 30-year background in epoxy flooring to the company's offerings. As a team, we strive to get each job done with the highest level of products and customer service. How did you get started in the business? - I was introduced to the industry at an early age. My parents owned their own company called Midwest Floor Care, and I started working for them when I was 12. I eventually took over and renamed the company Epoxy Concrete Sealers. I then went on to partner with my brother, owning a percentage of a company known as Surface Sealers Inc. I was ready to take things to the next level, so Haley and I decided to take over ownership of Gabel. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I always want to make sure I give the best finished product. What has been your most important achievement professionally? - Purchasing Gabel Construction. It was a huge step forward in my professional career. Tell us a little about your family. - Haley and I have been together since high school, married for 22 years. We have four boys, all of whom have worked in my family businesses. Tyler is 27 and married to Gaby. They live in Kearney, and he works for Eaton as the head of maintenance and safety. Ashton is 24 and married to Cassie. He works for Tnemec in the product and tech services department. Hunter is a senior at UNL majoring in fishery and wildlife and minoring in criminal justice. His end goal is to become a game warden. Carter is a junior at Waverly High School, and he wants to get a degree in welding and then eventually take over Gabel. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Golfing, hunting, fishing, boating, and camping. What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I have worked in almost all 50 states while carrying out projects for my companies. Who inspires you? - My family. If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Giving. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - "Take only memories, leave only footprints." - Chief Seattle If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Mechanical engineer. What is your favorite movie? - Ford v Ferrari. What is your favorite TV show? - Last Man Standing. What is your favorite local restaurant? - Hacienda Real. If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Carroll Shelby, an American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? (402) 440-1857; gabelconstruction20@gmail.com; gabelconcrete.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

COVID-19 Response Cleanup

Top Spot Cleaning is a qualified company able to address all aspects of decontamination using Chlorine Dioxide (CL02). With the current rise in cases, we are still one of your most affordable options for complete treatment.

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JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

STAR CITY SIX

KYLE

Kyle Ropers

JOHN HENRY’S PLUMBING, HEATING, & AIR CONDITIONING John Henry’s Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning is a locally owned company that has been in business for over 24 years! Kyle Ropers is the controller at John Henry’s Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning.

100%

Customer Satisfaction

We take great pride in every deck we do no matter how big or small, and we truly believe that no job is complete until you are fully satisfied.

Tell us a little about your business. - We offer our customers hasslefree solutions to their plumbing and HVAC problems. The people on the John Henry’s team is what truly sets the organization apart from others. How did you get started in the business? - I joined the John Henry’s team in June of 2019. I oversee accounting, payroll, and logistics. Finding John Henry’s was a true blessing in disguise. What has been your most important achievement professionally? - I recently completed my MBA. This has helped me become a better leader. I feel that continuing to educate yourself and be willing to learn new things is vital for business success. Tell us a little about your family. - My wife Amie and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in May 2020. We have two girls, Jordyn (7) and Kennedy (4). It’s hard being outnumbered by a bunch of girls, but it’s a true joy to watch them grow and learn new things every day. I love being a #girldad.

Let’s Discuss Your Project Today!

402.601.5091 • Decksunlmtd@gmail.com DecksUnlimitedNE.com • 3160 N 33rd St., Lincoln, NE

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - Becoming a dad. Having to be responsible for someone other than myself really puts things into perspective for me. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy doing anything outside. In the summer, my family and I enjoy going to the lake. I also enjoy playing golf or just playing sports with my girls. We also take regular trips to Minnesota. Who inspires you? - My family. I strive to do my best every day, lead by example and hope to instill good habits into my girls. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Spend less than you earn and invest the rest wisely. If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Dedicated. If you could have a super power, what would it be? - It would be awesome to have the ability to slow down time. What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - My biscuits and gravy recipes are second to none! Which talent would you most like to have? - I’d like to be a better public speaker. If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I’ve always been fascinated with real estate.

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What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. What is your favorite movie? - Tommy Boy. What is your favorite TV show? - Fargo. What is your favorite local restaurant? - Slim Chickens. If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Dave Chappelle. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? (402) 435-5555; kropers@jhlincoln; jhlincoln.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

STAR CITY SIX

BRANDON

Brandon Elwell

PROFESSIONAL REALTY GROUP OF WOODS BROS REALTY Professional Realty Group (PRG) of Woods Bros Realty is your one-stop-shop for everything real estate—buying/selling, residential, commercial, and everything in between. Brandon Elwell is a realtor at PRG of Woods Bros Realty. Tell us a little about your business. - My business is focused on providing unmatched customer service, professionalism, and care when working with clients. Whether it is your first time buying a home or your fifth time, I am dedicated to finding the best fit for you and your family’s needs. By the end of the process, you’re no longer just a client to me, you’re a friend. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - I would say this year as a whole has been a challenge in its own right. I made the switch from being in the food/bar service industry for years to becoming a licensed REALTOR® and it really turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Tell us a little about your family. - I got married over the summer of 2020 and that has been the best decision I’ve ever made. My wife and I have two beautiful chocolate labs, and we both come from awesome families. I was born and raised here in Lincoln. My parents still live here in town, and I have two amazing sisters, along with a bunch of in-laws now too! What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - There aren’t any days off in real estate, technically, but when I do have free time I enjoy hanging out with my wife and our friends, watching sports, and trying new craft beers. I also love spending time outside with my dogs! What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - A lot of people who don’t know me super well are probably unaware that I was in a band for four years and worked as a touring musician. That was a very special experience, and I wouldn’t trade that time in my life for anything. Who inspires you? - My wife is my biggest inspiration and supporter. Seeing her do what she loves every day through teaching kids inspires me to do what I love and be the best I can be. If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Compassionate. What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - I would say singing is the talent that I have and don’t utilize on a daily basis anymore. If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - The entertainment industry. I am a big music/theatre guy. I did a lot of theatre in high school and college, and I have played music throughout my life. It’d be a dream to be a full-time musician or actor. What is your favorite TV show? - It’s definitely a toss-up between Breaking Bad or Ozark. What is your favorite local restaurant? - It would probably have to be Copal Progressive & Mexican Cuisine. It is locally owned and operated by an amazing staff of people who truly care about providing excellent service and authentic Mexican food.

5600 s 48th St 402.423.2206 staufferscafe.com Facebook.com/stauffersCafe/

“Food that Grandma Makes” M-F: 6am-8pm Sat: 6am-2pm Sun: Closed

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If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - The lead singer of Radiohead, Thom Yorke. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - You can contact me anytime day or night by call/text/email or sign up on my website! (402) 219-4440; brandon.elwell@woodsbros.com; belwell.prg-ne.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL

402-610-0523

JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

A unique opportunity to let the community get to know local businesspeople and their pets!

FEBRUARY 2021

In the February 2021 issue of Strictly Business, we will run our first-ever “Business Owners & Their Pets!” feature to highlight some of the amazing businesses in Lincoln and the furry friends behind the curtain. It’s a fun way to let the community get to know you and your business in a more personal way. Plus, who doesn’t love cute photos of animals!?

Let us know if you do business in Lincoln and want to show off your pet to all our readers! FEATURE INCLUDES: Strictly Business is direct mailed to over 10,000 businesses in Lincoln every month! With a 2–4 month shelf life and a pass-along readership, it’s estimated that 1 copy of the magazine could reach more than 5 people. Editorial features are published on our website as well. We are proud to have a strong online presence.

Photo of owner & their pet(s), business logo & 150-word write-up

To participate, contact: (402) 466-3330 | Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com 28

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

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PERSONNEL NEWS New Members Join Nebraska Community Foundation Board of Directors Five Nebraskans from across the state recently joined the Nebraska Community Foundation’s (NCF) Board of Directors, following a unanimous vote by existing board members. Jeffrey Gerhart is chairman of the Bank of Newman Grove and president of Gerhart Insurance Agency. Gerhart has served on the Newman Grove Community Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of NCF, since its founding. He has also served in leadership roles for the Nebraska Independent Bankers Association, the Independent Community Jeffrey Gerhart Bankers of America and the Federal Reserve Board of Kansas City board of directors. He is a member of the Newman Grove Community Club, United Methodist Church in Newman Grove, and the Newman Grove Masonic Lodge #305 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. Megan Helberg has been a member of her local NCF affiliated fund, the Calamus Area Community Fund, for six years. She proudly calls rural Loup County home, where she teaches secondary English at Burwell Public School. Helberg is passionate about Holocaust Megan Helberg and genocide education, and she feels strongly about providing opportunities for her students that include glimpses into various cultures and ways of live. Helberg founded a travel club for her school and community members to travel together. Dr. Chuck Hibberd grew up in Cozad and Lexington before completing degrees in Animal Science at UNL and Oklahoma state University. His 38-year career focused on teaching, research, and extension roles in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Indiana. Hibberd retired June 30, 2020 following Dr. Chuck Hibberd eight years of service as Dean and Director of Nebraska Extension. Adam Pavelka of Hastings is a real estate broker and farm manager with Agri Affiliates, Inc. Prior to that, he practiced law in southcentral Nebraska, serving families and businesses in the areas of estate planning, business law, and real estate. He grew up on a farm near Blue Hill where he remains active in his family’s operation. Pavelka is a past president of the Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Education and serves Adam Pavelka the Adams Central FFA Alumni as treasurer. Kent Warneke serves as director of grants and contracts at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. Following his departure from the Norfolk Daily News in 2019 after a 37-year career in the newspaper business, he was named editor emeritus. Warneke’s civic involvement includes serving on the board of directors and chairman of the Nebraska Press Association, the Nebraska District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, and the Kent Warneke Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about the Nebraska Community Foundation, visit NebraskaHometown.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

UNICO Group Announces Promotion of Chad Ideus to Executive Vice President UNICO Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Chad Ideus to Executive Vice President. Chad joined UNICO in 2004 after operating his own insurance agency and has since become a longtime UNICO shareholder. Chad is originally from Adams, NE and is a Nebraska Wesleyan graduate. “I’ve always been a 30,000-foot- view guy, and not just because of my height,” Chad said. “Most of my experience has been focused on advising my commercial and telecommunications clients. Over the last few years, I’ve had a chance to become integrated with our leadership teams and learn the mechanics of how we operate.” With the promotion, Chad will serve on the company’s Executive Team and Board of Directors, providing strategic leadership, financial oversight, and sales management for the company. He will also continue serving in his role as Risk Advisor to his clients. “My goals are to identify opportunities to elevate our team’s performance, our culture, and, most important, your experience as a client,” Chad said. UNICO Group is a full-service insurance agency with services ranging from commercial insurance, workers’ compensation, and employee benefits, to personal insurance and financial planning. UNICO is dedicated to getting their clients the best insurance products and services available to protect them, their families, and their businesses. For more information, call (402) 434-7200 or visit unicogroup.com.

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nebraskarep.org Professionals in Residence at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

PERSONNEL NEWS

YOUR CITY. YOUR AIRPORT. When our airport thrives, so does Lincoln. And vice versa. LNK’s support of 8,900 jobs and $1.3 billion in annual economic impact creates endless opportunities for a city on the rise. Imagine where we can go.

DataVizion Welcomes Dan Werner as New Director of Sales In September of 2020, DataVizion hired Dan Werner as director of sales. Werner will be leading DataVizion’s go-to-market alignment between building solutions, project services teams, marketing, and sales to ensure seamless execution resulting in a positive customer experience. Even though Werner was born and raised in Colorado, he has always been a Nebraskan at heart. Werner graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a degree in business finance. He has spent the last 26 years working for Fiserv, Inc. and held various leadership roles throughout his career, most recently as the director of client management operations, where he led teams supporting sales operations and client solutions development. Werner specializes in using analytics to turn data into powerful information that will ensure DataVizion is empowered to make sound business decisions. He also brings years of experience in driving highly successful associate engagement and career path development, which ultimately has a tremendous impact on company results. DataVizion, headquartered in Lincoln, specializes in professional and managed IT services and solutions from small business to enterprise throughout the Midwest. Their mission is to empower your business with custom IT solutions and partner with you to achieve your technology vision. Learn more online at www.datavizion.com.

ComPro Recognizes Haberman and Moerer for Commitment During Open Enrollment

N E X T. L I N C O L N A I R P O R T . C O M

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

During Open Enrollment season, ComPro Insurance can receive as many as 100 calls per day—but with each call answered, the client is made to feel as if their call were the only one of the day thanks to the commitment of Morgan Haberman and Justin Moerer. Morgan is the administrative assistant and Justin carries out agent solutions at ComPro. They both joined the team in 2020. Their efforts to uphold the integrity and high level of customer service of the company is evident from the many client testimonials received, Morgan Haberman including the following: “Morgan is great! She helped me when I called into the office a few weeks ago. So very friendly. She’s a keeper.” - Randy, ComPro client “Justin is super to work with. I feel confident that everything he handles will be done properly and professionally. Don’t let him get away!” - Rich, ComPro client First impressions are lasting ones, and ComPro is confident that with Morgan and Justin in the frontline of the office, those first impressions Justine Moerer will continue to make their clients smile. ComPro Insurance is committed to helping you connect the dots. Deciding on the right health insurance plan can be confusing. The team works oneon-one with each client to help them understand what their options are so they can make an informed decision. Let the agents at ComPro Insurance help you! For more info, call (402) 488-5100 or visit comproins.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS Jennifer Manning of Habitat for Humanity Earns Nonprofit Accounting Certification Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln is excited to congratulate finance director, Jennifer Manning, on becoming a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional. Manning completed the seven-course program, including a final exam, administered by the Fiscal Management Associated (FMA Institute). The nationally recognized designation certifies the expertise and commitment of nonprofit financial managers. The program specializes in teaching best practices including financial reporting, internal controls, budget development, governance, and form 990 preparation. Manning leads Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln in accounting, financial procedures and policies, and budgeting. Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln is part of a global nonprofit housing organization that brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Alongside future homeowners, volunteers, and supporters, Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln helps Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families. To date, Habitat Lincoln has built or repaired more than 170 homes, serving more than 775 local individuals and nearly as many globally through Habitat International’s tithe program, serving approximately 1,500 individuals. More information can be found at www.lincolnhabitat.org.

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Pemberly Place Welcomed Morgan Essman to Roland Temme Among 8 in Nation to Receive Team as Administrative Assistant in 2020 Highest Honor from Junior Achievement USA Amid the challenges of 2020, Pemberly Place Senior Care Living Community welcomed Morgan Essman to their team on June 24, 2020, as their new administrative assistant. Morgan has been around the senior-living industry for years, having begun working with the elderly population when she was 16 years old. She worked at Legacy Retirement Community as a diningroom server before working her way up to Supervisor of the Dining Room and then to Weekend Dining Room Coordinator. Morgan also worked as a part-time concierge at The Woodlands for two years while she was going to college. She is currently working on her Master’s degree, with a goal of eventually becoming an administrator or marketing director at a retirement community—a goal of hers since a young age, when her grandmother fell and broke her femur. Her family visited her grandmother in rehab often, watching her make new friends at a place where she felt at home. A native of Lincoln, Morgan attended Lincoln East High School, including traveling to Florida for six months to complete the Disney College Program. She also played varsity softball and bowling, and is proud to still hold the state softball record for the most doubles hit in a game. ‘Have courage and be kind’ is her favorite saying, which is a perfect match for her new position. At Pemberly Place, Morgan is enjoying learning more about gerontology, is happy to share her technology support and experience, and has brought organization and consistency to the Pemberly front door. Pemberly Place Senior Care Living Community offers levels of senior living that are tailored to each resident, including independent, assisted, and memory-care living. For more information, visit pemberlyplace.com or call (402) 413-9770. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Junior Achievement (JA) of Lincoln Trustee and TMCO, Inc. Owner Roland Temme was celebrated in December as one of only eight people out of hundreds of thousands of volunteers nationwide to be awarded the highest honor bestowed by JA USA—the prestigious Gold Leadership Award. Roland originally was supposed to travel to New York City in March 2020 to be recognized by JA USA with the award, but COVID put those plans on hold, and he finally received his award virtually via the recent online ceremony with JA USA leadership. Roland believes deeply in JA. “Junior Achievement will make you a better employee, a better manager, and a better parent,” Roland said. “Now, more than ever, our young people need to find hope in this country and still believe that their biggest dreams can come true. I think it is so important for JA to be part of our educational system to make this happen.” In his 14 years of volunteering for JA Lincoln, Roland has impacted 1,076 students, and he’s hosted nearly all of them for TMCO tours and firsthand experience with the robotic machines that cut metal, then sent them each home with a personalized gift made for them by those machines. Roland became only the third Nebraskan ever to be honored with this award, joining former winners Marc LeBaron and Nick Cusick, both also part of JA Lincoln. Junior Achievement is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. For more information, visit Lincoln. ja.org or call (402) 467-1010. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 31

PERSONNEL NEWS Cruise & Associates Welcomes Heather Kucera to Bookkeeping Department Cruise & Associates is excited to announce their hiring of Heather Kucera to their bookkeeping department in the Columbus office. Heather is joining B.J. Davlin and Theresa Davis—two talented bookkeepers who’ve been with Cruise & Associates for several years—in assisting clients and businesses with all their accounting and bookkeeping needs. Heather was born and raised in Columbus, NE. She earned her associate’s degree in business administration from the Lincoln School of Commerce in 2001 and recently received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from Bellevue University in 2020. Heather and her husband, James, have four children: Kayden, Kaira, Bradyn, and Mallori. They also have two dogs and a cat. In Heather’s free time, she enjoys volleyball, working out, and attending her kids’ sporting events. She’s also a board member for the Columbus Outlaws. Cruise & Associates is a regional accounting firm with additional offices in Lincoln, Omaha, Albion, Grand Island, and Wayne. Their offices have been working with individuals, businesses, and farm clients for over 29 years, taking care of their income tax, business, and financial service needs. To learn more about Cruise & Associates, call (402) 466-1969 (Lincoln office) / (402) 564-5827 (Columbus office) or visit cruise-associates.com.

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We offer a FREE loaner vehicle while your vehicle is in for repairs or maintenance! STOP IN TODAY! 131 Russwood Parkway 402.486.9880 • inmotionautocare.com

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

Nebraska Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Announces Retirement of Thomas M. Heiser Nebraska Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, P.C. has announced the retirement of Thomas M. Heiser, MD. After 33 years of service to the Lincoln and surrounding communities, Dr. Heiser has defined what orthopaedic health care means in this community. Not only is Dr. Heiser known for his orthopaedic achievements, he was a star on the football field—earning the nickname “Touchdown Tommy” during his years as a wingback with the Huskers from 1972-75. Dr. Heiser’s illustrious career has been filled with accolades and a true dedication to the practice of orthopaedic medicine. During his tenure, Dr. Heiser has served on the Board of Directors for Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, published multiple articles in the area of sports medicine, and presented on many topics in the field of orthopaedics. He is well-known for his support of professional education of future physicians and has been a long-time supporter of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). In 2016, Dr. Heiser was honored by UNMC when the university renamed its strength and fitness center in his name. Nebraska Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, P.C., located at 575 S 70th St., STE 200, is a full-service orthopaedic practice with onsite MRI and imaging. The practice serves many out of town satellite clinics and is a proud partner of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, providing sideline treatment and care to Husker Athletics. For more information, visit www.nebraskaortho.com.

Tegan Colton Joins Strictly Business as Full-Time Social Media Strategist Strictly Business is happy to announce their hiring of Tegan Colton as their new fulltime social media strategist and assistant copywriter. Tegan was hired at Strictly Business last May as the sales intern, where she called on local businesses and went to marketing events to gather new clients for the magazine. During that time, Tegan also spent time gaining experience as a copywriter, assisting with writing press releases, client spotlights, and restaurant exposes. In her new role as social media strategist, Tegan will continue writing editorial for Strictly Business’s Lincoln and Omaha publications while taking charge of their social media, helping them gain new clients and increase their visibility online. Tegan will be instrumental to the implementation of Strictly Business’s new social media add-on offering, where she will helm their transition into a more digital-friendly platform and help other local businesses be seen online. Tegan is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and where she is currently working on her master’s degree in journalism. She has written for other local publications, including Lincoln Today and The Daily Nebraskan. Tegan is excited for her new full-time role as social media strategist, where she can expand on her passion to write and contribute to local news while supporting the success of a publication she believes in. Strictly Business has been a reliable news source and effective advertising tool in Lincoln for over 27 years, publishing original content on print and online. To inquire about their new social media package, call (402) 466-3330 or contact Tegan directly at tegan@strictlybusinessomaha. com. To learn more, visit strictly-business.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS

LEAD BASED PAINT CERTIFIED

Lincoln Federal Savings Bank Promotes Heather Merrill Lincoln Federal Savings Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Heather Merrill to deposit services operations specialist. Heather has worked as a customer service representative at the Bank for 18 years. She brings a strong work ethic and a hunger for knowledge as she enters her new role. She will collaborate with operations staff members, provide customer service, and work to optimize bank operations and customer processes. In addition, Merrill is highly involved in giving back to the community through the Bank’s Lending Hands program, which is designed to encourage employees to get involved in the community. Please help the Bank in congratulating Heather Merrill on her great achievements!

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Lincoln Federal Savings Bank has five branch locations in Lincoln. The corporate office can be found at 8400 Maddox Drive, Lincoln, NE 68520. Additional branches are located in Omaha, Fremont, Blair, Holdrege, Hastings, North Platte, McCook, and Benkelman. Learn more at lincolnfed.com.

Retiring Board Members Dedicated a Combined 18 Years to Matt Talbot Two members of the Board for Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach—Greg Ernst and Dave Smith—recently retired after each served nine years, or a combined 18 years of dedication to the mission of providing safe and stable housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Lincoln. Greg is the Senior Vice President at UBS Financial, and Dave is the Technology Manager at Allstate Insurance Company. Each of them served as president of the Board and on the Executive, Financial, and Fundraising committees. Their leadership, compassion, and commitment to serving the working poor and homeless were recognized by the Matt Talbot staff and Board during their last meeting of 2020.

Greg Ernst

During Greg’s and Dave’s tenure on the Board, Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach experienced significant program growth. The substance-use C.A.R.E. Program (Counseling, Advocacy, Referral, and Evaluation/ Education) started in 2011, and other programs added during their Board terms Dave Smith included the First HOPE housing program for chronically homeless individuals and families, the Landlord Liaison Project, and Homeless Diversion. The Mission of the nonprofit Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is to serve the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of Lincoln’s working poor and homeless through outreac h, advocacy, education, and the provision of food and shelter. Their use of evidence-based and compassionate service-delivery modules— including case management and assistance with finding quality, affordable housing—has helped hundreds of individuals and families in finding homes. To learn more about Matt Talbot or donate to their mission, visit mtko.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

WHERE HOME IS... Sharing a laugh with a loved one.

LOCATIONS The Waterford at Williamsburg Assisted Living The Waterford at College View Assisted Living The Waterford at Wilderness Hills Memory Care

402.480.6950 | www.thewaterford.net JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

PERSONNEL NEWS Home Care Partners Welcomes Casey Sova to Team as Human Resources Manager

True North Technologies Hires Zac Call as Sales Manager

Home Care Partners of Nebraska announce Casey Sova as their new human resources manager. Sova joined Home Care Partners at the beginning of December after years of experience in the senior care industry. She now plays a key role in Home Care Partners’ talent acquisition process, implementing development programs for the team and enforcing company policies and practices. Andrew Carlson, managing partner of Home Care Partners, shares, “Casey embodies our Culture of Caring values with her experience, integrity, and respect. We are proud to have her on our team.” “Investing in people and building relationships with team members is my favorite part of being in human resources," Sova said. She is already building relationships at Home Care Partners by being an exceptional resource to the team, providing strong leadership, and collaborating with the team to ensure a “Culture of Caring” exists in its truest form. Home Care Partners embodies a Culture of Caring to serve seniors in and around the community. They are an affordable and comparable alternative to independent and assisted living, and provide additional support when needed for those already living in a senior community. For more information, visit www.homecarepartnersofnebraska.com, call (402) 780-1211, or follow on Facebook and Instagram (@ homecarepartnersofnebraska).

True North Technologies (www.go-tnt. com), a Lincoln-based business launched by Renee Sobotka, recently brought Zac Call onto the team as Sales Manager. Zac has lived in Nebraska most of his life and in Lincoln for the last 13 years. With an extensive knowledge of digital-marketing tactics, Zac matches True North’s goals for providing clients with comprehensive marketing strategies to increase their brand awareness and market share. Zac's responsibilities also include supporting the sales team and creating systems for their success as True North Technologies continues to grow. He loves big-picture thinking and is always interested in growing companies while actively learning new skills and being creative.

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

In his spare time, Zac enjoys spending time with his friends and his beagle, Puck. Some of his many hobbies are reading, listening to podcasts and, most recently, leatherworking. Zac’s bucket list includes traveling to Japan, a road trip around the United States, and becoming fluent in a second language. One of his favorite philosophies is ‘Just because you are struggling does not mean you are failing.’ True North Technologies makes technology simple with website and mobile app development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), branding, and social-media marketing. Learn more at www.go-tnt. com or by calling (402) 420-5101.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Union Bank & Trust Promotes Ryan Wittmann Center Sphere Founder and CEO Brett Boyer to VP, Wholesale Business Solutions Manager Promotes Supporting Local Small Businesses Union Bank & Trust recently promoted Ryan Wittmann to vice president, wholesale business solutions manager. Wittmann joined Union Bank in 2006 and has served as an accounting supervisor, as well as an assistant project manager. In his new role, Wittmann will develop business strategies within the wholesale lending division and work with internal departments to prioritize projects and resources to meet strategic objectives. Wittmann graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2006 and a Master of Science in Business Administration in 2010. He is an active supporter of United Way and the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, and he serves as the vice chairman of the leadership board at his church. Union Bank & Trust is a privately owned Nebraska bank that offers comprehensive banking, lending, investment, and trust services. The bank has 38 full-service and loan-production offices in Nebraska and Kansas. It is the third-largest privately owned bank in the Nebraska, with assets of $5.4 billion and trust assets of $28.6 billion as of June 30, 2020. To learn more, visit ubt.com.

SP Group Adds Van Werden, Nelson, and Tarletsky to Accounting Team SP Group, P.C., a growing entrepreneurial accounting firm that serves growth-oriented companies and talented individuals in the Midwest, is excited to announce that Diane Van Werden, Hunter Nelson, and Bryce Tarletsky have joined their team. Each brings a unique set of skills that will be an asset to both the firm and their clients. Diane joins SP Group with extensive experience in the accounting field and recognizes the importance of building client relationships for the long-term. With her warm and caring presence, she’s ready to greet our clients when they step in the doors or call our office. Hunter, a Lincoln native and the oldest of 11, is a graduate of Pius X High School, where he participated in soccer, football, basketball, and wrestling. He received an associate’s degree in Business Administration from Southeast Community College and plans to complete a bachelor’s degree in business administration in the near future. Bryce was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, b u t m o ve d t o L i n c o l n s o o n a f t e r, establishing his Nebraska roots and graduating from Southeast High School. He attended the University of NebraskaLincoln, graduating in 2018 with a Master’s in Professional Accountancy. To see complete bios, visit spgrouppc.com. To learn more, follow S.P. Group, P.C. on Facebook (@SP Group, P.C.) and Twitter (@SPGroupPC) or call their office at (402) 420-7758. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Getting to the core of the Center Sphere networking philosophy, Founder and CEO Brett Boyer said the company’s Lincoln Network is built to support local, small businesses and is promoting community-wide support of those businesses as a necessity to a resilient local economy. “Growing up in a very small, rural community myself, I have watched how keeping your business local can have an effect on so many,” Brett said. “I would always say, ‘There’s only so much money to circulate out here.’ What I meant was that every dollar that is not spent in a community never comes back into the local economy...EVER!” Besides the tax revenue that it creates on a local level to develop the communities and infrastructure needed, Center Sphere operates on the understanding that it is important to support the families that are supporting your community. If you don’t use the local insurance agent for your insurance, for example, how can you expect them to sponsor your kids’ basketball team? Center Sphere’s focus is to have direct impacts on communities across the nation. By developing and cultivating relationships with other local business folks, the natural effect is to do business with one another. Center Sphere’s Lincoln Network is currently made up of nearly 50 chapters and has access to members nationwide. For more information or to inquire about attending a complimentary meeting or event, visit www.CenterSphere.com or connect with Lincoln Area Director Cheryl Hansen at CherylHansen@CenterSphere.com or (402) 499-2009.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Catholic Social Services Vehicle Donation Program Provides Hope

LCF Asks Community to Support Lincoln Littles Giving Day on February 12

For many served by Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska, having reliable transportation isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessity. Often, clients of Catholic Social Services have trouble keeping jobs due to lack of reliable transportation. At Catholic Social Services, they try to alleviate this stress by helping with car repairs. They have a fund to help with these expenses. They also have the St. Christopher Vehicle Donation Program where they take donated vehicles and give them to people who do not have any transportation. Last year, Catholic Social Services was able to give 31 vehicles statewide to individuals who had no transportation. Some donated cars which may not be safe to drive are sold for parts to get funds to help the poor as well. All donated vehicles (drivable or non-drivable) to Catholic Social Services end up helping those in need.

Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF), in partnership with Lincoln Littles and Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, will host the third annual Lincoln Littles Giving Day on February 12, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The giving day will raise funds for tuition assistance, assisting more children from low-to-moderate income families access to quality early childhood education. Launched in 2019 and inspired by the Prosper Lincoln agenda on Early Childhood, the day has raised $1.3 million to assist more than 200 children from working families.

“My children and I appreciate Catholic Social Services for giving us a car when we didn’t have a ride to store, school, and to work. May God bless Catholic Social Services!”- Vehicle Donation Program recipient

“Access to quality early childcare is essential for our families and critical to Lincoln’s future,” said Barbara Bartle, president of the Lincoln Community Foundation. “Lincoln has come together for the past two years to support Lincoln Littles giving day. With the impact of the pandemic this year, the need is even greater.”

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is a nonprofit agency of the Catholic Dioceses of Lincoln that performs works of mercy in response to the call of God. To learn more or donate a vehicle, contact at Michelle Birkel at (402) 327-6235. If you’d like to donate to their car repair fund, visit www.cssisus.org/donate and select Vehicle Repair Fund in the special designation field.

Habitat for Humanity Partners with Thrivent to Help Families Stay in Their Homes Thrivent is awarding Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln a contribution of $6,000 to help families in Lincoln stay in their homes. Thrivent’s donation will allow Habitat to provide mortgage relief to Habitat homeowners who need temporary assistance making their mortgage payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Thrivent’s support, Habitat Lincoln will sustain affordable homeownership costs for more than 180 homeowners served by Habitat Lincoln.

High-quality early childhood experiences enable children to be kindergarten-ready and to develop into successful community citizens. The National Chamber of Commerce Foundation says that quality early childhood education is important for today’s workforce as well as preparing the future workforce.

Individuals and companies are encouraged to support the Lincoln Community Foundation's Lincoln Littles Giving day. Online donations will be accepted from January 12 through 11:59 p.m. on February 12 at LincolnLittles.org. For more information on how local businesses can support the giving day or to become a Lincoln Littles Match Sponsor, contact Diane Mendenhall at (402) 474-2345 / dianem@lcf.org.

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Prior to the spread of the novel coronavirus, more than 18 million households across the U.S. were paying half or more of their income on a place to live. As the pandemic continues to cause job disruption and economic fallout, many households are enduring layoffs, unemployment, and pay cuts. This wage loss has amplified the financial burden on households to maintain essential payments and can result in families having to trade-off between bills, mortgage, or medical care. “Thrivent has been a longtime partner in providing families strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership,” said Josh Hanshaw, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln. “We are grateful for Thrivent’s continued support of homeowners’ financial security for those that are facing tough economic times during the pandemic.” Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln is one of 100 local Habitat organizations across the nation partnering with Thrivent to help families stay in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, Thrivent is donating $750,000 to Habitat for Humanity to assist with mortgage-related relief and prevent foreclosures across the U.S. To learn more about the amazing work Habitat Lincoln is doing in the community, visit lincolnhabitat.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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NONPROFIT NEWS Bridge Behavioral Health Seeks Community Support to Replace 17-Year-old HVAC System

CenterPointe Offering Youth and Family Services from Outpatient Office in Lincoln

The Bridge Behavioral Health recently announced the launc h of a fundraiser to replace their 17-year-old McQuay HVAC system, a large, industrial unit that will require a crane to replace from the roof of the building. The nationally accredited substance-use treatment center, which provides safe passage from addiction to sober living, is seeking community support to help fund the project, with an estimated price tag of $200,000. The Bridge specializes in treatment of alcoholism and drug addition, led by experienced clinicians who create effective, customized treatment programs tailored to each individual.

CenterPointe is pleased to announce that they now are able to offer youth and family services out of their Outpatient office at 1000 S 13th St. in Lincoln. Services include a 24/7 crisis line to support youth and their families, crisis walk-in services, and mobile field response to provide interventions and support to youth and families in their home environments. With enrollment in CenterPointe’s Youth and Family Program, they provide you with access to the following services: comprehensive assessment, individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Outpatient (DBT IOP) for adolescents, parenting classes, family case management, family peer support, medication management, and primary care.

The Bridge Behavioral Health has served as an essential part of the Lincoln community’s safety net since 1984, connecting people suffering from addiction and related mental-health issues with support and treatment. The Bridge provides caring substance-use, trauma, and mental-health treatment services. The individuals seeking safe passage from addition to sober living find it at The Bridge through a variety of support and treatment options, including medically supervised detoxification, outpatient and residential treatment, and a variety of recovery support services. If you are interested is donating to the HVAC fundraising campaign or have questions about the facility or fundraiser, contact Brianna Georgeson at bgeorgeson@thebridgenebraska. org or call (402) 477-3951. For details about The Bridge, visit thebridgenebraska.org.

CenterPointe is a nonprofit organization that started in 1973, offering Lincoln and Omaha a broad continuum of care for the disadvantaged, individuals facing homelessness and those with mental health challenges. Today, CenterPointe offers nearly 40 programs in the areas of crisis response, treatment, rehabilitation, housing, and peer support. These programs have helped countless men, women, teens, and veterans find their footing again and make strides toward living a healthier and more fulfilling life. By treating the whole person, CenterPointe has proven that mental health, physical health, and addiction can be addressed together, in real time, and provide a lasting recovery. CenterPointe’s mission is to help those they serve get better, sooner, for longer. To learn more or donate to the cause, call (402) 475-8717, email development@ centerpointe.org, or visit centerpointe.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS People’s City Mission Announces Winter Coat Drive Throughout Month of January Pe o p l e ’s C i t y M i s s i o n (PCM) recently announced the launch of a winter coat drive throughout the month of January, as temperatures drop, because the need is great for many people in Lincoln who don’t have adequate clothing to navigate the colder weather. The Mission is asking folks in the community to check their closets for any gently used coats, gloves, and hats that they don’t need and take them to the Help Center, located at 6800 P St. (right behind Marcus East Park Cinema) or to one of the Toss Boxes around town. Your support of this drive can make a meaningful difference in the lives of people in our community who are struggling financially. In 2019, PCM sheltered nearly 80% of Lincoln’s homeless and provided food, clothing, and household goods to more than 22,000 individuals struggling in poverty. Most of the funding continues to come from public giving in the community, and more than 90% of the public contributions go directly to the needs of homeless and impoverished people. People’s City Mission was started in 1907 by local churches, offering food and shelter for transient and impoverished men, women, and children. In 1987, PCM moved to their current location and now houses 350 men, women, and children nightly in their emergency shelters and the Curtis Center transitional housing program. For more information or to find Toss Box locations, please visit pcmlincoln.org/donate or call (402) 475-1303.

Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year from all of us at AR Solutions! We would like to thank our clients for their continued business and our staff for their hard work! We value their patience as we navigate these uncharted times. 402-817-3929 |arsolutionsinc.com

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Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Names 2021 Board of Directors, Executive Committee The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM)—representing more than 650 nonprofit organizations in Nebraska and western Iowa—announced its Board of Directors for 2021, including the Executive Committee, as well as new board members and returning ones. The NAM Board of Directors is responsible for providing overall leadership and strategic direction to ensure that NAM continues to strengthen the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life in the region. Serving on the Executive Committee for the coming year are: • President – Michelle Zych, Women’s Fund of Omaha • Past President – John Levy, William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation • President-Elect – Jaymes Sime, MICAH House • Secretary – Ralph Kellogg, Lutheran Family Services • Treasurer – Kerri Sanchez, The Sherwood Foundation New board members include Liz Codina, Peter Kiewit Foundation; Shaun Ilahi, Seventy-Five North; and Marysz Rames, Ph.D., Wayne State College. Returning board members include Victoria Grasso, The Cooper Foundation; Anne Herman, AVA Insights; Osuman Issaka, The Simple Foundation; Jerry O’Doherty, Seim Johnson; Carolina Padilla, Intercultural Senior Center; Bryan Schneider, D.A. Davidson; Jennifer Skala, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation; Rob Trebilcock, Bank of the West; and Cammy Watkins, Inclusive Communities. The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is recognized as the state nonprofit association in Nebraska by the National Council of Nonprofits, the nation’s largest network of nonprofits. For more information, visit nonprofitam.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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NONPROFIT NEWS Goodwill to Host Electronic Drive in Conjunction with National Technology Day

Malone Center Distributes Holiday Maternal Wellness Packages to Families

Every year, National Te c h n o l o gy D ay recognizes past technological achievements and looks forward to the future of technology. Celebrate by donating electronics of any brand and any condition to Goodwill’s Electronics Drive on January 9 from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4555 Vine St. in Lincoln. Through partnering with Dell and participating in the Dell Reconnect Program, Goodwill gives used electronics the power to create jobs. Revenue from donations helps to support Goodwill’s important mission of putting people to work. Donated items will be either resold, refurbished, or recycled. If the item should be recycled, it will go through Dell’s recycling process. Systems will be broken down into individual parts and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Even the smallest donations have the ability to make a large impact. In 2019, Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska diverted 260,210 pounds of electronics from the local landfill. Donated equipment has value—sometimes as a whole system, sometimes as parts and sometimes as raw materials such as metals, plastics, and glass. Donors receive a receipt for tax purposes, help protect the environment, and benefit the community all at the same time. Support the Goodwill and their belief that technology wasn’t made for landfills; it was made to change people’s lives. To learn more on how to donate, visit www.lincolngoodwill.org.

Thanks to the donations of local companies and generous individuals, the Malone Community Center was able to distribute essential maternal supplies to many local mothers and families over the holidays. The care packages were made for families in the Malone Maternal Wellness Program, who the Center helps with childbirth, infant care, postpartum care, breastfeeding, and more. Each family received a care package filled with diapers, a diaper bag, wipes, blankets, hand sanitizer, body wash and lotion, wash cloths, a reusable water bottle, green cleaning supplies, nursing pads, teething toys, books, a bathrobe, laundry detergent, a $250 gift card to Target, and a $250 gift card to Super Saver. Thanks to Spreetail, Victress, Paper Kite, the State of Nebraska Community CARES Grant, and the many individual donors who purchased supplies during their donation drive, many families in Lincoln and surrounding areas were able to receive the care for their infants they may not have received otherwise. The Malone Community Center is a nonprofit that has created and facilitated programs to combat the racial disparities and inequities that exist in our justice, healthcare, and social systems since 1955. The Malone Maternal Wellness Program combats injustice by providing a depth of resources so families can make empowered and informed decisions throughout their birthing journey. To learn more or to donate, call (402) 474-1110 or visit malonecenter.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Domesti-PUPS Announces Canine Obedience Classes to Begin January 10

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Domesti-PUPS will begin their five* week obedience training classes on January 10. The classes: Puppy month Manners, Beginning Obedience and First 3 months @ $4.95/mo. with installation cost of $149; after Intermediate Obedience, will be held introductory period, rental is $23/mo. at the Domesti-Pups training center at 141 Harwood Court in Lincoln every Shop and compare at ilovemywater.com Sunday afternoon from January 10 iLoveMyWater.com to February 7. Reservations for a five-week class is $129 plus tax. TEMS WAT E R S OF N E R S · DRINKING SYS Domesti-PUPS asks that owners bring their pup on a six-foot standard TE leash (no flexi-leashes, please), small soft treats, and a copy of vaccination records for Bordatella, Distemper Parvo, and Rabies if + CONCRETE WORK available. Spots fill up quickly, so reserve your spot on the website as soon as possible! + DRAIN TILE 2020AquaSystems_3_68x2_41.indd 1 + WATERPROOFING For 20 years, Lincoln-based Domesti-PUPS has been training assistance dogs for persons with disabilities, providing pet therapy + SNOW REMOVAL programs, classroom dogs, education programs, and rescue-dog + EPOXY FLOORING training/adoption programs. To sign your dog up for a class or to learn more, call (402) 465-4201 or visit domesti-pups.org.

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Tabitha Offers a Variety of Support Groups in January Tabitha, Nebraska’s industryleading senior care provider, is offering a variety of support groups in Lincoln and Lancaster County throughout January. Online grief and support groups are open to anyone in the community and are a great way to find support while sharing common experiences and coping tips in the safety and comfort of your home. Your loved one did not have to be with Tabitha. Participation is free, please register online at Tabitha.org/Hospice/Bereavement. • “Grieving Gracefully Book Club,” held every second and fourth Tuesday, January 12 and 26, 12–1 p.m. The support group will read and discuss, Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman, a book that focuses on moving through grief with faith. For questions, please call Juanita Steenbakkers at (402) 416-7365. • “Growing Through Grief Support Group,” held every Tuesday beginning January 19, 3 p.m. This six-week support group is dedicated for those who recently lost a loved one. Share your story with others who are going through a common experience while receiving helpful tips to successfully move through the grief journey. For questions, please call Abby Henre at (402) 486-8546. • “HOPE Book Club,” held every first and third Thursday beginning January 21, 10–11 a.m. The support group will read and discuss The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, a memoir of her first year after her husband’s death. For questions, please call Tabitha Hoffman at (402) 362-7739. • “Caregiver Support Group,” held every Thursday beginning January 21, 2 p.m. This eight-week support group is dedicated for those who are caring for a spouse, parent or other loved one with a serious illness. Each week will cover a different caregiving topic. For questions, please call Juanita Steenbakkers at (402) 416-7365. Tabitha is also offering online hospice volunteer training. Hospice volunteering is a rewarding opportunity that provides companionship, pet therapy, bereavement support, respite care, and office and clerical support while providing comfort and joy to Tabitha clients and families. For questions or to learn more, visit Tabitha.org or contact Rae Dixon, Tabitha Hospice volunteer coordinator, at (402) 486-8577 / Rae.Dixon@Tabitha.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Nebraska Safety Council Announces Kick the COVID-19 Goodbye Challenge Join the Nebraska Safety Council for a 19-week weight loss challenge! Have you found yourself struggling to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine during the pandemic? If so, sign up as a company or an individual for the Kick the COVID-19 Goodbye Challenge, running January 19 through May 31, 2021. The company cost is $19 for members (per person); $29 for non-members (per person). Individual sign-up on NESC website is $29. There are several awards, prizes, and incentives included when you participate in this challenge. It is a great way to hold yourself accountable while also supporting others throughout the 19-week period. You will have access to the following benefits and more: • Access to a closed Facebook group with weekly FAQ's, access to multiple resources, support from other participants, and more • Weekly leaderboard updates for the top 10 participants • Weekly badges for each participant that has lost at least one pound • Discounted individual coaching sessions The mission of the Nebraska Safety Council is to provide education and leadership to empower Nebraskans to live safe and healthy. They offer comprehensive programs, training courses, events, and services that are designed to improve employee care at a desk, on the production floor, behind the wheel, and on the job. To learn more or to sign up for a membership today, visit nesafetycouncil.org, call (402) 483-2511, or email nesc@nesafetycouncil.org. Read more about the challenge and sign up online at nebraskasafetycouncil.org. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

NONPROFIT NEWS A Warmer Day Partners with Visionary Youth TeamMates All-Star Nominations Open Until to Distribute Coats and Winter Apparel January 8, National Mentoring Month A Warmer Day, in partnership with Visionary Youth, recently distributed more than 550 coats and thousands of other pieces of winter weather apparel. The distribution event took place at The Malone Center in Lincoln on November 22. Thousands of families lined up to receive warm winter clothing as well as a Thanksgiving meal provided by Visionary Youth. The event was also sponsored by BB Roofing and CIP Apartments & Town Homes. "Zero tax dollars and zero payroll dollars, but over 1,000 pieces of winter apparel distributed to over 500 families in need. That is what A Warmer Day is about... caring volunteers coming together and working hard to do amazing things," said volunteer Executive Director Marilyn Ferguson, who worked tirelessly to make this event possible. A Warmer Day is an all-volunteer Nebraska charity whose mission is to provide coats and winter weather apparel to those in need. If you wish to contribute to their mission, you can become a member for as little as $10 per month on their website which is www.awarmerday.org.Since A Warmer Day has no payroll, all contributions go directly to their mission to serve those in need. For more information, email info@awarmerday. org or call (402) 261-0096.

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TeamMates Mentoring is now accepting nominations for the following awards: Mentor of the Year, TeamMates Local Program of the Year, and Corporate Partner of the Year. Nominations will close on January 8. As this month is National Mentoring Month, TeamMates wants to recognize the amazing mentors, communities, and corporations that have embraced the culture of mentoring throughout Nebraska. Send in your nominations by filling out an easy form on the TeamMates central office website teammates.org. TeamMates provides support through your mentoring journey. From helpful toolkits and in-school coordinators to scholarships for mentees, they do all they can to make you and your mentee feel comfortable during your mentoring relationship. Mentoring can create a ripple effect through the generations. Since 1991, TeamMates has seen almost 100 mentees pay their experience forward by becoming mentors. Mentors and mentees meet once a week and focus on building a long-term relationship that ideally lasts until the mentee graduates from high school. Virtual mentoring via Zoom is also available at this time. To learn more about TeamMates in Lincoln, visit LincolnTeamMates. org or call (402) 436-1990.

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NONPROFIT NEWS JDRF Announces Virtual Talks and Teen Sessions to Connect Diabetes Community The Nebraska/ Iowa c hapter of JDRF announced that its next Virtual Talk is on tap for 7-8 p.m. on January 12, aimed at connecting the type 1 diabetes community. Also on a virtual platform, the Empower1 JDRF Teen Virtual Talk is scheduled for 7-8 p.m. on January 14, aimed at connecting the adolescent (middle- and high-school aged) type 1 diabetes community. The February Virtual Talk is scheduled for February 9, and the Empower1 Teen Virtual Talk is set for February 11. JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. JDRF was founded in 1970, and the local chapter currently serves Nebraska and Iowa. The chapter has sustained an impressive track record in community outreach, public awareness, advocating for government action to provide a support structure for our community, and raising funds for type 1 diabetes research. Through their advocacy and research leadership, JDRF influences and attracts other to support funding for cures and improving lives. For every dollar that JDRF puts toward research, they pull in $2.50 more. For more information or to register for virtual events, visit jdrf.org/nebraskaiowa, and follow them on social media (@jdrfNebraskaSWIowa).

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CASA for Lancaster County New Volunteer Training to Begin January 19 If your New Year's resolution is to become more selfless through volunteering, consider joining CASA for Lancaster County on their mission to ensure that the needs and interests of abused or neglected children are being met. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is holding a new volunteer training once a week for five weeks on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m., in addition to a shorter orientation session on Tuesday, January 19. All sessions will be held at CASA for Lancaster County, 1141 H St., STE C (3rd floor). Due to COVID, the in-person sessions may be held via Zoom depending on conditions. To be a CASA volunteer means you are a trained citizen appointed by a Juvenile Court Judge and assigned to dependent and/or delinquent (truant or ungovernable) children who are under the Juvenile Court’s jurisdiction. You will serve as an arm of the Juvenile Court as researcher, monitor, and child advocate. This means interviewing children, parents, foster parents, and any other concerned parties or relatives; conferring with counselors, teachers, social workers, etc. involved with the case; and submitting thorough, independent, written reports to the Court with copies to all parties prior to court hearings. Time commitment is 4–10 hours a month. Other requirements and responsibilities can be found on the website. CASA for Lancaster County provides a voice for abused and neglected children in the court system so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes. CASA volunteers experience a sense of worth and accomplishment from their work and gain experience that helps them grow both personally and professionally. To learn more, visit www.casa4lancaster.org or call (402) 474-5161 with any questions about volunteering. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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NONPROFIT NEWS Lincoln Literacy Announces Spring Online Classes for 2021 will Begin January 10

Fresh Start Holds Holiday Party for Residents, All Women Get Adopted to Receive Presents

Lincoln Literacy announced an extensive spring online class schedule, with the first classes starting on Sunday, January 10. These opportunities aim to assist people of all cultures and strengthen our community by teaching them English language and literacy skills. Classes on the schedule for spring 2021 include citizenship; English conversation; computer literacy, Spanish/English, Ukrainian/English, Vietnamese/ English, Arabic/English, all levels of beginner to advanced English classes, and more. Lincoln Literacy’s efforts involve more than 300 trained volunteers; more than 20 community partners, including businesses, churches, and schools; more than 50 free English classes per week for children as young as 2 and adults as old as 78; and hundreds of individual tutoring matches. The community-wide goals are to help local businesses retain workers; help parents prepare for, apply for, and find jobs; and give kids a chance to succeed in school. Lincoln Literacy serves more than 1,000 students a year, at an annual cost of about $400 per person, all raised through fundraisers and partnerships. While the online classes are free, students must register at lincolnliteracy.org. Lincoln Literacy is a multi-award-winning charitable provider of language and literacy services. With support from national funders, as well as local funders including the Woods Charitable Fund, the Cooper Foundation, and the Lincoln Community Foundation, they have built a free educational partnership known as English Language & Literacy Academy (ELLA). For more information, visit lincolnliteracy.org or call (402) 476-7323.

Fresh Start organized a holiday party on December 17 for the 14 women in their residential housing and goals program, in addition to the six women receiving community support through the organization. In true Christmas miracle fashion, every single one of these women plus their children—for a total of 29—were adopted as a part of Fresh Start’s Adopt a Resident Program, ensuring they got to experience the magic of opening a gift on Christmas. Generosity from community members and businesses poured out in a big way. Gift baskets were made up of donations from Nebraska Pork Producers, Omaha Steaks, Elevate Church–Lincoln, First-Plymouth Church, Food is Love Omaha, Random Acts of Kindness Groups, Quilters Guild and many individuals. In addition, individual donors surprised Fresh Start residents with $100 VISA and Target gift cards. The women at Fresh Start were in tears, remarking that they never received this type of love and support in their own homes.

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The party also incorporated a white elephant exchange among the residents, a fun game that allowed them to share Christmas stories and traditions, and a lot of delicious food. It was a blessed time together as a Fresh Start family. Fresh Start in a Lincoln nonprofit that helps women identify strengths and actively work on goals to overcome barriers to economic stability. Fresh Start offers safe housing, skill development, and supportive services. For more information or to make a donation, please visit freshstarthome.org or call (402) 475-7777. Questions can be directed to Audrey Back at (402) 432-3360 / audreyb@freshstarthome.org.

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People First Group of Lincoln Wins 2020 Chapter of the Year in State of Nebraska The People First group of Lincoln won the 2020 Chapter of the Year award for the state of Nebraska. People First of Lincoln comprises young adults with disabilities who are learning self-advocacy skills to stand up for their own rights. The group is directed by people over 18 with disabilities who are voted into office by the membership, and they work closely with Arc of Lincoln Executive Director Michelle Johnson, who volunteers as the advisor. At People First meetings—currently on Zoom at 10:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month—members discuss their concerns about issues related to people with disabilities and share their success stories, which empower others to achieve their goals. People First of Lincoln is one of 12 chapters that operate under People First of Nebraska, Inc., which supports local advocacy by organizing new chapters across the state and building the capacity for all chapters through advocacy and advisor training, leadership experiences, micro-grants, and resources to support travel and statewide participation. People over 18 without disabilities also are welcome to join to learn to be better advocates in the community. Members of People First of Lincoln volunteer their time to the group to tell our elected officials what is important to them and work with families, services providers, and other organizations to build the lives they want. For more information or to inquire about joining People First of Lincoln, visit peoplefirstnebraska.com/Lincoln or contact Michelle at director@arclincoln.org or (402) 421-8866.

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Friendship Home Presented with Outstanding Pandemic Response Award Friendship Home was recognized with the Outstanding Pandemic Response Award during the Lincoln Homeless Coalition’s 21st Annual Hunger and Homelessness Recognition Event on November 20, 2020. During the event, awards were presented to organizations and individuals that undertake extraordinary efforts to help those experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty in the Lincoln area. Friendship Home is privileged to be one of the coordinated entry partners to be honored for their collaborative effort to help end homelessness, especially during COVID. In addition to the group award, Friendship Home Case Manager Precious (last name withheld) was recognized individually for her dutiful hard work, creativity, and commitment to serving survivors of domestic violence and connecting them to safe, stable housing options. Friendship Home is thankful to the Lincoln Homeless Coalition for recognizing their team’s efforts in helping Lincoln and is honored to continue working for Lincoln’s underserved and homeless for years to come. Friendship Home provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, safety planning, and crisis services to victims of domestic violence and their children. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call Friendship Home’s 24/7 crisis line at (402) 437-9302. To learn more about Friendship Home or to donate to help continue to empower freedom from domestic violence, visit friendshiphome.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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NONPROFIT NEWS HopeSpoke to Help Even More People with DHHS CARES Response and Recovery Grant

Bright Lights Opens Summer 2021 Camp Registration Early, February 27

During the last fiscal year, HopeSpoke was able to provide near ly 1,800 individuals with crucial behavioral and mental health services. In addition, during 2020, thanks to the DHHS CARES Response and Recovery Grant, HopeSpoke was able to provide additional help to hundreds of struggling families. The grant helped the Lincoln nonprofit deliver much-needed emergency responses to their clients and other community members, in addition to making life easier for their agency and staff. The grant allowed the HopeSpoke staff, board, and volunteers to create and distribute COVID-19 Prevention Kits, which included hand sanitizers, wipes, soap, a thermometer, and other items necessary to help families stay safe during the pandemic; Safe at Home Kits, which included games and cards for families to spend quality time together while staying at home; and Hygiene Kits for individuals and families to take care of themselves. The CARES funding also helped HopeSpoke create individual craft/ therapy bags for children and youth to use when they participate in therapy through their school program. This year, HopeSpoke also developed a psycho-educational video series through Outpatient Services and shared short videos that delivered information about anxiety in children, how to cope with the pandemic, and so much more. HopeSpoke has been inspiring healthy futures for children and their families through comprehensive behavioral and mental health services for more than 70 years. For more information about HopeSpoke services or to make a donation, call (402) 475-7666 or visit hopespoke.org.

Registration for Bright Lights Summer 2021 camps is opening up earlier this year Saturday, February 27, at 8 a.m. online at BrightLights.org. This year marks Bright Lights 35th summer of offering hands-on learning experiences to K–8th grade students. Their camps are a great way for elementary and middle school students to maximize the fun of summer vacation while secretly allowing parents to know their children are avoiding learning loss. These extra learning opportunities are especially important for students this year. Bright Lights camps will take place during the following five weeks: June 7–11; June 14–18 (International Week at Lux Middle School); June 21–25; June 28–July 2; and July 12–16. The Bright Lights camp schedule—listing out the specific half-day and full-day camp topics they are offering—will be available at BrightLights.org by mid-February. Bright Lights has also set Holmes Elementary as the main site for their camps (others take place at various community sites around Lincoln) with Before Care and Lunch Care services available at select sites. More details on these services can be found at BrightLights.org. For more information on the Bright Lights summer program— including how older students can volunteer in their Camp Assistant program—please visit BrightLights.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS LuLu’s on N Partner Loaves and Fishes to Provide Showers, Laundry to Homeless Loaves and Fishes, the nonprofit partner of LuLu’s on N, has received a grant from the Nebraska United Methodist Foundation that will allow them to create a new program to provide free showers and laundry services to Lincoln’s homeless population. The showers will be offered at Saint Paul United Methodist Church two days per week, and talks are in process for a downtown laundry facility. LuLu’s is proud to continue and expand their partnership with Saint Paul UMC and is grateful that this new program will be helpful to the poor and underprivileged in Lincoln. Loaves and Fishes is a nonprofit that strives to walk alongside downtown Lincoln’s homeless population, offering them food, support, and basic hygiene items. LuLu’s on N is a walk-up restaurant and full-service caterer in downtown Lincoln. LuLu’s takes care of all your holiday baking needs for you, in addition to providing catering for groups of anywhere from two to 200. Every purchase made directly supports their Loaves and Fishes mission to feed the hungry in Lincoln. They provide community meals at Saint Paul United Methodist Church from 1:30 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. To place an order at LuLu’s or to donate to their cause, call (531) 500-5579, email lulusonnst@gmail.com, or visit lulusonn.com.

American Heart Association to Celebrate National Wear Red Day® February 5 The American Heart Association, together with its Go Red for Women movement, are asking you to wear red and give to support Go Red for Women on National Wear Red Day®: Friday, Febr uary 5, 2021. February also happens to be American Heart Month. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, taking more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Someone you know and love may be affected—at any age. Heart disease and stroke claim the lives of one in three women—a third of our mothers, sisters and friends. It’s time to change this fact. That’s why the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, nationally sponsored by CVS Health, encourages you to show your support by wearing red and giving on February 5 to help raise awareness and save lives from heart disease. Here’s how you can join in support of women’s health: • Wear red to raise awareness about heart disease. You can get the iconic Red Dress Pin at ShopHeart.org. • Make a donation to support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association at WearRedDay.org • Join the conversation by using #LincolnGoesRed on social media. While nearly 80%of cardiac events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes, cardiovascular diseases continue to be a woman’s greatest health threat. To treat, beat, and prevent heart disease and stroke, women should understand family health history, know their five key personal health numbers to help determine risk, and make healthy behavior changes like moving more, eating smart and managing blood pressure. The American Heart Association is the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives. Learn more online at heart.org/Lincoln. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Community Action Thanks Community for Support in 2020 Community Action is thankful to the Lincoln community for providing assistance to local families throughout the pandemic but reminds that the fight is far from over. In the months since March, local need for Community Action’s poverty-fighting services has greatly increased: The pandemic has put more people than ever before in economic jeopardy, and Community Action has seen need increase this year. “Many of the individuals seeking support this past year did so for the very first time in their lives,” said Community Action Executive Director Vi See. “The past year has been difficult for many who never thought they would face economic uncertainty… Without the support of our community, it would have been impossible to keep up.” Generous individuals and groups from across Lincoln have helped Community Action provide many struggling families with their basic needs this year, including formula, diapers, and educational services; nightly meal services at Community Action’s soup kitchen; toys and gifts for children who otherwise would not have received presents during the holidays; and much more. Continued community support remains critical to helping families meet their basic needs in 2021. Community Action empowers people living in poverty to reach economic stability. To learn more or donate to help struggling local families, visit communityactionatwork.org or call (402) 471-4515.

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NONPROFIT NEWS

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DreamCatchers Ride Now Brings Horses to People in Need of Emotional Support DreamCatchers Ride, Inc. has expanded their services to include bringing horses to those who are in need of companionship or emotional support. Their main focus is connecting with retirement communities, rehabilitation facilities, after-school and/ or mentoring programs, mental health professionals, and civic organizations, to name a few. Through this new offering, DreamCatchers will bring one or two horses for a visit to your location (outdoor options preferred, horses can't be housebroken!). They will require access for a truck and trailer, and ask that anyone participating wears a mask—everyone is encouraged to spend hands-on time with the horse(s), though! There will not be any riding at these events. DreamCatchers Ride, Inc. provides a safe place where, through learning about equine companionship and care, people can be comfortable and able to express themselves. For more information about programs, visit dreamcatchersride.org, contact Executive Director Jodi Freeman at (402) 679-3996 / Jodi@ dreamcatchersride.org, or follow them—and donate!—on Facebook (@dreamcatchersride).

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CBMC Lincoln Lincoln Announces Exciting Initiatives for 2021 CBMC Lincoln offers a powerful set of processes and tools for personal, professional, and spiritual growth for men in the workplace. They plan to expand these areas in 2021 and also help men deal with the “new abnormal” in family, work, and faith. At the core of CBMC’s ministry is a discipleship process that offers one-onone mentoring where two men come together to study God’s word, pray, and then apply it to life and business. This is highly relational and involves tremendous personal growth. Connect3 Teams provide an environment where men can connect to God, connect to one another, and connect to the mission to bring biblical principles and the Gospel into the workplace. Teams of five to eight men enable them to invest in each other’s lives by providing support, accountability and prayer for one another. Another strong element of the CBMC Lincoln organization is Peer Advisory Groups. They consist of 8 to 12 men who are business owners, senior leaders or professionals. Their purpose is to provide Godly counsel, mutual support, accountability, as well as insights and solutions to business and life challenges. Their recently launched Young Professionals (YP) groups are designed specifically for men ages 22 to 40. They help young men navigate the challenges, pressures, and priorities of family, business and faith. YP groups offer a close-knit community where men can grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. Events in 2021 will include Business Connection luncheons, Bible studies, their Annual Golf Classic, a workshop on worldviews and several lunch and learn events. CBMC Lincoln is part of a global ministry that encourages men toward spiritual development, personal integrity, principled leadership, and a desire to impact others positively. To learn more about CBMC Lincoln and 2021 activities, call (402) 540-1093 or connect with them on Facebook (@cbmclincolnne) or visit Lincoln.cbmc.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Lighthouse Celebrates 30 Years Over the past 30 years, Lighthouse has helped thousands of middle and high school students become successful adults by providing them with a safe, loving environment where they could come after school. Programs like mentoring, tutoring and academic support, activities, and nutritious snacks and meals have been the foundation that has made it possible for Lighthouse students to thrive. To celebrate, a 30th Anniversary Gala was planned for September of 2020, but the organization decided to postpone it to this year in response to the pandemic (stay tuned for the date to be announced!). Lighthouse was created in 1990 by Peter and Maureen Allman and Jim Perry. The Allmans are still involved with the organization today. After visiting a similar facility in New York City called The Covenant House in the late 1980s, Pete Allman was told by several Lincoln community members that a safe place for teens was needed in Lincoln. Woods Charitable Fund gave the initial funding for a needs assessment and upon completion, the organization set up in the Atwood House at 17th and G Streets. One year later, they moved to a location across from the current site at 26th and N Streets. In 2008, the new Lighthouse building was constructed after a capital campaign. Since the early days, the focus has been on education and high school graduation, along with providing recreation or socialization. Today, Bill Michener leads that charge as executive director. Once a high school dropout and recipient of Lighthouse’s services, Michener was hired to a part-time position. He now holds a master’s degree in counseling and has served as the director since 2006. Lighthouse proudly points to a 95% high school graduation rate among students who frequent the after-school program. To learn more about the programs/resources available, visit lincolnlighthouse. org or call (402) 475-3220. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 49

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NONPROFIT NEWS Voices of Hope Hosts Virtual 4.5K Run to Celebrate 45-Year Anniversary

DSAF Hosts Drive-Thru Holiday Party with Santa, Sponsors Bring Holiday Cheer

To celebrate 45 amazing years, Voices of Hope hosted its first-ever Virtual 4.5K Run the week of October 4–10. Participants posted photos of their experience on social media and tagged Voices of Hope with the hashtag #voh45years to be entered in a contest for prizes. Voices of Hope began in 1975 when the Lincoln Coalition against Rape, a campus/community group, organized and began to provide a crisis line and support services for victims of sexual assault. Before long, the group also began providing services for victims of domestic violence. In 1976, the organization became part of Family Services Association and became known as the Rape/Spouse Abuse Crisis Center. In 1989, it incorporated as an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation in order to more exclusively focus on the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, and related forms of abuse such as incest, stalking, and harassment. In 1992, the present facility at 2545 N St. was purchased. In 2007, the Rape/Spouse Abuse Crisis Center officially changed its name to Voices of Hope. Over the years, Voices of Hope has continued to grow with the help of generous donors and volunteers that make their mission possible and vision reachable. To learn more, visit www.voicesofhopelincoln.org or contact (402) 476-2110 / info@voicesofhopelincoln.org.

Down Syndrome Association for Families (DSAF) of Nebraska hosted a Drive-Thru Holiday Party with Santa on December 12 in the Dental Designs parking lot. The event saw over 40 cars, bringing with them 150 people, 75 of whom were children. Each car received a box of Lamar's donuts, Rock 'n' Joe coffee and hot chocolate, cookie decorating kits from Cindy's Cakes, and gift bags for every child with items donated by Culver's, Enable Savings Plan, Runza, Q2, and West Gate Bank. DSAF is thankful to these businesses for helping to bring holiday cheer during these times. "In a year when COVID has taken so much from us, it was nice to be able give back to families raising a child with Down syndrome," said Mary Sweeney, Marketing and Development Director. "Thanks to all who helped DSAF spread some cheer!" The Down Syndrome Association for Families formed in 1995 as a way for parents to network and share the accomplishments of their children. The organization’s mission is to provide support and a positive vision for the future for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, friends, educators, and professionals who share in their lives. To find out about future events, go to dsafnebraska.org/events or contact Mary at (402) 202-0193 / mary@dsafnebraska.org.

Red Cross Accepting Nominations for 2021 Heroes in the Heartland to Honor Locals The American Red Cross is accepting nominations for its 2021 Heroes in the Heartland to award during a virtual event on March 9. Through this program, the Red Cross annually honors a handful of individuals or groups in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area who have done something extraordinary in the last year or who have dedicated their lives to serving others in need. During 2020, so many people have stepped up to help others, and the Red Cross wants to honor these individuals or groups. Following are the categories of Heroes in the Heartland in which you can nominate: • Call to Action – Presented to an individual who, by circumstances beyond their control, found themselves in a challenging situation and demonstrated extraordinary courage. • Commitment to Community – Presented to an individual, couple, group, or organization that has made a tremendous impact on the community through their volunteerism, philanthropy, service to others, or example. • Disaster Relief – Presented to an individual or organization who has served an important role in disaster relief in our community. • Gift of Life – Presented to an individual, couple, group, or organization that supports the lifesaving mission through personal blood or platelet donations or inspiring others to give blood or platelets. • Good Samaritan – Presented to an individual who is considered a hero because of their unselfish devotion and concern for the welfare of others. • Lifetime Hero – Presented to an individual who inspires others by their example. This individual has overcome hardship, risen above challenges, or dedicated their life to serving others. • Public Servant Hero – Presented to an individual who, in the line of duty (police, fire, military, medical, etc.) went above and beyond the call. Each day, the American Red Cross is active in the community, serving those in need. To nominate a Hero in the Heartland, visit redcross.org/ local/Nebraska and click on “2021 Heroes in the Heartland” under the About Us tab. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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HEALTH NEWS Nebraska Medicine Seek Acute Myeloid Angels Among Us Provides Record Support Leukemia Patients for Multi-Center Drug Trial for Childhood Cancer Amid Global Pandemic The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine are seeking patients suffering from relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to partake in a multicenter clinical trial to discover new treatments for the disease. Dr. Vijaya Bhatt, MBBS, an associate professor for and the medical director of the leukemia program in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, is leading the study with patients at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Dr. Bhatt and his team are evaluating whether the drugs—Gemtuzumab and Venetoclax— can kill leukemia stem cells. The phase I study will investigate the maximum safe and tolerated dose for this promising, new combination therapy. The study is open to patients 18-75 years of age who, at the time of recruitment, have had AML relapse or have not responded to treatment. In addition to patients at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the University of Illinois Health, the study is open to patients at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. The mission of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine is to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities. To learn more about the acute myeloid leukemia study, contact (402) 836-9171 / amberley.proctor@unmc.edu or visit net.unmc.edu/ ctsearch/study.php?118-20.

Amid a year of challenges that nobody could have expected, Angels Among Us provided a record $500,000 in support to more than 120 childhoodcancer families in 2020. With a need for financial support that is greater than ever, Angels Among Us answered the call to help families stay focused on their sick children and not have to worry about how to make ends meet financially in the meantime. The organization covers things such as mortgage, rent, utilities, car payments, medical bills, and other critical expenses for the entire length of a child’s treatment plan, ranging from six months to 36 months. During the last five years, Angels Among Us has increased their support to these families exponentially, as 70-90 Nebraska families each year learn that their child has cancer. In fact, Nebraska ranks No. 1 out of the 12 Midwestern states for the number of childhood-cancer cases and the need is expected to continue growing in 2021 and beyond. Angels Among Us is a Nebraska nonprofit that provides financial and emotional support to families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. Any family living in or being treated in Nebraska is eligible to apply for financial assistance with mortgage, rent, and other expenses. To make a donation or for more information about ways to make an impact for these families in need, visit myangelsamongus. org or contact Aly Theilen at alyssa@myangelsamongus.org.

Family Service WIC to Include Similac Brand Formulas in Infant Food Packages As of January 1, Family Ser vice WIC, locally and nationwide, will be contracting with Similac Brand to include Similac Brand Formulas in their infant food packages. For at least 15 years, WIC has contracted with Enfamil to provide formula in infant packages. Family Service WIC has approximately 280 infants on formula in a given month. Staff has worked hard to contact all clients who this will affect, provide extra education related to the transition, and change food package benefits for each of those clients, all within about 60 days’ notice. Any organizations that also work with the WIC (women, infants, children) population may find this important as they provide education and community resources to similar clients. It’s important for other organizations that may be working with WIC clientele to be aware of the change so they are providing accurate information to clients (hospitals, clinics, pediatrician offices, early childhood education agencies). Family Service WIC provides healthy foods at no cost to eligible participants in order to help keep pregnant women, infants, children up to age five, breastfeeding moms up to one year, and postpartum moms up to six months, healthy. To be eligible for WIC, a person must meet one of the above requirements, have identification, and proof of address and income. (See income guidelines: dhhs. ne.gov/Pages/WIC-About.aspx.) Individuals who participate in other programs such as SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) may automatically be income-eligible for WIC. To learn more, visit familyservicelincoln. org/wic-women-infants-children, visit the Facebook page (@ FamilyServiceWIC), or contact Kayla Abel, MS, RD, LMNT at (402) 904-5564 / kabel@familyservicelincoln.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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HEALTH NEWS JDRF Launches First Mass Public Screening Program for Early Stage Type 1 Diabetes

CBD American Shaman Selling New Year, New You Sampler Package for CBD Beginners

Thanks to JDRF, anyone who wants to get tested for type 1 diabetes now can do so at an affordable price. On the heels of National Diabetes Awareness Month, JDRF—the leading global funder of type 1 diabetes (T1D)—launched a groundbreaking screening initiative for T1D called T1Detect. Designed to make early detection of type 1 diabetes easier and more accessible to a broad population, the cost is just $50 for the test, but financial assistance is available to bring that cost down to $10. The T1Detect initiative is supported by founding sponsor Provention Bio, a biopharmaceutical company focused on intercepting and preventing autoimmune disease.

CBD American Shaman is selling their New Year, New You sampler package at all three locations for people who are new to or curious about CBD products! The package will include three 5ml bottles of water soluble CBGo, CBD, and CBNight, in addition to a Topical Cream Packet. This affordable sampler pack is perfect for those who want to experience first-hand everything CBD can do: the CBGo is a quick pick-me-up that’ll increase your alertness without the jittery feeling caffeine can bring; the CBD reduces inflammation and muscle soreness from exercise, stress, or anxiety; and the CBNight is a natural way to help your body fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer. The Topical Cream Packet targets muscle soreness at the site and works quickly. CBD American Shaman also gives free samples at all of its locations. Curious about how a product feels before you buy? An American Shaman representative will gladly let you try small samples of any of their products to help you make an informed decision.

Detecting T1D before symptoms occur is possible through a blood test when people have two or more diabetes-related autoantibodies and blood-sugar levels have become abnormal. Research has proven that 75% of people at this stage will become insulin-dependent within five years, and their lifetime risk of clinical disease approaches 100%. Approximately 95% of people with T1D have no family history, underscoring the necessity for an all-population screening. T1Detect will be available to people of all ages, whether or not they have a family member with type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. JDRF was founded in 1970, and the local chapter currently serves Nebraska and Iowa. For more information about the T1Detect initiative and how to obtain an at-home testing kit, visit jdrf.org/t1detect.

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HEALTH NEWS

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Valiant Fitness Adds New Allegro II Pilates Reformers for Full-Spectrum Fitness Routine Valiant Fitness is excited to announce the addition of new Allegro II Pilates Reformers to their equipment lineup. The Pilates Reformer is a jack of all trades when it comes to fitness apparatus, focusing on everything from posture and stability to balance, core strength, flexibility, range of motion, and more. The Reformer compliments any workout routine and allows you to customize the workout to what your body needs. What’s more, it helps relieve pain caused by physical imbalances, such as lower-back pain. The Valiant team offers both individual and group Pilates sessions, and they are always expanding their class times and offerings. They even offer a complimentary session to help you discover more about the power of Pilates for your fitness regime before jumping in! Located at 5550 S 59th St., STE 13, Valiant Fitness offers personal training, tandem (two-person), small-group (three+ people), and youth training, in addition to the Pilates Reformer. They focus on functional movement, with an eye toward proper form and safety. Their certified personal trainers are available to assist you in reaching all of your goals. For more information about the benefits of the Allegro II Pilates Reformer or other training opportunities, visit valiantfitnessne.com or call (402) 510-9227.

Lincoln Running Co. Moves Classes from YMCA to Downtown Store, Reduces Class Size In order to make their public meetings safer in 2021, the Lincoln Running Co. has moved its usual classes from the downtown YMCA to their store on 1213 Q St. Instead of everyone gathering together for one night, the classes will instead be spread over three nights with a maximum capacity of 25 people on each evening. Don’t worry—the material hasn’t changed! The class sizes are now simply smaller and take place in accordance with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department’s regulations. The speakers will attend classes virtually and the nightly runs will be spread out to make meeting together safer for everyone. The classes will start on Monday, January 18, at 6 p.m. Each week, the Lincoln Running Co. will host a No Drop Run class on Monday for runners of all levels, an Intermediate class on Wednesday for experienced runners, and an Advanced class on Thursdays for highly-experienced, quick runners who want to challenge themselves. All classes will begin a staggered longrun on Saturdays at 6 p.m. The Lincoln Running Co. asks that all runners keep up with ongoing communication, as meetings will be flexible in accordance with any new health regulations or pandemic changes that might come up this year. For more information about Lincoln Running Co. or to hear more about their marathon training classes, call (402) 474-4557 or visit lincrunningcompany.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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RESTAURANT EXPOSÉ

DicCkleayss’sicBOaurtdbeocour e Pit Barbecue, Indoors!

You don’t have to miss out on classic outdoor barbecues just because the cold is keeping everyone inside—we certainly didn’t! In lieu of smoking a rack of ribs outside on the grill, the Strictly Business crew did the next best thing: ordered a catered feast f rom Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. It’s important to note that all of Dickey’s catering, curb-side, and dine-in options are curtailed to COVID-19 guidelines and have options to suit any occasion, including anything from massive buffets to individual box lunches for home or office gatherings. We had to try all of it. The f rigid winter wind and the flurries of snow—not to mention having to stay huddled indoors during quarantine—made us miss summer afternoons and good old-fashioned weekend barbecue. That’s why the enormous feast we had catered to our office hit the spot for all of us—pounds of barbecued meat, buckets of traditional barbecue sides, buttery rolls, and a carrousel of sweet, Southern treats like pecan pie and loaded chocolate chip cookies. We spared no time devouring it. We were impressed with how much we got. The XL Family Pack is perfect for any holiday, family, or business gathering; even with six hungry adults, we had plenty for leftovers for dinner and even lunch the next day. It came with three pounds of meat of our choice, so we picked the Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket, and Jalapeño Cheddar Kielbasa. It also came with three medium sides of our choice, and we went with the brisket-topped Mac & Cheese, Dickey's famous Jalapeño Beans, and their signature Creamed Spinach. We were also given eight rolls and plenty of individually-packaged barbecue sauce. We were blown away. The Kielbasa was just spicy enough for a small kick but not spicy enough to knock you out, and the pork and beef had that excellent, fresh-off-the-grill flavor we’d all been craving. The Mac & Cheese topped with delicious brisket was creamy and flavorful, the Jalapeño Beans were just slightly sweet, not too spicy, and the Creamed Spinach was so good...we were tempted to just drink it! If that wasn’t enough, we also had the Delivery Buffet, which came with two pounds of meat and three more sides. We got the Pork Ribs and the traditional Polish Kielbasa—the pork was sweet, perfectly smoked, with meat that quite literally fell off the bone. The Polish Kielbasa was savory and a great alternative to anyone sensitive to spice. We also got the highly-coveted Onion Straws (everyone was asking for more), Fried Okra (a Southern favorite), and their f resh Creamy Coleslaw (the perfect palate cleanser). There was also the Box Lunch, an individually packaged meal that came with a Classic Sandwich filled with tender Sliced Beef Brisket, potato chips, barbecue sauce, and a yummy Chocolate Chunk Cookie. We noted that these lunches are absolutely perfect for catering to picnics or office parties that follow strict COVID guidelines. By this time, we were all too stuffed to move, but we persevered and washed it down with a few more bites of their sweet Pecan Pie and some swigs of their house-made sweet and sour lemonade—the perfect end to a filling meal. Dickey’s kept our stomachs (and our hearts) full, and we welcome anyone missing big meals with coworkers or family to get Dickey’s catered or delivered to their front porch or office. You’ll not only have delicious, hearty food, but you’ll also have a great time eating it with others.

dickeys.com | 402.423.0038 #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

At UBT, your money has people.

Ryan McConahay Vice President, Customer Service

Family-owned since 1965, Union Bank & Trust has been providing comprehensive banking solutions even longer. We were recently recognized as the #2 bank in the United States by Forbes in its “World’s Best Banks” list, and we attribute this great honor to our dedicated employees, loyal customers, and the amazing communities we are so proud to serve. What changes have you seen in the industry and your company in the past few years?

How did you continue serving your customers through the challenges presented by the pandemic?

As the industry moves deeper into the digital world, we are constantly working to implement new technology to improve customer experiences. Our customers get results and responses more quickly, with increased flexibility. However, we’re ensuring that technology isn’t replacing the human element — something that’s very important to us — but complementing it instead.

The pandemic has been challenging for everyone, and UBT is no exception. Closing lobbies on a large scale and having other departments work from home while remaining full service (and processing PPP loans!) was not only an operational challenge but put extra demands on branch staff. Employees quickly adapted, though, carrying out added cleaning protocols and increased call volume. Much of our business — including some loan closings — was carried out through the branch drive-thrus, and we made many new customer relationships behind masks and plexiglass shields.

What has been your most important achievement as a business? We live and work in the communities we serve, treating our customers like the friends, family, and neighbors that they are. We often have the privilege of being able to be a part of a customer’s journey from opening their first account, buying their first car and home, on into retirement. To be able to accommodate a customer’s very diverse needs every step along the way — that’s a unique position to be in. We love serving the customers who make up our community and make it a priority to invest in the community itself, giving individually and collectively our time, talent, and treasure.

What do you see happening to grow and evolve the UBT customer experience over the next five years? Efficiency! Exciting innovations in technology will result in greater efficiency, which will hopefully further enhance the services we’re providing our customers. This could result in even faster loan decisions, individualized online product suggestions, and a more holistic approach to financial education.

How thankful we are for the urgency and expertise Union Bank showed — I’ve said it to dozens of people and businesses — based on the range of experiences I’ve had pursuing PPP funds. Union Bank was far and away the best, most responsive, most confidence-inspiring, and the fastest approvals and funding. Rieke Metals is blessed to have the relationship with you guys. Can’t think how to adequately express our appreciation in words, but know that it’s massive.

It’s true that we’re all in this together. Messages like this cement that feeling of wanting to do whatever we can to help our customers’ businesses and families thrive.

ubt.com

Member FDIC

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

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STRICTLY BUSINESS UPCOMING EVENTS Last Month Recap Spirits were high at last month's holidaythemed Friends4Lunch hosted at Dickey's Barbecue Pit located at 6125 Apples Way. We all got our meat fix! Some of us went for the deal of the day and others ordered their tried-and-true favorites. Dickey’s new owner, Tunde Bankole, was there to greet our group. He has such fun energy and was so welcoming! It was a mighty fine time. What we really love is the opportunity to explore Lincon's dining options and support our local restaurant industry during COVID. We're very grateful to all our friends who joined us!

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Who do you know?

Rock 'n' Joe Coffee Bar on Wednesday, January 13, 11:30 a.m. Our Strictly Business team would like to invite you to our upcoming Friends4Lunch event at Rock ‘n’ Joe Coffee Bar on January 13. Rock ‘n’ Joe is a national franchise, but is locally owned by Dennis Nienhueser and his family. The restaurant is a cool place for folks who love exceptional coffee, premium food, and quality rock ‘n’ roll music in a trendy and relaxing environment. Their full menu will be open to our group which includes a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, and pastries...not to mention some delicious seasonal items! Rock ‘n’ Joe is located at 5025 Lindberg St.

Tipsy Tina's Taco Cantina on Thursday, January 28, 4 p.m. If you can't make it to Friends4Lunch, or you just want to hang out with the Strictly Business folks a little more this month, please join us for after-hour drinks at Tipsy Tina's Taco Cantina in the Haymarket. We will be there on Thursday, January 28, from 4 p.m. on. Stop by anytime! Tipsy Tina's is a new bar and eatery, and it's claim to fame is that it has over 140 tequilas! There are many deliciously crafted cocktails on the menu, along with addictive chips and dip options. It'll be a fun time, so we hope you, your friends, coworkers, professional contacts, etc. can make to this laid-back networking opportunity. RSVP is encouraged for these events. Please let the Strictly Business team know if you plan to attend by calling (402) 466-3330, emailing editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com, or marking yourself as “Going” on the Facebook event pages. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

It’s not what you know,

It’s who you know,

and who knows you! Through print, online, social media, and networking, Strictly Business connects you to who you want to know.

402.466.3330 | www.Strictly-Business.com JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Roofers You Can Trust, Building Roofs that Last We’re Nebraskans, and that means our homes are constantly being hit with rain, snow, hail, and wind during any given time of the year. Like our people, Nebraskan homes are built to be strong, sturdy— to survive the elements and any surprise the world throws at it. But still, like anything (or anyone), damage can happen, and our homes can wear down and give way to storm damage—or regular wear that comes with age. When that happens, Xcel Roofing is there for you. Xcel has been serving Nebraskan residential and commercial communities since 1990, working rain and shine to make sure you and your family is protected, safe, warm, and dry with a strong, sturdy roof over your heads. Co-owners Jim Harding and Matt Preister feel that while they are in the roofing and siding business, their number one priority is helping people, developing relationships, and being directly involved in building our community to be stronger and more connected. “There are too many of our competitors and too many storm chasers out there that take advantage of people who have just suffered a loss. We feel this when we rise to our professionalism and help,” Co-owner Matt Preister said. “We hire professionals who educate and give an extensive presentation taking the customer through the entire process and giving them the best product, service, and warranty that is offered in our industry. That is what makes us different!”

It’s true: Xcel Roofing offers a range of different services for both their residential and their commercial customers, ensuring they’re educated about each option. Not only will Xcel replace your home’s roof, but they will also replace the siding, gutters, windows, and improve your home’s insulation and ventilation. Dealing with an unexpected expense? Xcel Roofing offers a multitude of financing options, including a deferred payment plan and interest-free financing. They offer free roof inspections and will even do them virtually to protect you against COVID-19. Selling your home? Xcel will inspect your new listing, free of charge. It’s for these services that Xcel Roofing has been nationally recognized, both for their dedication to their customers and for their excellent work. They have an A+ rating and are a 2018 Integrity Award Winner with the Better Business Bureau. They’ve earned a Platinum Preferred Contractor status with Owens Corning, who has also awarded Xcel with a 2019 Platinum Award for Community Impact. These are but a few of the awards and recognitions Xcel has received for their roofing and siding services, but they consider their most important reward the happiness and relief they’ve offered hundreds of families and business owners over the 30 years they’ve been open.

“There is always going to be some little things you notice afterward. Xcel was very responsive and helpful in making me happy. They use quality products and definitely have an interest in doing things the right way. Matt was at my house within minutes anytime I had a question. I highly recommend them.” – Luke P. “Frantz Antoine came to my house to price out soffit and fascia replacement on our home and did a great job. He was informative and professional. He had a quote back to me within 24 hours. Highly recommend!” – Keri H.

If your home or business has suffered weather damage, or if you’re selling and need an inspection, Xcel Roofing will gladly take care of you. To receive a free inspection, call (402) 904-6095 or visit loveourroof.com to learn more. Strictly Business JANUARY 2021 #PrintProudDigitalSmart

LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE by Wendy Birdsall, President

(402) 436-2350 • www.lcoc.com

Nine Awarded at Celebrate Business Awards

I am excited to recognize our winners from the 2020 Celebrate Business Awards held virtually in December 2020. We couldn’t be prouder of their contributions to our city, especially during a challenging year. SMALL BUSINESSES OF THE YEAR – Turbine Flats, The Bay. Turbine Flats is an idea community. With over 40,000 square feet of office, incubator and startup space, the campus is home to 40 different companies. The project was designed to foster a space for innovation in the entrepreneurial community. The Bay is a 20,000-sq.ft. community space that features the state’s only indoor, public skatepark, digital media lab and other amenities. A program of Rabble Mill, the pandemic spurred The Bay to innovate, creating The Bay Online, digital after-school programming that teaches youth and at-risk youth statewide. MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR – inExhaust. inExhaust has over 50 years combined experience in exhaust system manufacturing, power generation, emissions and the oil and gas industries. They provide quality standard and custom exhaust systems components solutions for the diesel, gas and power industries, exhibiting leadership and a strong commitment to our city. GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – Monolith. Monolith uses renewable electricity to transform natural gas into carbon black and hydrogen to ensure their customers have sustainable, high-performing materials for the products they produce. A next-generation chemical and energy company, they believe technology will create the path to environmental transformation. ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD – BasicBlock. BasicBlock serves fleets nationwide, leading the trucking industry in technology. With safety paramount in 2020, they utilized technology to ensure essential workers did not have to risk their health to complete their job – connecting an entire industry with the tools needed to complete their work. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AWARD – Lincoln Sports Foundation. Lincoln Sports Foundation strives to own and operate a complex that is of service to the community. They partner with quality organizations that focus on developing, mentoring and training student athletes and their families by providing high-quality and caring coaches, enabling them to reach their full potential as athletes and members of the community. CORNERSTONE AWARD – Union Bank & Trust. Family-owned for over 50 years, Union Bank & Trust provides complete financial services to help individuals, families and businesses thrive. Their commitment to customer service and significant PPP loan leadership throughout the pandemic earned them recognition by Forbes Magazine as the #2 bank in the U.S. ROGER T. LARSON COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARD – Sändra Washington. Sändra Washington worked with the National Park Service for nearly 25 years and served multiple terms on the Homestead Girl Scout Board of Directors, the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and as a Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commissioner before her appointment to the Lincoln City Council in 2019. With the creation of Together, One Lincoln, she has made a lasting impact by teaching us to embrace our differences to achieve greatness, making a stronger community. MASTER OF THE PIVOT AWARD – Duncan Aviation. Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting business aircraft operators with airframe inspections, engine maintenance and numerous other vital services. When the pandemic hit, they significantly altered their business operations to support relief efforts, making and distributing crucial PPE to first responders and essential workers. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT 62

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

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DOWNTOWN LINCOLN ASSOCIATION by Todd Ogden, President

(402) 434-6900 • www.downtownlincoln.org

Newman Creations Brings Woodworking to Haymarket

A woman's career setback during COVID-19 opened a new door for a Haymarket woodworking business. Jo and Brian Newman are the kind of people that see something in a store and think, “yeah, we could probably make that.” Experimenting with woodworking began as a side hobby for the Lincoln couple, but recently Jo has taken the plunge in opening up Newman Creations in the Haymarket Creamery Building. After losing her job due to COVID-19, she realized she suddenly had an opportunity to pursue the passion. “For a long time I've always wanted a store of my own so that we can showcase what we do along with other things that we like and that we think invite inspiration into your home,” Jo said. “I just kind of said, 'here I go, I'm gonna do this.' And I opened my store. It was kind of the thing I needed to push myself into doing it. I was laid off in August and opened in October." Jo describes her and her husband’s wood creations as a “learn-as-yougo” sort of thing. While many of their handmade items in the store are things like cutting boards and serving trays, they’ve also branched out over the years to create larger furniture pieces like custom desks and tables. They recently built a large, outdoor swing bed. “It's funny, we look back at some of the things we made for the very first time, and then look at them today, and it's such a transformation,” Jo said. Their bestselling cutting boards and charcuterie boards have evolved over the years to include different types of hardwood, and finally custom state-shaped inlays—the perfect gift for a loved one in Nebraska or a surrounding state. Another recent addition to the Newman Creations collection (and a great gift idea) are their “floating” wine bottle holders that almost magically balance bottles of wine, making for a fabulous centerpiece. “I love making a house feel like a home,” Jo said. “I like it to feel very warm and welcoming when you come in. I also like to take things that are kind of outdated and give them a little facelift. I find old tables and make them look more like what's trending right now.” Newman Creations is partnering with other artisans that Jo loves, and the store is also selling other goods purchased wholesale. “Our goal is that, hopefully within three to five years, the majority of what's in this store will be what we make,” Jo said. “For us, we wanted to have space to showcase some of the things we do.” The couple hopes to hear feedback from customers and invites custom orders, too. After only a week of business, they’d already received several orders for cutting boards, some clothing shelves, and a farmhouse table. Newman Creations is open for business Tuesday–Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Creamery Building at 701 P St., STE 104 (formerly the back half of Paint Yourself Silly). Founded in 1967, the Downtown Lincoln Association provides services and champions initiatives for maintaining and enhancing our vibrant downtown. Our vision is to create an energetic downtown environment where we live, learn, work, invest and play. DLA has evolved into a multi-faceted organization supporting a wide range of programs and activities including maintenance, economic development and advocacy. For a complete listing of downtown businesses, events and residences visit downtownlincoln.org. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at facebook.com/downtownlincoln.

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JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Better Care, Better Health...for Less! Regular Office Hours: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday

Have you ever avoided going to the doctor because you couldn’t afford the extra costs? Many people opt not to even visit their doctors when they’re feeling under-the-weather, fearing the excessive fees, co-pays, and hidden costs that come with a simple check-up. That’s why Dr. Todd Johnson opened Access Family Medicine four years ago in 2016: He was tired of seeing people stay sick to save money, and tired of people overpaying and stretching their income to stay healthy. Dr. Johnson knew he had a solution with Access Family Medicine—Lincoln’s very first direct payment primary care medical practice. Here, instead of paying co-pays to insurance, patients pay a monthly (affordable) membership fee to the clinic, and the clinic takes care of the rest. No co-pays, no insurance—just pure, quality, one-on-one care that will keep you staying healthy and out of the emergency room, for longer. Omaha-native Dr. Todd Johnson knew he wanted to open a family clinic since he started studying medicine at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was drawn to the ability to develop long-term relationships with people, even generations of families. “I enjoy getting to know you not only as a patient but as a friend,” Dr. Johnson said. “Creating and maintaining long-lasting relationships is my main reason for choosing a Direct Primary Care practice model.” A Direct Primary Care practice model means that doctors at Access Family Medicine aren’t paid per appointment, so they have the time to sit down and listen to your needs

and really find the root of your problem. Dr. Johnson and Krystal Jackson, physician assistant-certified (PA-C) both ensure that they get to know their patients as individuals, making sure each person feels understood and listened to before they offer any treatment options. Plus, your Access Family Medicine doctor makes themselves available 24/7, because your health doesn’t stop just because it’s 5 p.m.! For those who have never used a Direct Primary Care clinic, it might be a strange concept to avoid using your health insurance, but for the many who have been to Access Family Medicine, this model has been a lifesaver.

“When I first heard of Dr. Johnson, I was skeptical because it's something new (pay $50 a month and you can see him whenever you need without having to pay EVERY visit). Honestly, though, it has saved my family so many times. My husband had a total of 11 grand mal seizures in a year. When we first went to Dr. Johnson, he listened to our concerns and what we thought might help him become healthy again… He switched my husband’s medication and got it fairly cheap. I can safely say it’s been over a year since my husband has had a seizure! It's a life changer for him…I definitely recommend them, especially if you don't have insurance because $50 is a month is a lot cheaper than health insurance!” – Korrie P. “Access Family Medicine is the best healthcare provider I have worked with in my lifetime. My family membership includes my wife and kids for a reasonable monthly fee. We can now visit the doctor when we need to without fear of sky high charges. The doctors are great. The services they provide are limitless…I really can't say enough good things about this place.” – Doug T.

(402) 858-1510 | accessfamilymedicine.org | 8101 O St, Suite 302 | Lincoln Ne 68510 64

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

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LINCOLN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION by Bud Synhorst, President

(402) 466-3419 • www.liba.org

107th Legislature First Session

On January 6, the 107th Legislature first session will begin. The first session of the Legislature is filled with much activity including electing leadership for the 107th Legislature, introduction of many bills, setting the biennial budget, and crafting of new district boundaries for the Legislature based on the 2020 Census numbers. This year, eight of the 49 State Senators will be in their first session while 17 State Senators were reelected in November. First thing on January 6, the newly elected and reelected Senators will be sworn in. Following the swearing in, they will move to vote on the Speaker of the Legislature and all committee chairs for the two years of the 107th Legislature. In addition to electing leadership, there will be a debate on the rules, which could be interesting this year to determine how the Legislature will handle the pandemic and the fact that every bill introduced during the session gets a public hearing on the bill. It is important to note the first session of each Legislature is the “long session,” the 90-day session. This includes 90 days of the Legislature meeting, and not like some other states where it would be 90 calendar days. During the first 10 days of the session, Senators are allowed to introduce bills they want to be debated during the session. One never knows how many bills may be introduced during the session. In the past, I have watched as anywhere from about 700 to 1,000 bills are introduced. I will be interested to watch this session to see if there is a limit on number of bills to be introduced and how the rules debate will be handled.

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In Nebraska with our one-house Unicameral, the people are to be the second-house of government. It is our duty as the second-house to engage with our Legislature and hold our elected representatives accountable. The Nebraska Legislature is available to all citizens of Nebraska in many forms. The website for the Nebraska Legislature, www.NebraskaLegislature. gov, provides much valuable information. This site will give you a list of all of the bills introduced where you can see a summary of each bill and easily click to read the bill. You will also find the link to the calendar for the agenda for each day the Legislature is in session and the calendar for the hearings for the bills. Most importantly, you can find your State Senator, their contact information, the bills they have introduced and also their committee assignments. The Nebraska Legislature also has every hearing and every minute of the session broadcast where you can watch it on Nebraska Educational Television. You can stream it on your computer, through the app on your phone, or on your broadcast television channel, NET2. The ability to watch the debate on bills and the testimony on hearings is valuable for the citizens of Nebraska. Upon completion of the bill introduction phase of the session, LIBA will meet with our Legislative Action Committee to review bills and determine recommendations for the LIBA Board of Directors to consider our stances on legislation proposed. I encourage you to follow the introduction of legislation closely and the process. As members of the second-house, our voice must be heard. If you see bills introduced in the Legislature which you believe have impacts on business, please contact the LIBA office and let us know so we can go through our process to review the legislation. LIBA studies and promotes these types of issues that are important to businesses and our community. If you have an interest in joining, please call LIBA at (402) 466-3419. LIBA membership is not restricted to just businesses. We also have “individual” memberships for those who want to help influence our local government decisions.

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JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

FIT, STRONG, CAPABLE!

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It’s that time of year when people start taking inventory of 2020 and looking for ways to improve their lives in 2021. It’s not known definitively when New Year’s resolutions originated but history does tell us that the Babylonians were already recording them more than 4,000 years ago, on the belief that what a person did on the first day of the year would affect their lives throughout the year. Medical research shows that the very arrival of a new year creates psychological changes in our mindsets, as we look back and think about what we could have done better. As columnist Eric Zorn put it: “Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforced humility.” The very process of setting personal New Year’s resolutions can be helpful in evaluating your life and discovering what changes you want to see. It’s easy to set yourself up for failure, though, by trying to take on too much change at once, so set simple, achievable goals and take things one step at a time. For example, don’t decide to lose 100 pounds then walk away after a month because it’s not happening fast enough; break it down into smaller, meaningful goals that allow you to celebrate successes along the way. A Recipe for Success When it comes to setting health-and-fitness goals, Valiant Fitness encourages people to set SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. These parameters help you stay on track with numerous metrics to keep track of your progress. “We also encourage clients to start with small steps to achieve each goal,” said Valiant Fitness Owner Justin Wittler. “Trying to focus on your sleep, stress, workout, and nutrition all at once is a recipe for failure. Instead, take your time to master each step of the process so that your goals can have longterm results.” Valiant offers both personal and group training and nutrition services to help those seeking to improve their health in 2021 achieve their goals. On the fitness side, they Justin Wittler create a personalized program that suits the Valiant Fitness individual or group and focuses on strength, balance, and cardiovascular health. On the nutrition side, Valiant Nutritional Therapist Olivia Borer helps clients achieve balance through management of diet, stress, sleep, gut health, hormones, and more. With any goal, they recommend breaking it down into small, manageable steps to allow you small successes along the way. “Also, remember that perfection isn’t the goal,” Justin said. “Instead, focus on achieving consistency with your goals. In the long run, that will get you much further than being ‘on the wagon’ for a few months, then ‘off the wagon’ for another few months.

Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

As far as setting personal goals for the New Year, improving your health and fitness is always a good idea. “There is nothing worse than feeling poorly physically throughout the day,” Justin said. “Working on reducing inflammation through nutrition while focusing on mobility, core strength, and balance on the fitness side allows you to start feeling better physically and mentally! At Valiant Fitness, we have an offering for everyone—from personal training to group training to nutrition packages to suit your specific needs best.” It’s All About Absorption! If your goals involve your mental state of mind—say, more focus, better sleep, more energy, improved brain clarity—in addition to comfort and physical health, CBD American Shaman has what you need! In fact, they have CBD products that may help with relief, wellness, and beauty—in addition to ones that help keep your pets healthy and active. What’s more, CBD American Shaman products are far superior to those of any other competitor because their proprietary, patentpending nanotechnology, which means that 90% to 100% of the CBD actually is absorbed by your body to do its thing! They are also U.S. Hemp Authority certified. “We are the only company that’s achieved nanotechnology to perfection,” said Lincoln CBD American Shaman Owner Lance Schroeder. “For the body’s absorption rate, perfection is between 50 and 60 nanometers, and we’re the only company that’s there. The thing a lot of people don’t understand is you can’t compare our products to others on the shelves for maybe less money, and that’s not because our products are more expensive for what they accomplish—in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Our proprietary Lance Schroeder nanotechnology features faster absorption, CBD American Shaman lasts longer in your body.” Case in point: If you get 300mg of CBD American Shaman WaterSoluble, with nanotechnology, it’s nine times more bioavailable for your body! To get the same amount to your body with a standard oil tincture, you would have to buy a 3,000mg bottle of the standard tincture! With most other brands, you absorb 10-30% of a standard tincture. Most people absorb about 10%, instead of the 90% you’ll get with CBD American Shaman products. Taking it a step farther, if you swallow any of the standard tincture before it’s absorbed in your mouth, the bioavailability goes to zero. “With our nanotechnology products, you can mix it with a drink and it absorbs right into your blood system,” Lance said. “The molecules are small enough to go through your liver undetected so it is fully absorbed by your body. With other products, you can put it under your tongue for up to two minutes to absorb as much as possible, but then it has to pass through your liver, and the particles are so big that you only retain #PrintProudDigitalSmart

about 10% of what you take. Suddenly, that 1,000mg standard tincture is worth just about nothing. Bioavailability is what makes us who we are. The proof is in our pudding!” When it comes to meeting your health goals for 2021 with CBD products, it’s clear that CBD American Shaman is the way to go. Among some of their leading products now are CBGo, CBNight, and CBD Nanotechnology Gummies. CBGo has been shown to give you a lot of clarity, focus, and energy. Take it in the morning and it will give you a big boost for those long days, without all the negative effects of caffeine. “I’ve been in a class all week for five hours a day, and I took that CBGo every day and never got tired,” Lance told us in a recent interview. “It’s just amazing, and it’s water-soluble with nanotechnology so your body absorbs it, and it has CBD and CBG in it. The CBG gummies have applecider vinegar in them. We figured out how to nano our gummies so you retain 90% to 100% of what you take. Finally, CBNight is a fabulous natural sleep aid. As long as you don’t take CBD or drink alcohol for four hours before you take it, it will help you regenerate your sleep pattern. Take it about 30 minutes before bed, close your eyes, and drift away—and when you wake up, you’ll be refreshed and have zero sleep hangover!” Take in the Outdoors There’s no doubt that 2020 brought its share of challenges to the table, but some of the repercussions were good for both mind and body. We all know that exercise and physical activity are crucial to maintaining physical and mental well-being—and that has maybe never been more profound than during the pandemic. With things like team sports and gyms being canceled and closed early in the pandemic, people had to find new ways to get in their physical activity. It turns out that more people than ever have been turning to Mother Nature to get their exercise—in the great outdoors! “I think 2020 did some amazing things for people,” said Lincoln Running Co. Owner Ann Ringlein. “Many look at the year as an awful one, and I am not downplaying the horrible things that happened or are happening, but I am an eternal optimist, and what I have seen is so many people beginning to exercise or increasing their exercise and taking it outside! This is great on so many levels. First, just getting more of the population moving is making our community so much healthier and happier. Getting out and walking or running does Ann Ringlein Lincoln Running Co. as much for your mind as it does for your body: Attitudes change once you step out the door and head down the trail, road, or sidewalk. Things that were driving you crazy seem to be much smaller problems now.” Ann suggests that people make an easily attainable goal to get outside and walk or run four times a week—not necessarily extremely far or fact—just enough to let the good feelings you get outside keep getting you out the door. Research indicates that being active in the outdoors can be beneficial to your health in different ways than indoor exercise. Spending time in green or blue spaces like parks, forests, or lakes contribute to improved mental well-being. During the pandemic, increased benefits also came from seeing other people outside in neighborhoods or parks, which was shown to improve feelings of trust and community. Crucial to moving your exercise outdoors, though, is having the right footwear and apparel to keep your body healthy and comfortable and to avoid injuries—especially in winter. “Being comfortable is part of this equation,” Ann said, “comfortable with your apparel and your footwear. When you walk and run, you land with anywhere from two to four times your body weight, and you take about 1,500 steps a minute. That is a lot of pounding—even for tiny people. At Lincoln Running Company, we pride ourselves on getting you in footwear that you will love to wear and apparel that will perform how you need it to in winter weather. We have carried running apparel since we first opened our doors in 1976 because we feel it is just as important as your footwear.” #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Providing outpatient mental health services to support people in achieving their quality of life goals.

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Goals, or resolutions mean you’re thinking forward, which is as important at the beginning of the year is as good a time as any, Ann said. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t need to limit fitness goals to the New Year. Set short-term goals that help you get to your long-term ones to keep your resolutions alive all year. Make sure your short-term goals are doable, and set them weekly, bimonthly, or monthly. When you accomplish one short-term goal, set another, and you’re moving along continually toward your long-term goal. Be realistic. “For 2021, I think we all need to give ourselves a break on expectations,” Ann said. “It may be a time to ‘start over’ with our exercise programs, and these programs may look different. Give yourself time to figure out what the new normal is, and then OWN that normal. As long as you get your schedule down and repeat it every week, you’ll be on the right track!” A Healing Gift Celebrating your successes as your reach even your smallest goals is crucial to long-term success. One great way to celebrate is to give yourself the healing gift of massage. In fact, it can help you meet your mental and physical goals. It’s an investment in your full creative expression, productivity, passion, and sustained good health. A massage from 5 Elements Massage & Spa can help with depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, stress, insomnia, and many other issues you deal with on a daily basis. Oh, and it feels so invigorating! When it comes to setting personal goals for yourself, 5 Elements Owner Erin McLenon suggest trying one-word resolutions. “I don’t do large goals,” Erin said. “For 2020, for example, the word was ‘production,’ 2019 was ‘improvement,’ 2018 was ‘education,’ and I think 2021 will be somewhere in the ‘healthcare’ area. Choosing one-word goals can be a safe way of holding true to them, Erin McLenon 5 Elements Massage & Spa and you can interpret it in ways that are meaningful to you. In 2020, I went from 68 Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

renting a room from another business to leasing my own and taking on employees. In 2018, I taught myself to run, did a half marathon, and took an important business course that helped me move forward, and in 2019, I moved into a larger home, moved my business into a better location, found my now-husband, and have been nothing but happy since.” Another great way to share the uplifting benefits of massage you get from massage is your increased ability to encourage others to meet their goals, which translates to learning and advancing your own daily life. “I understand a great many people don’t like change but it benefits everyone around us,” Erin said. “If someone is stressed out often from work and they start getting a massage once a month, it could reduce the way they deal with and handle the stressful events, making wiser and calmer decisions. It’s healthier to get massages than swallowing pills for headaches, and it helps activate your parasympathetic (nervous) system. This is the calming that comes from doing something you enjoy, versus the sympathetic fight-or-flight system that many experience when they are stressed out.” It’s rather impressive how many different styles of massage there are to help people with specific needs. Reflexology is beneficial in breaking up and loosening tightness in your feet. People with sports injuries can benefit from the work of a trained professional sports massage, something that 5 Elements is perfecting through the Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique, or SMRT. With this technique, you hardly feel the work being done, but when you get up and start moving around afterward, any pain you had melts away. Whatever form you need, 5 Elements Massage & Spa will tailor it specifically to you. “One thing we thrive at here at 5 Elements Massage & Spa is making everything personable,” Erin said. “Each massage is customized to your needs the day you walk in. If you visit again two weeks later, it will change, unless you need the same thing again.” Focus on Self Setting personal goals for 2021 is the perfect time to focus on yourself, to provide a plan for your own self-care, on the heels of a crazy, chaotic year of change and challenge. “I have been finding that people are neglecting their own self-care,” said Affinity Community Counseling Director of Behavioral Health Services Jennifer Clark. “They are so busy taking care of family members, coworkers, and friends that they forget about themselves. A new year is a great time to focus on yourself and find time to have that self-care. You will begin to see such a difference in your own attitude, physical health, and overall well-being.” Jennifer asked other providers at Affinity Jennifer Clark Affinity Community to provide their own input about setting Counseling personal goals. Shae Taylor, PLMHP, said a key to improving yourself is listening to and confirming your emotions. “As a mental health therapist, I always promote goals that strengthen and improve mental health,” Shae said. “One of the goals I would recommend for the New Year is to focus on validating your emotions. With the rollercoaster of a year we had in 2020, it is important to identify and accept the emotions that you have felt. Something that might be helpful is setting aside a time in your day to journal, meditate, or sit in silence. The more we recognize and validate our emotions, the better able we are to implement coping techniques.” If you decide to set goals for the New Year, don’t be too hard on yourself. “It’s important to recognize that goals can be altered and changed at any time,” said Abby Alger, LMHP. “If you have a hiccup in your goal, it’s not a failure, just a short pause. Be kind to yourself! Recognize the small goals that you reach every day, and allow yourself the space to acknowledge how awesome you are!” Affinity’s Michaella Arnold, PLMHP, echoed Abby’s sentiments: “Understand that habits don’t change overnight, and that one inch of #PrintProudDigitalSmart

progress is better than no progress. Everyone struggles to achieve their resolutions, so do not feel like a failure if you go off the resolution train once in a while. Have the awareness to come back to the resolution!” Finally, said Melissa, Reamer, LMHP, consider working with a therapist to help you reach your goals: “In a world full of negativity, it is nice to find a therapist who can help you find the positive in your life. A therapist can help you change your perspective. By finding that positive side and changing your perspective, it can help you change your life in the way you want it to be changed.” Your Inner Voice COVID-19 has delivered blow after blow to the chaos and expectations of us in everyday life, which applies significant pressure to our physical and mental health. You’re expected to perform multiple roles, while managing the demands of emails, voicemails, texts, business, and family, which translate directly to challenges including time constraints, lack of sleep, motivation challenges, temptations, stress, money, and pressure to be the perfect healthy person. The combination of these can make setting personal goals in 2021 a seemingly overwhelming task. “The disruptive nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted mental well-being, employment, income loss, disruptions to education, familiar relations, and friendships, as well as a limitation to individual freedoms,” said Maureen A. DeRyke, PLMHP, PMSW of Daring Minds Therapy. It’s disrupting every aspect of people’s lives in an unprecedented manner.” That’s where Daring Minds Therapy comes into play. This women-owned small business that Maureen founded with Sarah Worley Maureen A. DeRyke and Erica Schroeder in 2018 has therapists Daring Minds Therapy who are trained and licensed in childparent psychotherapy, eye-movement desensitization, reprocessing, dialectical behavioral therapy, drug and alcohol abuse, social work, and trauma-related disorders. So if you’re looking to improve your overall health in 2021 and feel like you might need some help to get started, set some small goals in your daily life and give yourself time to figure out what works for you, going at your own pace. “Our mind, body, and spirit communicate with us daily as to what is healthy and what is not,” Maureen said. “However, taking that time to listen to our inner voice can be challenging. Pick one or two things that feel achievable at first, before moving on to trying other ideas. If there is something that helps you relax, try to find time to fit it into your day. Try to eat regular meals and have a balanced diet, as this can help your mood and energy levels—and try to establish a routine around bedtime to help set a regular sleeping pattern. Take it Home Now, if you’re still more comfortable in your own living room, you might want to consider the new Right Foot Forward Fitness hometraining program. For this one, they bring the training studio to you! Right Foot Forward delivers the equipment and training supplies you need straight to your front door—from hand weights to bands to TRX systems. You’ll also receive custom programming with fulllength workout videos, diet support through a customized meal plan delivered to your inbox, complete with recipes and a weekly shopping list, biometric tracking, and daily support through an online coaching portal. All you have to bring to the table is the hard work and dedication to your goals! Even if you’re training from home, it’s helpful to have someone besides you helping to hold you accountable. “You often hear that creating specific, measurable goals and setting deadline are the keys to success,” said Right Foot Forward Fitness Owner Jeff Madsen. “That’s half the battle, maybe more, but don’t forget about having an accountability partner. This could be a personal trainer, a friend, or a spouse. You need to give someone permission to help you reach your short-term goals and speak into your life. Making others aware of your plans and purposely introducing an accountability element into your goal-setting will pull #PrintProudDigitalSmart

you through the hard times and let you reap the benefits of being consistent. Set yourself up for success ahead of time, and you won’t be full of regret down the road!” It’s also important not to throw yourself into your goals in a way that is not sustainable, Jeff added. Can you exercise reliably for two days per week and sustain that over weeks or months? If so, that’s far better than exercising three or more days per week for the first month, then stopping Jeff Madsen for the rest of the year. Remember, small Right Foot Forward Fitness hinges swing large doors! Right Foot Forward Fitness helps people set up effective and safe programs, coupled with advice and accountability on your dietary choices. Jeff advises people to have really big long-term goals paired with realistic and achievable short-term ones. It will give you a chance to score and win regularly and build some momentum. The same habits that help you lose that first 10 pounds will keep helping you as you lose the next 40 pounds.” Making New Year resolutions is an age-old practice, but it’s also a great way to set yourself up for success. Setting personal goals delivers motivation, helps you take control of your life, gives you a sense of achievement, and boosts your self-esteem. Whether your goals are related to physical, mental, or emotional health and wellness, Lincoln businesses can help you reach them. We encourage you to connect with the professionals featured here to get you on a track that will make you proud in 2021!

gift yourself some love! Swedish • Deep Tissue • Prenatal • Reflexology • Sugar / Salt Scrubs • Heated Bamboo • Hot Stone • & More!

self care isn’t selfish! when was the last time you got a massage? 6201 S 58th St., STE A | Lincoln, NE 5elementsne.com | (402) 617-7992 JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

Bethany A Arnold, Financial Advisor 8135 S. 15th St., Suite B | Lincoln, NE (402) 421-7418

BUSINESS PLANNING At the beginning of each year, many people make personal plans and resolutions for the New Year, looking back on the previous year and identifying ways to improve themselves and continue their personal journeys to achieve the life they envision. When it comes to businesses, annual plans are a necessity to build upon a company’s broader vision and core values, while updating specific metrics and budgets to guide their leadership and employees throughout the year. After talking with business experts in the Lincoln area, we recommend that you add professional coaching to your agenda this year, in addition to the professional advice of financial gurus. Of course, annual business plans must be flexible enough to adapt to unexpected changes and the often-volatile marketplace—think COVID in 2020! Preparation for and execution of your annual plan reviews expectations from the previous year, then builds from there to give everyone in the company a sense of where the business is heading and how they intend to get there. So, what is included in an annual business plan itself? Certainly, it must revolve around the ever-enduring SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals that help businesses focus their efforts, increase chances of success, and ensure that they use their time and resources in the most productive ways possible. From there, a company can develop financial projections and budgets that take into account anticipated expenses and projected income—in addition to expected financing needs for the year. The plan also must outline responsibilities and expectations of individual employees, teams, or departments and the parts of the plan for which they are responsible and held accountable, to the degree that they can control. Rounding out the picture is an annual vision that maps out what owners or managers realistically want the business to look like at the end of the year. Continuing to tell your story through marketing is also crucial to continue throughout these crazy times. Of course, as 2020 taught us beyond all measure, things don’t always go as planned, so it’s crucial to include contingency options

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in every plan and be flexible to change. Options might be in the form of reserves for emergencies, be they cash or maintenance of room for unexpected cash-flow needs a line of credit. The final pieces of the planning puzzle bring the projections, goals, and plan together with specific tools and processes that will serve as the avenues to achieving those goals. It might sound like a lot of work, but it’s not nearly as much as you’ll eventually face if you fail to plan your business path and your work/life balance each year. It can help you stay on track and adapt to the unforeseen changes in the marketplace. The good news is that there are a host of experts in the Lincoln area who can help ensure that you lay that track strategically and are prepared for what is to come, whether you know what that is or not. Change of Place Another key thing to consider when you’re preparing your annual business plan is your location. If you’re near or overcapacity, if more employees are working from home long-term and you now have too much space, or if you need more space to spread your employees out further, you’ll want to talk to a commercial realestate agency about making sure your building will meet your needs for the coming year. That’s where Guiderock Commercial Realty LLC can help. They help businesses refine and implement their commercial real-estate strategies so that the locations they work in are aligned with both their near-term needs and long-term goals. “Over the past several months, we h a ve s e e n b u s i n e s s e s g i ve m o r e thought to contingency planning and how that impacts their space needs and commitments, which we expect to continue for the foreseeable future,” said Guiderock Commercial Realty Broker and Property Manager Cathy Kottwitz. “As we help clients select spaces, we also

Cathy Kottwitz Guiderock Commercial Realty LLC

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discuss future expectations, as well as unforeseeable events. There are a lot of tools available for different situations, and we strive to make sure our clients have the right ones in their toolboxes.” Guiderock Commercial Realty is also hearing a lot of speculations about what might or might not happen with the local commercial real-estate market as repercussions of COVID-19. While there will always be changes to come, Guiderock Commercial Realty will continue to provide clients with the most complete picture possible about the current and future market environment, so business owners can make informed decisions about the location and characteristics of their place of business. According to research from the first half of 2020 (latest available), retail businesses in Lincoln were the hardest hit in the first months of COVID, with vacancy rates at 7.1% compared to 6.6% at the end of 2019. The 7.1% rate is the highest retail vacancy rate Lincoln has seen since the end of 2011, when it was 7.2%. In a volatile marketplace like we are experiencing now, flexibility is a crucial planning tool. “Our approach has always been that businesses should maximize their flexibility with their real-estate decisions,” Cathy said. “With the uncertain nature of 2021, flexibility is even more important for a business that wants to excel, so we advise businesses to take two key steps to improve their flexibility. First, start planning real-estate decisions early. Second, seek advice from industry professionals, such as attorneys, bankers, and commercial realestate agents. These two pieces of advice can help a business maximize their flexibility in real-estate decisions, and ultimately help them achieve their goals for 2021 and beyond.” Another terrific option for planning your commercial space is HIP Realty (Holroyd Investment Properties), which is a full-service commercial and apartment real-estate sales, management, and leasing firm. They offer personalized real-estate services, while employing the highest ethical standards. HIP Realty prides itself on providing the type of five-star services that today’s sophisticated

commercial markets require. Their OffiCenters provide a variety of office sizes and styles, with the option of furnishing the office for you, if you desire. Tenants of HIP OffiCenters enjoy the assistance of a full-time receptionist, conference room, and modern office equipment, serving up a great way to convey a professional image to your clients without the financial commitment of staffing an office yourself. Customized Technology Given the crucial role that technology and marketing play in any business today, your business plan must incorporate your needs in these categories. True North Technologies is a frontrunner in mobile app and website development for businesses, in addition to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), branding, and digitalmarketing services in the region. Regardless of the size of your business or organization, the experts at True North can help you customize your company or organization’s industry-specific needs, including everything from a basic strategy to a comprehensive package. In the end, it’s always about giving your business a voice in modern business practices. Maybe best of all, you don’t have to be technologically savvy to understand from True North how they can help you, help yourself. “We strive to help others with their business planning by making the process simple,” said True North Owner Renee Sobotka. “Even the least-techie business owner can tackle the mobile world with our help. We love helping others find their True North. You need lots of tools to compete with larger corporations and franchises, and we will listen to your unique business needs and produce a strategy to help position you for success. Renee Sobotka By adding product lines, we are really True North Technologies

Websites Mobile Apps SEO Social Media Branding Blog Writing TapOnIt

402.420.5101 go-tnt.com #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

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to retire. In one scenario, it could be worth only the equipment, building, and inventory, which may not be enough to support your lifestyle in retirement. In fact, often when a business is sold, the owner must finance part of the sale.” Bethany can also help you manage your business expenses, while earning valuable rewards by using the Edward Jones Business Plus Mastercard for your business expenses and accumulating loyalty points with low interest rates and 0% introductory fees. These cards come with tremendous benefits for any business owner, and Bethany can help you enjoy all of the savings possible. Clean and Safe

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giving business owners the tools they need to thrive. We know our industry like the back of our hands, and there’s no challenge too big or too small!” Planning for Retirement

Bethany Arnold Edward Jones

Obviously crucial to any annual business plan is a financial management plan. Bethany Arnold with Edward Jones can help. She can help businesses find the best options for retirement plans, deciphering the confusion of 401(k)’s, 403(b)’s, 457’s, simple IRAs, and employee stock-ownership plans. Whether you’re self-employed or own a small business, Bethany can help you find the retirement plans that will best fit your needs and those that will work best to help your employees save for retirement.

“As a business owner, you know that your company’s success takes preparation and effort,” Bethany said. “Your retirement years are no different. The appropriate business retirement plan can incorporate the flexibility you need while helping you to save for your retirement—as well as attract and retain quality employees.” Bethany encouraged us to look at it this way: In addition to your role as a business owner, you are also an investor. “It just makes good sense to diversify your assets and retirement income so you don’t put your entire retirement nest egg in your business. Saving outside of the business means you control your own retirement, rather than depending on the sale of the business to fund your retirement needs. There is no crystal ball that can tell you what your business might be worth when you are ready 72 Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

We can only hope that everyone will be able to return to their offices, shops, and other businesses in 2021. Certainly, you have to plan for that. With all of the fears and realities that came with COVID, don’t forget to add office cleaning and sanitizing to your planning to-do list. ServiceMaster Professional Building Maintenance (PBM) of Lincoln can help you get your business clean, disinfected, and safe, so you can welcome back your employees with confidence. They employ professional experts who are trained, screened, and tested to ensure top-quality service, and their professional cleaning services will not only leave your business looking spotless but also will enhance its overall appearance and safety for employees, customers, and clients to enjoy. Your confidence in ServiceMaster grows when you realize that they are also certified to clean any healthcare facility. They understand the attention and requirements that Lincoln healthcare facilities need to maintain a safe and healthy environment in a medical setting. With Servicemaster Clean’s proprietary Capture and Removal Cleaning® system, they combine advanced equipment and microfiber technologies to significantly reduce airborne dust, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and bacteria. The result is a sanitized and healthy setting for patients, guests, and staff members. ServiceMaster will provide you the clean you expect with the service you deserve, leaving you with peace of mind. Branding, Branding, Branding! Clearly, COVID has, to say the least, changed the business landscape for local business owners. Whether your business has thrived, faltered, or changed gears, one constant that remains is the crucial nature of branding your business. Branding helps your business stand out, to increase your visibility among clients and potential clients alike. Especially in a world so heavily monitored and driven by social media, meaningful branding strategies will not go unnoticed. They will help you create and develop deeper relationships with customers at a time they are in need of information. One crucial part of any branding strategy is getting your name out there—and Flicker Promotions can help you make that happen. They’ll customize virtually anything you want—from tote bags to branded shirts, satin pens, Clic Stics and other pens, stainless steel champagne flutes, Carhartt items, tumblers, blankets, socks, wall calendars, pop sockets for cell phones, YETI products, face masks, hand sanitizers, lip balms, counter mats, PPE products, golf products, mouse pads, phone accessories, shades, flashlights, and so much more. If you can imagine it, Flicker can personalize it for you! “We can help anyone customize virtually anything, whether that be a French press for the office, a custom watch, or even personalized golf gloves,” said Flicker Promotions Owner Amy Doele. “We can help you find ways to make personal connections with your clients and staff. Amy Doele Classic for 2020 are Flicker’s customizable Flicker Promotions #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

Graphics LLC has been providing customers with the best signs and graphics for more than 25 years. Many individual and commercial clients throughout southeastern Nebraska have come to depend on the tasteful, eye-catching signs they deliver.

Retail/office space available at 5540 South St. Contact Cathy for more information!

1530 S. 70th St., Suite 102 | Lincoln, NE 68506 (402) 421-7474 | cathy@guiderockrealty.com

Sign Pro can brand wherever you want to quickly draw attention to your brand. They can create banners to display a product in your new store, as an outdoor sign to let the community know you are open and ready for business, or to advertise a special event. Banners are both cost-effective and generate excitement and high visibility, especially if you incorporate photos, full-color designs, and computer graphics. Sign Pro signage solutions fit any project or budget, including interior and reception signs, exterior and storefront signage, free-standing outdoor signs, and yard signs. For your company vehicles, Sign Pro offers vinyl lettering, partial wraps, and full wraps to suit your needs. Cathy Kottwitz, CPM

Get Noticed Remaining relevant in a competitive marketplace can be a real struggle, regardless of what your business sells. That’s why you need a complete marketing plan that creates awareness and distinctiveness. If you’re looking for a clear message, a solid strategy, and more relevance in the marketplace, give Maly Marketing a call. They are a full-service marketing agency based in Lincoln and driven to help their clients succeed and do work that makes them proud.

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UV cellphone sanitizers, which can disinfect your cellphone, Air Pods, keys, or even your credit cards, using UV light. These also double as wireless phone chargers. Brand them with your company logo as a gift to your employees and clients. We also offer customizable masks that use three-layer construction but are soft and breathable for businesses that have mask restrictions in place or just to share with clients given the state of networking and gathering requirements during the pandemic. You can hand them out to employees and clients, who boost your branding efforts every time they wear them in public!” Headquartered in Lincoln, Flicker Productions is a premier concierge promotional-product provider. They relieve the sense of stress from promotional marketing, applying their expertise to follow your lead and curate a collection of promotional items specific to your business and your clients. Flicker works with businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to create useful promotional items that people will be grateful to receive—at the same time marketing your business. Plus, you’ll love working with them. “We love to create unique and custom items for our clients,” Amy said. “Finding the perfect items are what we do best. We can help you find ways to make personal connections with your clients and staff. Our mission is to provide the highest standard of personal service—a promise that other companies voice but few actually live up to. At Flicker Promotions, we expect and intend to have personal contact with our clients in determining the best products on which to print their logos or marks. With our company, you will work with someone who is fully engaged, no matter the size of the project you’re seeking.” Another way to boost your brand is to update your company signage, both on and in your building, in front of it, on your tradeshow booth and materials, or as lettering or wrapping on your company vehicles. Sign Pro of Lincoln, Inc. / Premier 74 Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

Don’t think you can’t afford a meaningful marketing plan? Think again. With Maly Marketing, a limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t take a big swing. In an economy that is increasingly reliant on fragmented attention, sometimes you need to try something a little “out there” to get noticed. Doing something a little different can amount to taking a new creative approach or finding a different media mix. It’s important to take a step back and look at the whole picture, and the folks at Maly Marketing know just how to guide you through the process because creative problem solving is their specialty. Most of their clients are dealing with massive budgets, and they always find solutions that are straightforward and inexpensive to implement without rebuilding the wheel. Of course, if you want to increase your visibility in 2021, we also recommend contacting Strictly Business. We are a contentmarketing magazine that partners with business owners to position them as experts in their fields, combining compelling paid advertising with free press releases, feature inclusions, and—new to our offerings—social-media coverage about your business every month! Don’t worry if you don’t have a marketing professional on your staff because Strictly Business has free design services for your ads and free research and writing for your press releases and stories. In recent years, content marketing has evolved from being just blog post and editorial strategies. It has become a holistic approach that relies on a broad range of digital marketing strategies including social media, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and paid media to engage businesses with their customers and potential customer. At Strictly Business, our goal is to help your visibility skyrocket and not only draw new customers or clients to your business, but also help them understand why they can trust you and depend on you to do the best work possible for them. Call Paige at (402) 466-3330 today and find out how we can help you grow your brand in 2021! Annual business planning is essential to the health of any company or organization. Enter COVID, and it’s more crucial than ever that you have a strong base and mission from which to plan, as well as access to the expertise to help ensure you’re on track for success. We encourage you to reach out to the experts featured here to plan in a timely, meaningful, and successful way! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

SUPPORTING NONPROFITS Our hearts go out to the many nonprofits in our community that have felt the enormous burden brought on by COVID. We're at the point now where it's almost been a full year of restrictions and shut-downs that have forced organizations to either cancel, postpone, or reinvent their programs and fundraisers online. In addition to financial strain, these nonprofits have also suffered losses in their volunteer count. It's hard to watch, but we've also seen reassuring efforts to counteract these setbacks. Community members and organization leaders have really stepped up, shown selflessness, and gotten creative. A big shout out goes to the Lincoln Community Foundation for hosting the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund. The coalition of partners that are driving this fund includes the City of Lincoln, the Lincoln Community Foundation, the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, the Community Health Endowment, and other philanthropic and business partners. As of December 16, the fund has raised $1,232,858, including $500,000 from the strategic partners: Abel Foundation, Acklie Charitable Foundation, ALLO, Ameritas, Community Health Endowment, Greater Lincoln Chamber Foundation, Harbor of Dreams, LCF, Nelnet, Rhonda Seacrest, Susan Sehnert Stuart, Union Bank & Trust Company, Inc., and J.A. Woollam Foundation.

“When we pitch in to help nonprofits, we’re helping our communities and neighbors and keeping a culture of humanity, art, and philanthropy alive.”

According to the Lincoln Community Foundation, the needs in our community continue to grow and the scope of this crisis will require aid from many different public and philanthropic sources. Now is the time to double down for our community. Lend your hand by making a donation to the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund at www.lcf.org/covid19. We need to continue doing our part to help the community by investing in our nonprofits in any way we can, and that doesn't always mean monetary donations. There are many ways to give back and get involved, such as participating in or hosting a donation drive at your business, volunteering your skills and talents, and spreading awareness by sharing needs from nonprofits on your social media channels. At Strictly Business, we believe it is so important to support our local nonprofits. Not only do local nonprofits help enrich Nebraskan life, but they also create jobs and give workers, volunteers, and donors alike a connection to something greater than themselves. Nebraska's nonprofit sector provides about 10% of private sector jobs in our state. When we pitch in to help nonprofits, we’re helping our communities and neighbors and keeping a culture of humanity, art, and philanthropy alive. Nebraska’s nonprofits do whatever they can to make our beautiful state an even better place to live, and so we also want to bring awareness to their efforts. Our Supporting Nonprofits feature is a place to recognize some of these amazing organizations and the work they're doing locally. Readers should keep these nonprofits in mind when they’re choosing to give back to Lincoln this year. Whether you choose to donate your own time or to give back through your business, supporting any of these nonprofits will have positive ripple effects in the lives of fellow Nebraskans. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business

Aiding Angels is a local, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing FREE, professional housecleaning to the cancer heroes in our community during one of the most stressful times of their lives. A clean home and environment contributes to the welfare and recovery of patients. Brenda Schwery, local business owner of Maid To Please, has provided free home cleaning services for years through another foundation where women with cancer are the only recipients. In response to an overwhelming number of requests from not only women, but also men and children, Brenda founded Aiding Angels. Now, the void is filled and the muchneeded help is extended to everyone— men, women, and children regardless of financial status—going through cancer treatment or hospice due to cancer. For more information on Aiding Angels, please visit www.aidingangels. com or contact Brenda at (402) 434-2472.

Hundreds of children and youth in Lancaster County are victims of abuse and neglect. Court Appointed Special Advocates or CASA for Lancaster County is local nonprofit that recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused, neglected, truant, or ungovernable children in Juvenile Court. CASA volunteers get to know the children and all of the circumstances and issues surrounding the family. They gather information and report their findings and recommendations directly to the judge. CASA volunteer advocates provide a voice for children in court, expedite permanency, share with the judge the needs and wishes of the children, and ensure that children have safe permanent homes. Help CASA serve more children by volunteering or donating today! To volunteer, donate, or for more information, please contact CASA for Lancaster County at (402) 474-5161, visit www.casa4lancaster. org, or connect on Facebook (@CASA4LancasterCo) and Twitter (@ CASALancasterCo).

Since 1952, The Arc of Lincoln has been a resource for parents, schools, agencies, and individuals who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. The mission is to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to promote and protect their rights and interests, while enriching the quality of their lives. They believe that all people deserve opportunities and to be contributors and influencers in their communities. One of the programs offered currently is The Arc Expeditions program, which offers individuals the opportunity to travel across the country with friends and volunteers for socializing opportunities and making of some very special life long memories. Arc of Lincoln also provides a trained Inclusive Education Lay Advocate to families who need support at IEP/ISP meetings, in addition to HUD Housing units that are managed through two DD Service providers here in Lincoln. The Arc of Lincoln continues to offer several different educational and social programs for all ages through a United Way grant since 1995. Current needs include advocacy and monetary donations for the most vulnerable in our communities. Questions can be directed to Michelle Johnson, executive director, at (402) 421-8866 / director@arclincoln.org or go online to www.advocacypartnership.org. 76 Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives—devoted to saving people from two of the nation’s top killers, heart disease (No. 1) and stroke (No. 5). Powered by millions of volunteers, global and local collaborators, their goal is to equitably increase worldwide healthy life expectancy from 64 to at least 67 years by 2030. Through events right here in Lincoln like the Heart Walk, Go Red for Women, and Heart Ball, the American Heart Association is making an impact. For more information, visit www.heart.org/Lincoln. The Bridge Behavioral Health is a nationally accredited substance use treatment center. Their mission to help men and women with limited financial resources heal the wound of substance use and become productive, contributing citizens. Since 1984, The Bridge Behavioral Health has served as an essential part of the community’s safety net, connecting people with addiction and related mental health issues with support and treatment. The Bridge Behavioral Health offers a continuum of services including Civil Protective Custody, medically-monitored withdrawal, substance use and mental health respite, residential treatment, and recovery support services. For more information or to help The Bridge Behavioral Health provide a safe passage from addiction to sober living, contact Brianna Georgeson at bgeorgeson.thebridgenebraska.org. Fresh Start has given a “fresh start” to 1,700 women who were striving to live a better life. As a nonprofit transitional housing program for women, Fresh Start offers more than just a safe place to live. It’s a goals-based program that empowers women to change their lives by recognizing and overcoming barriers to self-sufficiency. With Fresh Start, women 19 years and older who are experiencing homelessness for any reason have the opportunity to live in a safe, supportive environment for up to a year, affording them more time to focus on their long-term goals, address barriers, and enact change. Donation needs include paper goods, cleaning supplies, and gas cards. Get involved with Fresh Start by visiting their website at FreshStartHome. org or connecting on Facebook (@FreshStartHomeLincoln) and Twitter (@FreshStartLNK). To donate or volunteer, Contact Audrey at (402) 475-7777 / audreyb@FreshStartHome.org. Junior Achievement of Lincoln is building a successful future for our community, one classroom at a time! This school year, more than 31,000 students in over 100 schools all across Lincoln and Greater Nebraska will be impacted by their messages of financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business ethics delivered by a community role model. Together with Junior Achievement let’s inspire this generation to be better prepared for success than any generation in history. Let’s prepare them to take on their destiny with passion and confidence. Let’s equip them to run businesses, lead nations, make discoveries, and change our world. But most of all, let’s give them hope to see what’s possible. For more information on how to invest in Junior Achievement of Lincoln or to learn more about becoming a classroom volunteer, contact Rachel Murray at rmurray@jalincoln.org or (402) 467-1741. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

CenterPointe offers a broad continuum of care with more than 35 programs in Omaha and Lincoln in the areas of crisis response, treatment, rehabilitation, housing, and peer support. By treating the whole person, mental health, physical health, and addiction can be addressed together in real time. Since its start in 1973 under the name Full Circle by Lincoln Lancaster Drug Projects, CenterPointe has been a leader in holistic healthcare. Housing was added in the 1990s. As more programs are added to address the individual more holistically, more and more men, women, teens, and veterans are able to take steps on their journey toward a healthier life. The majority of CenterPointe consumers experience both severe and persistent mental illness and addiction issues. Nearly every individual CenterPointe serves has very low or no income when they enter their programs. CenterPointe’s mission is to help those they serve get better, sooner, for longer. Learn more online at www.centerpointe. org or by calling (402) 475-8717. For almost 90 years, Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc has been strengthening the Lincoln community by providing services for individuals who face barriers to employment and by offering residents an outlet for recycling unused household items and clothing. The sale of donated items in Goodwill’s retail stores remains the largest source of funding for its programs and services. Goodwill recognizes that services provided by peer agencies prepare people served by Goodwill to better succeed in Goodwill’s employment programs. It is with this understanding that Goodwill provides funding to colleague agencies to help with their own programs that align with Goodwill’s mission of keeping willing workers employed and community resources maximized. To learn more, visit lincolngoodwill.org. The Pregnancy Center is a nonprofit, faith-based organization located in the heart of Lincoln just off O Street. Every month, over 400 young women in our community come to the Pregnancy Center for answers. These women desperately need love and support, and many are afraid and feel like they have no options. The Pregnancy Center offers complete information about every option available to a woman facing an unintended pregnancy. The Pregnancy Center also provides confidential counsel, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, materials support, parenting classes, and character-based relationship education in schools all at no cost to clients or taxpayers. Call the Pregnancy Center at (402) 483-4247 or visit www. pregnancycenterpartners.org for more information. Bright Lights (BrightLights.org) serves K-8th grade students by providing energized, engaging and fun summer learning opportunities. Their weeklong half-day and full-day camps allow students to learn and create, master new skills and build new relationships—and 2021 will be their 35th summer of doing so! Their camp weeks for Summer 2021 are June 7–11; June 14–18; June 21–25; June 28–July 2; and July 12–16. Camp topics include science, technology, math, art, literature, and music with most having a STEAM connection. The Summer 2021 camp schedule will be available online in February, and registration will open on Saturday, February 27, at 8 a.m. at BrightLights.org. Before Care and Lunch Care is available at some camp locations. Need-based scholarships are available. There is also an international experience for middle school students and a Camp Assistant program for high school students. Find out more about these opportunities at BrightLights.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Friendship Home has been helping victims of domestic violence since they started in 1978, launching their first permanent home in the summer of 1985. To meet the needs of domestic violence victims and their children, Friendship Home’s current facilities have expanded shelter options including transitional housing and single family shelters. Friendship Home offers victims emergency shelter in a communal shelter setting, apartments for families, and transitional living for families who need more time to rebuild their lives. Friendship Home continues to empower everyone who comes through their doors to achieve safety, independence, and freedom from domestic violence. Friendship Home is Lincoln’s only safe, confidential emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children. Services include emergency and transitional shelter, as well as supportive services, through safety planning, crisis intervention, support groups, and mental health counseling. To access safe shelter and services, call (402) 437-9302. Learn more about Friendship Home online at friendshiphome.org.

Lincoln’s foundation, Lincoln Comm unity Fo u n d a t i o n ( LC F ) , works with donors who all share a fondness for this community and want it to be successful forever. The mission of LCF is to provide leadership and resources to help build a great city. Their role as an organization is to help donors accomplish their philanthropic goals, support nonprofit organizations that improve our quality of life, and foster community collaboration to address challenges and opportunities. Since 1955, LCF has been privileged to be part of many wonderful legacies by matching community needs with the passions of their donors. They serve as a faithful steward for many types of philanthropic gifts and help donors create lasting legacies of giving. The foundation has distributed more than $160 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents. Find out more online at www.lcf.org or by calling (402) 474-2345.

Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska (DSAF) recognizes that every person with Down syndrome is an individual who has a unique purpose and set of abilities. For 25 years, DSAF has provided a positive vision for the future for individuals with Down syndrome and those who share in their lives, through networking, advocacy, and support, including: • Parents First Call—Offers support and empathy to new parents upon receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome. • Medical Outreach—Provides training and accurate information regarding Down syndrome to local medical offices. • Age-Based ‘Stars’ Enrichment Groups—enable members to participate in fun, inclusive activities with family and friends. • Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk—Creates a heartwarming allages experience for families, friends, and supporters of individuals with Down syndrome. The annual walk is DSAF’s biggest awareness and fundraising event! DSAF is more than just an association, it is a place of belonging and hope. Get involved. Visit dsafnebraska.org or call (402) 421-1338 to learn more. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 77

Vision Maker Media is a nonprofit established in 1976 with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Nebraska Educational Television (NET). Their mission is to empower and engage Native people to share stories. They envision a world changed and healed by understanding Native stories and the public conversations they generate. What began as a film archive to conserve and document Native American stories, transformed into the nation’s leader in content by and about Indigenous people for public broadcasting. Vision Maker Media works with Native producers to develop, produce, and distribute programs to educate audiences. They empower Native youth to grow up with stories that represent their backgrounds and with figures that embody their culture. The organization generates important public conversations about present-day Native issues and shed a long-overdue light on the foundation of American history through Native American stories. Their audience reach is more than 165,000 worldwide. To learn more, visit visionmakermedia.org or call (402) 472-3522. Voices of Hope provides 24-hour-a-day services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, incest, stalking, and related forms of abuse. They have provided free and confidential services to victims of these crimes in Lincoln/Lancaster County for 45 years. Their services include a 24-hour crisis line ((402) 475-7273) and victim advocacy at hospitals. Voices of Hope also offers support groups, crisis counseling, safety planning, assistance with protection orders, basic needs, and providing advocacy for students at all college campuses. They answer more than 8,000 crisis line calls a year and provide face-to-face services to approximately 2,500 unduplicated survivors. Their free and confidential services are available to women and men. Voices of Hope is in need of financial donations, gift cards, gas cards, and donations of basic needs items such as personal hygiene items, household items, diapers and wipes, and office supplies. To learn more, www.voicesofhopelincoln.org.

With a dedicated and united front of staff and volunteers who help the homeless and near homeless find possibilities when things seem impossible, the vision of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is to defeat hunger and homelessness and restore hope! Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, Matt Talbot is an inviting hunger relief and outreach center for those in need. Annually, Matt Talbot provides more than 100,000 nutritious meals to the hungry in Lincoln and nearly 40,000 outreach and homeless prevention services to the working poor and homeless such as housing, case management, drug and alcohol evaluations, RentWise classes, diversion, nutrition counseling, and help with obtaining vital identification documents. Most importantly, Matt Talbot provides beyond basic needs to embolden people to have hope. Matt Talbot has maintained a 4-star Charity Navigator ranking for six consecutive years, received the Better Business Bureau Integrity Award for the nonprofit sector in 2013, and was recently recognized for transparency with a Gold Seal on their GuideStarNonprofit Profile. Contact Susanne Blue, CMSW, executive director of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach, at (402) 477-4116 / susanne.blue@mtko.org, or learn more online at www.mtko.org. 78 Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

Lincoln Medical Education Partnership (LMEP) is a leader in healthcare education, patient care, and behavioral health services through a variety of programs designed to meet community needs. These include the training of Family Medicine resident physicians and the delivery of exemplary patient care through the Lincoln Family Residency Program and the Lincoln Family Medicine Center, exposure to integrative medicine through Lincoln Medical Acupuncture, outpatient mental health and substance use counseling services for adults and children through Stepping Stones, the provision of training and technical assistance to help schools identify and assist students with behavioral health issues through School Community Intervention & Prevention (SCIP) and the delivery of expert medical care to pediatric patients in Lincoln’s hospitals through Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists. To learn more about Lincoln Medical Education Partnership, go online to www.lmep.com or call (402) 483-4581.

Incorporated in 2002, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) started with the goal of helping nonprofits help their communities. CEO Anne Hindery has led the organization since 2008. “We serve and strengthen more than 650 nonprofits of all sizes and missions in Nebraska and western Iowa. By connecting organizations with information, education, advocacy, and collaboration, we help our members representing health and human services, the arts, education and other areas make an impact in the communities they serve,” Hindery said. NAM’s signature Guidelines and Principles Program (nonprofitam. org/GuidelinesandPrinciples) provides legal compliance and best practices information in 12 major areas of nonprofit management: communication, evaluation, financial management, fundraising, governance, human resources, information technology, planning, public policy and advocacy, strategic alliances, transparency and accountability, and volunteer management. The National Council of Nonprofits, the nation’s largest network of nonprofits, recognizes NAM as the state association for Nebraska. Learn more about NAM at www.nonprofitam.org or call (402) 557-5800.

The mission of the Nebraska Safety Council is simple: For more than 60 years, they have provided education and leadership to empower people to live safe and healthy. The Nebraska Safety Council’s comprehensive programs, training courses, events, and services are designed to improve employee care at a desk, on the production floor, behind the wheel, and off the job. Their unique Worker 360° approach provides integrated risk management to improve overall worker quality of life and positively impact an organization’s bottom line. Members of the Nebraska Safety Council include organizations throughout Nebraska and surrounding areas, across a variety of industries. There is no one-size-fits-all option. Each company’s safety and wellbeing program is customized for their needs and size. Demonstrate your commitment to employee safety and health by becoming a member of the Nebraska Safety Council. You will receive access to training, guidance, and resources to establish or enhance your safety and wellness programs and policies. The Nebraska Safety Council provides leadership and resources for a safe and healthy workplace and community. To reach their team, call (402) 483-2511 or visit nesafetycouncil.org to learn more. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The People’s City Mission is Lincoln’s only homeless shelter. Started in 1907, the Mission has helped over a million people over the last 100 plus years. The Mission is much more than an emergency shelter. It feeds men, women, and children three times a day; helps individuals and families find permanent housing; and works with guests to reintegrate back into the workforce. The Help Center gives away free donated housewares, food, and clothing. Daily, we deliver over 100 sack lunches to homeless on the streets. The Mission is growing in its needs, helping over 30,000 individuals every year. It relies on the public for nearly all of the funds that come in. Like Pastor Tom always says, “If we all give a little, we can change a lot!” For more information, please visit People’s City Mission online at pcmlincoln.org or call (402) 475-1303.

Angels Among Us provides financial assistance to families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. Any family living in or being treated in Nebraska is eligible to apply. Once approved, families are provided with $500 a month for the length of their entire treatment plan, up to three years, to help them stay financially stable during treatment. Funds are paid directly to the creditor, which ensures that funds are used for their intended purpose. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, a family’s life as they know it comes to an abrupt halt. Unfortunately, their monthly expenses do not. Since 2006, Angels Among Us has assisted over 450 families with over $2 million in support. There are angels among us. Will you be one? Gifts of any amount are welcome and encouraged. There is strength in numbers. There is also hope, help, and monetary relief. For more information, contact Angels Among Us at (402) 934-0999 or visit the website at www.myangelsamongus.org.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone needed to get energy from food. T1D strikes children and adults suddenly and is unrelated to diet or exercise; at present, there is no cure. JDRF works every day to change this reality. As the largest global funder of T1D research, the mission of JDRF is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. You can help make a difference by participating, volunteering, or fundraising. Events: • JDRF Gala – April 17, 2021 • JDRF TypeOneNation Summit – Spring 2021 • JDRF One Walk, Lincoln & Kearney – October 3, 2021 Programs: • Advocacy – Advocate for government support of research and policies for affordable and accessible therapies. • Support/Networking Groups (virtual until further notice) - JDRF T1D Talk – Connecting the T1D community – individuals and families, 2nd Tuesday of every month - Empower1 – Connecting the adolescent T1D community, 2nd Thursday of every month • Give Back at School – School education and fundraising opportunities • Outreach – Resources and events for individuals and families • Ride – Destination cycling experience for all fitness levels • YLC – Young professionals raising awareness and funds for T1D. Learn more at jdrf.org/nebraskaiowa or (402) 397-2873. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Loaves and Fishes aims to provide food to the hungry in downtown Lincoln. Through partner Lulu's on N, Loaves and Fishes provides three free meals per week, snacks and coffee Monday through Friday, and a weekly grocery pantry. They also offer gloves and hats in the winter and hygiene items year-round. You can support their mission in several ways: donate funds through the website at lulusonn.com; donate items such as ZipLoc sandwich bags, coffee creamer, fresh fruit, or snack items; or purchase food from LuLu's or book them to cater your next event. Every meal that is purchased helps to provide meals for the hungry in our community. Good food doing good!

As Nebraska’s industry-leading and award-winning senior care exper t, Tabitha empowers people to live joyfully, age gratefully. Nonprofit Tabitha cares for and about seniors across 26 counties offering: resultsdriven rehabilitation, accessible at-home health care, innovative living communities, compassionate hospice care, and Tabitha Meals on Wheels (Lincoln). For all senior care needs, Tabitha is the Answer. Tabitha welcomes civic-minded individuals to donate their time, talent, and treasure to help provide support to Seniors. Find out how you can make a difference in the lives of local veterans, teachers, public servants, and community leaders who need a helping hand. Connect with Tabitha at Tabitha.org or call (402) 486-8520.

Through a growing grassroots network of volunteers who hail from every corner or the state, Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) unleashes abundant local assets, inspires charitable giving, and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska. Headquartered in Lincoln with employees working from hometowns all across the state, Nebraska Community Foundation provides financial management, strategic development, donor education, and training in partnership with 1,500 volunteers serving 270 Nebraska communities. In the last five years, 45,313 contributions were made to NCF and its affiliated funds. Since 1994, NCF has reinvested $393.1 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org or call (402) 323-7330.

Founded in 1932, Catholic Social Ser vices (CSS) of Southern Nebraska is the c haritable ar m of the Diocese of Lincoln, ser ving all individuals regardless of faith in the southern third of Nebraska. Their services cover 24,000 square miles and touch the lives of nearly 30,000 people annually. Catholic Social Services provides food pantry services, emergency services—which include rent and utility assistance, disaster relief, refugee, and immigration services—St. Gianna Women’s Homes (a program for women and their children escaping violence and domestic abuse), and a Clinical/Family Counseling program which provides psychological services. Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska has offices in Lincoln, Auburn, Hastings, and Imperial. To volunteer, donate, or connect with CSS in bringing Hope in the Good Life, visit www. cssisus.org or call (402) 474-1600. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 79

The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides emotional support to victims of disasters from home fires to major events such as hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes. About 40% of the nation’s blood needed by patients is supplied by the Red Cross. The organization teaches skills such as CPR and First Aid that save lives. Additionally, the Red Cross provides international humanitarian aid and supports military members, veterans, and their families. Every day, the American Red Cross is active in the community, serving those in need. Visit redcross.org or call 1-(800) RED-CROSS to support Red Cross efforts by volunteering, donating financially or giving blood. In this era of COVID-19 and navigating the “new normal”, connection and authentic relationships are more critical than ever. Plus, the need and opportunity to serve and support others is just as important. CBMC Lincoln offers you the opportunity to connect with others and grow personally, professionally and spiritually. CBMC is a ministry to men in the marketplace, encouraging them toward spiritual development, personal integrity, principled leadership, and a desire to impact others. CBMC encourages you in connecting closely with Christ and with others who are growing and discovering how to represent Christ in life and work. CBMC offers one-on-one mentoring, challenging growth groups, leadership development, networking, and events throughout the year. They serve business owners and leaders through Peer Advisory Groups, geared to equip members to lead lives and businesses which honor Christ, and serve the community. Young Professional (YP) groups offer opportunities for men from all areas of the workplace engage with other YP’s as well learn from senior leaders and business owners. To learn how CBMC Lincoln can serve you, please contact CBMC Lincoln at (402) 540-1093 or visit lincoln.cbmc.com. “Kids need hope, now more than ever,” says TeamMates of Lincoln Coordinator Jim Bennett. “TeamMates’ work centers around youth, and as our mission says, we aim to positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring.” TeamMates of Lincoln, the flagship chapter of the regional mentoring program co-founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne in 1991, annually supports approximately 1,500 mentors matched with students in grades 3–12. Mentors meet one-to-one with mentees once a week at their student’s school, or twice monthly via Zoom. Matches often play games, shoot hoops, read or journal together, or complete community service or craft projects. The most important aspect of the meeting is building a meaningful relationship. “Mentors are not parents or peers, but caring adult friends who don’t have to be perfect or know all the answers,“ says Mentor Support Specialist, Stacey Blizek. “TeamMates are cheerleaders, sounding boards, and developers.” The need for TeamMates mentors is great, with 800+ students on Lincoln’s waiting list. If you would like to experience the power of mentoring, please call the TeamMates office at (402) 436-1990 or go online to LincolnTeamMates.org. 80 Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

For over 20 years, Domesti-PUPS has been supporting people in our local, regional, and national communities through the assistance of animals. From therapy dogs in the classroom motivating children to pet therapy visitations in nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living centers, Domesti-PUPS pet therapy teams bring a bit of brightness through their furry encounters. The organization’s service dog teams provide increased independence when paired with a disabled partner. These highly-skilled canines can turn on lights, provide balance and mobility, retrieve dropped items, bring a bottle of water from a refrigerator, respond to medical emergencies such as a seizure or a diabetic high or low, and open doors both literally and figuratively. Some even provide life-saving measures for their disabled partners. Learn more online at www.domesti-pups.org.

The Malone Community Center was founded in 1955 through a reorganization of the Lincoln Urban league. Initially founded during a time in history when civil rights for African Americans were extremely limited, the league founders, both black and white, were determined to improve social and economic conditions and increase understanding between all races. They believed that enhanced understanding between all groups of people would create a better community. For decades, the Malone Center has served neighboring families, youth, seniors, and the Lincoln community through programs and initiatives that extend well beyond the community center to uphold their mission to end multigenerational poverty. Their holistic community programming reflects their commitment to advancing equality through education, health initiatives, community outreach, advocacy, and leadership development. For more information about the Malone Community Center, please visit MaloneCenter.org or call (402) 474-1110.

Wear Yellow Nebraska provides ser vice, support, and community for Nebraska’s cancer survivors. Their purpose, from the very beginning, is to bring together people passionate about cycling, celebrating life, and being an advocate in the fight against cancer. Since the organization’s beginning days, Wear Yellow Nebraska has continued to grow and cultivate their mission and vision. In 2012, they launched a free transportation program, which has directed more than $150,000 dollars in providing more than 9,300 cab rides to cancer patients in need. The Wear Yellow Cab Ride program, Powered by Lyft, is the primary initiative of the organization and is funded by their signature event, the Wear Yellow Ride, Fun Run & Walk. Transportation to and from treatment is essential because patients are often unable to drive themselves, which also leaves them vulnerable to additional medical challenges. Even when patients have family and friends who can help, they are not always available and sometimes they just don’t want to ask for one more thing. Wear Yellow Nebraska touches lives in Lincoln, Omaha, and Fremont—help them keep growing! Learn more online at WearYellowNebraska.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program at Family Service Lincoln, provides more than just healthy foods. Family Service WIC is a nutrition program that provides healthy foods to eligible families at no cost. Individuals eligible for WIC include: pregnant women, women up to six months postpartum, breastfeeding women up to one year postpartum, infants, and children up to age five. Individuals must also live in the state of Nebraska and meet income guidelines. Participation in other programs such as SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) would automatically meet the income requirement. In addition to healthy foods, WIC provides nutrition counseling, breastfeeding education, and community referrals for additional support. Family Service WIC helps families thrive because we are all family and we are in this together! For more information about Family Service WIC, visit the Family Service Lincoln website at familyservicelincoln.org/wic-womeninfants-children or call (402) 441-8655 for appointments and hours.

Established in 1992, The Mediation Center fills a unique and important niche in our community. With staff possessing expertise in conflict resolution and consensus building strategies, along with the commitment of nearly 100 extensively trained mediators, over the years thousands of mediations have benefited thousands of individuals. The Center operates on a sliding fee scale and is dedicated to providing anyone in our community access to professional mediation services regardless of their ability to pay. Mediation is a non-adversarial process for resolving disputes guided by a neutral third party mediator. The Mediation Center is proud of the quality and breadth of their programming and works relentlessly towards achieving a future for our community where mediation is the first option considered to resolve conflict and preserve relationships. Call The Mediation Center at (402) 441-5740 or go to the website at themediationcenter.org for more information or to request services.

“We’re so much more than just coats and winter apparel. We’re a promise to Nebraskans in need—a promise for a truly warmer day. The brutal Nebraska winters take massive tolls on the thousands of people right here in our own state. The cold is unbiased to the mothers who cannot afford a coat or the homeless who go without.” At A Warmer Day, they strive to solve this very issue but cannot do it alone. They need help from the commuity to make sure that no one is left out in such merciless weather conditions. A Warmer Day asks that you please become a soldier in their mission to combat the callous cold by making a monthly donation of $10. Your donation will help provide 15–20 coats to those in need in your first year. A Warmer Day members can rest easy in knowing that every dollar given makes a profound, local difference in their community. As an organization ran only by volunteers, A Warmer Day depends on support from the community. For information about how to get involved or to find a coat drop-off location, visit www.awarmerday. org or contact (402) 480-7463 / info@awarmerday.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

“Poverty limits opportunity. We don’t.” Since 1965, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties has been empowering people living in poverty to reach economic stability. Community Action provides unique programs and services in four impact areas: Early Childhood Education, Homelessness Prevention, Financial and Family Well-Being, and Hunger Relief and Healthy Food Access. Just some programs include Head Start, which supports children from at-risk backgrounds and their families in building skills for success; Emergency Services, which provides rent, utility, and deposit assistance to those at-risk of experiencing homelessness; and the Gathering Place, which provides free hot, nutritious meals to anyone experiencing hunger in Lincoln. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Action is continuing provision of its poverty-fighting programming, following guidance from local health experts. In 2019, Community Action provided over 112,000 poverty-fighting services to over 20,000 children and adults. To connect, call (402) 471-4515 or visit www. communityactionatwork.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln has helped families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership since 1988. Its priority is to work with future homebuyers who would otherwise not be able to achieve homeownership through a traditional mortgage loan. By increasing the number of homeowners throughout Lincoln, Habitat Lincoln is building neighborhoods and strengthening the community. Habitat Lincoln has partnered with more than 180 local families, serving more than 812 men, women, and children through the construction of new single-family homes, as well as simple and critical repair projects. Habitat Lincoln serves families whose income is up to 50% of median for the Lincoln area, with the average AMI being less than 40% over the past 10 years. It partners with first-time homebuyers. Many Habitat families are immigrants or refugees, and all are living in substandard housing—whether it be dilapidated, overcrowded, or cost-burdened. Get involved at lincolnhabitat.org.

The Branched Oak Observatory is a unique astronomical park located conveniently just 20 minutes from downtown Lincoln near Branched Oak Lake Recreation Area. Established in 2015, they offer a unique viewing experience and learning opportunity for young and old alike. The Observatory has a 30-student classroom, visitors center, and two buildings dedicated for viewing the night sky. Whether viewing the sun, the moon, or deep space star clusters and nebula, the Observatory’s staff of volunteers—amateur and professional astronomers alike— help to “Bring the Night Sky Down to Earth.” They hold monthly events called “Star Parties” that are FREE and fun for the whole family. Please follow the Branched Oak Observatory on Facebook (@ BranchedOakObservatory). If you would like more information, please email Matt Anderson at matthew@branchedoakobservatory. com or call (402) 480-5515. Branched Oak Observatory is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. JANUARY 2021 Strictly Business 81

The Lighthouse After-School Program is celebrating 30 years of offering middle and high school-aged youth academic support, evening meals, and enrichment/recreational activities during non-school hours, MondayFriday, 12 months a year. The goal is to “Increase the likelihood of high school graduation of middle and high school-aged youth by providing high quality after-school programming.” Program eligibility requirements are: 1) Youth must be actively attending school or working on a G.E.D., 2) Youth cannot be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and 3) Youth must demonstrate unconditional respect to the people and property of Lighthouse. All programs and services are offered to participants without cost. Lighthouse had to reevaluate how to effectively help the students during COVID. The decision was made to allow students to attend Lighthouse during their school day, log on to a stable fast internet connection, enjoy breakfast and lunch, and receive in-person support and guidance. Learn more online at lincolnlighthouse.org or call (402) 475-3220. HopeSpoke inspires healthy futures for c hildren and families through comprehensive behavioral and mental health services. The struggle is real. Mental health issues and trauma are hard for anyone to overcome, especially if you’re a kid. When things feel hopeless, HopeSpoke helps families find confidence. This is true even during the COVID-19 pandemic. HopeSpoke plays an invaluable role in providing children, youth, adults, and entire families with the skills to feel empowered and be successful—helping them heal, be courageous, and find strength to live well. With a 71-year history and positive presence, HopeSpoke continues to reach out with expert care in new ways to make our community a better place full of happy, hopeful, healthy families. Services include Crisis & Residential, Extended Day Treatment Program, Outpatient Services, School Programs, and more. For more information about HopeSpoke’s programs and the latest adaptations, or to make a donation, please go to www.hopespoke.org or call (402) 475-7666. The Nebraska Chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF of Nebraska) is part of the world’s largest and oldest children’s youth ministry. Established in 1937, the global ministry has reached over 250 million children with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are unique in that they focus specifically on elementary children ages 5–12. CEF of Nebraska’s Good News Clubs (GNC) are after school clubs during the school year that primarily meet in local public schools. During the summer, their 5-Day Clubs go where the children are—neighborhoods, homes, and parks. Anyone who is interested in supporting the CEF of Nebraska can join the Harvest Club. In light of the gospel of Luke (chapter 10, verse 2), the Harvest Club is an opportunity to give $10.02 each month to financially support this ministry. In addition, Harvest Club members are encouraged to set their alarm for 10:02 (a.m. or p.m.) to earnestly pray for laborers serving through CEF of Nebraska each day. CEF of Nebraska (cefnebraska.org) brings the gospel of Jesus Christ to children for an opportunity in which to make a life changing decision for Christ in a safe and loving environment. If you would like to know more, please contact Matt Anderson at matta@cefnebraska. org or call (402) 484-7877. 82 Strictly Business JANUARY 2021

DreamCatchers Ride, Inc., is a mentoring organization for youth who wish to develop a bond with horses, but whose families don’t have the means to support one. Studies prove that a relationship with a horse helps youth to develop important physical and emotional skills that they will use throughout life. DreamCatchers provides the opportunity to build that relationship, and develop relationships with a positive adult or older teen role model. DreamCatchers participants exhibit growth in their horsemanship ability, but also grow in confidence, develop stronger friendships, learn to speak up for themselves and others, show improvement in grades, and develop the ability to set and achieve goals. These skills lead to becoming more productive citizens, developing better focus overall, identifying safe and unsafe situations, and learning that every decision made has consequences, whether positive or negative. DreamCatchers Ride, Inc. can be reached at www.dreamcatchersride. org or on Facebook at (@DreamCatchersRide). RISE is an innovative “inside-out” program serving incarcerated people through an intensive six-month reentry class inside seven Nebraska state prisons. Additionally, RISE provides reentry services to released program graduates. In-prison programming focuses on character development, job readiness, reentry planning, and entrepreneurship. Reentry programming includes case management, employment aid, transportation, housing support, mental health, and substance abuse resources, and help obtaining basic needs for returning citizens. RISE’s vision is that all people find freedom from cycles of incarceration. When people reenter society well and are supported by the community, public safety increases, people can begin to build wealth for their families, maintain healthy relationships, and break the cycles of incarceration. You can make a direct impact on your community with RISE through volunteering at RISE in-prison events, reviewing program participant resumes online, becoming a RISE Reentry Mentor, volunteering with our policy and advocacy team, and through financial support. To learn more, visit www.seeusrise.org or call (402) 999-8063. Lincoln Literacy, an award-winning nonprofit, provides English language and literacy instruction to adults and families in Lancaster County. Thanks to hundreds of trained volunteer tutors, it’s able to offer dozens of free classes a week, as well as one-to-one tutoring. Many in Lincoln’s refugee and immigrant communities, along with homegrown Americans, look to Lincoln Literacy for help. In normal times, it’s a long-term, in-person, mentoring kind of service. When the COVID-19 shutdown hit with just a few days’ notice, Lincoln Literacy had to reinvent itself. Although the staff is highly international, classes have always been English-only to be fair to all involved. The pandemic changed everything. Lincoln Literacy responded by providing information in many languages, training volunteer tutors in online instruction, infusing classes with tips on how to land jobs in the shattered economy, and adding dual-language online classes to help beginning learners understand what’s going on. Now, Woods Charitable Fund has given Lincoln Literacy a three-year grant to help people attain living-wage jobs. According to Lincoln Literacy’s Executive Director Clayton Naff, planning for the coming school year is like driving through a thick fog, but the agency is fortunate to have generous funding, great volunteers, and meaningful needs to address. To learn more, visit www.lincolnliteracy. org or call (402) 476-7323. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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