Strictly Business Omaha February 2018

STRICTLYBUSINESSOMAHA.COM

OMAHA • FEBRUARY 2018

Building Relationships

Featured: The McGill Restoration Team see

About The Cover on PG 3 for more!

In This Issue

RIVER CITY SIX

Through Craftsmanship

• Building Maintenance • Kids’ Health • Wedding Planning • Senior Living Client Spotlights • Honeyman Rent-All • No Coast Business Advisors

BRIANNA KUEBLER

SHAYNE ZUTAVERN

MICHELLE NIELSON

JIM SHAW

LAWRENCE OWENS

ANALISA McMILLAN

JMISKO surgical design | md

TM

Strictly Business

American Heart Association

University of SoaringFEBRUARY Wings Concentric Visual Business 2018 Strictly Nebraska Online 1 Vineyard & Brewery Design

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FOCUSING ON YOUR BRAND

PAIGE ZUTAVERN - Omaha/Lincoln - President 402-730-0096 | Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com

Great Brands That Compete On Value: Evaluate Marketing Opportunities Wisely

I’ve been following the Freeport Press blog for years, and recently I came across a post I thought fitting to share with my readers who are determining the best avenues for promotion of their businesses/organizations in the coming year.

“TV, Print Still Most Influential Advertising” Author: David Pilcher When your customers are making a buying decision, what factors into their choice? If they’re like most people, trust in your brand is a huge part of the deal. So how can brands build more trust, especially during this time of fake news and ad fraud? If you go by the findings of a recent survey from Clutch, you do it by advertising in traditional media like TV and print. “...traditional media has a “TV continues to be the single big edge over digital in ROI most influential advertising and building brand metrics” medium for US adults, details Clutch in recent survey results,” notes [this post in] Marketing Charts (an article entitled “People Still Say Traditional Media Ads Influence Them the Most”). “Six in 10 respondents to Clutch’s survey said that TV ads influence them to make purchases, with print (45%) ads next on the list.”

“Advertising through traditional mediums is seen as the most trustworthy: 61% of consumers trust TV, [followed by] print (58%), radio/podcast (45%), and out-of-home (42%),” notes Kristen Herhold of Clutch.

“The least trustworthy advertising mediums are online (41%) and social media (38%),” Herhold continues.

This comes on top of a ton of recent research showing the power of print in the customer funnel, and the critical role trust plays in advertising.

Try as they might, digital ads face an uphill battle in the trust and acceptance area. Not all ads are created equal, and digital ads just aren’t as accepted or welcome as those in print. Think about your own experience. How much do you love the video ads or the in-line shopping spots on your social feed? Judging by the explosion of ad blocking usage, I think we know that answer.

Research aside, think about your own experience with television and print ads. Do you engage in them even a little bit more than you do the ads

on your news feed? Do you pay attention a little bit longer, with a little more of your awareness? Most likely you do, and that’s why traditional media has a big edge over digital in ROI and building brand metrics.

Never before have there been so many options to consider for marketing, which makes for tough decisions given budget constraints.

There’s always going to be that new, shiny thing that seems to be attracting all of the attention – innovation is the very nature of my industry, just the same as yours and all others. Despite the fact that there’s plenty of data to support the claims that traditional media remains relevant and impactful, we too have capitalized on new opportunities for growth, thus diversifying and evolving with the times.

For instance, many traditional media companies such as TV, print, and radio also have a strong online presence and have been quite smart at leveraging their websites, social media, etc. for further reach. You might be surprised how much you stand to benefit from their offerings aside from the obvious. In the case of Strictly Business, since our clients’ editorial is not only published in the print magazine but also posted on our website and shared on our Facebook page, we’re seeing incredible results with our search engine results page (SERP) rankings. Our Omaha website alone delivered over 3.8 million Google search impressions for our clients in 2017. If you’re looking to build your online credibility, it doesn’t get much better.

Sure, it’s exciting to try something new in hopes that it delivers results far surpassing what you’ve experienced with your past efforts. And it might just do that. Yet, when modifying your marketing strategy, foregoing consistency in other areas would be much to your detriment.

The proverb “don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” meaning don’t risk everything on the success of one venture, aptly applies to many things in business, including marketing. Your strategy must be multifaceted in order to be effective. Instead of going all in on one form of advertising, especially something relatively new, spread your bets and moderate the odds. Take calculated risks that allow you to explore a different approach while still allocating resources to methods with proven outcomes. After all, they have stood the test of time while others have come and gone, something that doesn’t just happen by chance in a highly competitive environment.

To learn more about how Strictly Business can help you, contact me directly at (402) 466-3330 or visit strictly-business.com/connect. (You can also click on our Staff Letter tab online to view past articles)

CONTENTS NEWS

4 Business 22 Personnel

27 Non-Profit 32 Health

SPOTLIGHTS

16 River City Six 40 Honeyman Rent-All 48 No Coast Business Advisors

ASK THE EXPERT 26 Sandler Training

FEATURE STORIES

34 39 41 44 4

Building Maintenance Kids’ Health Wedding Planning Senior Living Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2018

Amanda

Holly

Kristin

Jenna

PRODUCTION TEAM: Editor Amanda Wilson - Amanda@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Art Director Holly Ryan - Design@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Graphic Designer Kristin White - Creative@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com SALES TEAM: President/Sales Paige Zutavern - Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Executive Assistant Jenna Broulette - Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Publisher/Founder/Accounting Shayne Zutavern - SZutavern@yahoo.com 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

The McGill Way:

Our company’s culture is a set of norms and practices, a feeling, a personality – it defines who we are and what we do.

McGill Restoration looks much different today than it did at its inception, 33 years ago. Despite the many recent changes and significant growth, McGill Restoration has maintained its foundation of providing high-quality work and steadfast commitment to client satisfaction. The major areas of growth for the company have been personnel, technology, company culture and geographic market.

McGill Restoration used 2017 as a year to grow and refocus. They grew by creating five new positions, adding key management personnel to their team.

One of the most important investments that McGill Restoration made in 2017 was a culture branding initiative. The culture initiative allowed McGill Restoration to better define their identity and values. The result of the culture branding initiative is The McGill Way. In short, The McGill Way defines the company’s culture and acknowledges those who exemplify it. Tim McGill, President and owner of McGill Restoration said, “We realize that our greatest assets are our employees. In order to allow our employees to continue their successes, it was important for us to develop a culture that recognizes their significant contributions and rewards their accomplishments.” The McGill Way includes monthly recognition of two individuals who demonstrate the company’s core values through their behaviors and attitudes. Fellow employees vote to determine The McGill Way winners.

Tim McGill believes that the company’s culture is a key component of employee satisfaction and engagement. McGill states, “A positive company culture that allows employees to become empowered to make a difference is essential to any company’s success. One of our greatest challenges in 2017 was finding the necessary, high-caliber people to join our team. When searching for additional hires, we made a concerted effort to find people who had not just the necessary skills and training, but also had the commitment to our company values and culture.

My philosophy has always been to surround myself with highly capable people, provide them with the right tools and the necessary training to do their jobs well, and watch them succeed.”

Along with adding more team members, McGill Restoration spent 2017 as a year of reinvestment in itself. They made significant investments to have up-to-date, cutting-edge technology, which effectively restructured the whole process in which McGill Restoration conducts business. Every aspect of their business including bid creation, project tracking, accounting, time reporting and payroll is now done with one integrated system. This new technology allows McGill Restoration to be more analytical and responsive to constantly changing markets and projects.

In 2017, McGill Restoration increased their presence in several of their key market segments.

Department of Transportation (DOT) and Infrastructure projects have become a larger segment of work produced and in turn, have earned a place in their long-term strategic business plan.

According to Darin Cielocha, Vice President of Business Development, “2018 will be an exciting year for McGill Restoration. With all of the legwork that was done last year building out our team and developing new technology products, we have the tools we need to bring the company to a new level.”

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McGillRestoration.com 402.558.7989 2821 Grebe St, Omaha, NE 2939 Cornhusker Hwy, Lincoln, NE

Featured On Front Cover Pictured (L-R): Ben Russell, VP of Operations; Dennis Rice, Superintendent/Branch Manager Lincoln; Timothy F. McGill, Owner & President; Darin Cielocha, VP of Business Development; James Duran, Executive Vice President; and Blake Berke, CFO.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Kangen Water of Omaha, LLC Opens First Storefront Kangen Water of Omaha, LLC has opened its first store in Omaha, located in the Westport Plaza at 144th & F Street.

Kangen Water of Omaha has been a global distributor for Enagic International for the last two years. Based in Okinawa, Japan, Enagic began operations in 1974 and is a leader in manufacturing water-ionization systems that transform regular tap water into pure, healthy, electrolytically-reduced and hydrogen-rich drinking water.

To date, hundreds of thousands of Kangen Water® machines have been distributed to homes, medical facilities and other businesses internationally.

“Kangen Water® has so many benefits for everyone!” says Omaha store owner Donna Retherford, who is also known as the “Water Lady.”

“We share Kangen Water® with individuals who do not like to drink tap or bottled water, who are dealing with health issues, families who want their children drinking water instead of sugary juice drinks or sports drinks, athletes who want a better way to stay hydrated while they are working out, or those who just like to drink quality water.”

Kangen Water of Omaha not only shares water with individuals for FREE, but also educates them about the differences between tap water, bottled water, reverse osmosis water and Kangen Water® so they can be proactive about filtering their source water, then ionizing it to achieve the healthiest water possible. The Enagic® machines do so much more than just put out hydrogen-rich water that the demand for Kangen Water® is constantly increasing.

To learn more about Kangen Water of Omaha, LLC and the benefits of Kangen Water®, visit the new store, call (402) 938-4267, or find them online at www.KangenWaterOmaha.com.

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Anytime Fitness Opens New Club in Elkhorn A ny ti me F i t ne s s now has a location in Elkhorn, NE! The Club’s opening was held on January 24th, kicking off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by officials of the West O Chamber.

“What differentiates Anytime Fitness from other clubs is our focus on helping members get the results that they’re seeking,” said Club owner Tammy Davis. “Our gym is small enough that we can provide personalized attention for all of our members. Whether weight-loss is your goal, or increased strength or improved balance and flexibility – or a combination – we’re committed to helping you achieve those goals. We also make it easy for our members to exercise whenever and however they like.”

The layout of every Anytime Fitness club is designed for quick and effective exercise. At the new club in Elkhorn, NE, members have full use of top-quality equipment and amenities, including: Circuit and resistance training machines; free weights; cardio equipment, including treadmills, rowers, stair mills, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes; small group fitness sessions; and private bathrooms, with changing rooms and showers.

Membership at one Anytime Fitness club gives members access to nearly 3,600 clubs worldwide at no extra charge. The gyms are staffed roughly 8 hours a day, but members can access the club whenever they like – even during unstaffed hours – using a computerized key-fob system. Membership information for the new Anytime Fitness in Indian Creek Plaza is available by calling (402) 939-7444 or by emailing ElkhornNE@anytimefitness.com.

BUSINESS NEWS

Omaha Property Included in $368M Medical Office Building Portfolio Sale

Sandler Training Breaks Ground on New Building to House Omaha Training Facility

CBRE (www.cbre.com) recently announced that it facilitated the $367.7 million portfolio sale of 25 medical office buildings owned by IRET, a real estate company based in Minneapolis and Minot, North Dakota, to Chicago-based Harrison Street Real Estate Capital LLC (“Harrison Street”), one of the largest real estate investment firms dedicated to the education, healthcare and storage sectors. CBRE’s Healthcare Capital Markets Group, led by Chris Bodnar and Lee Asher, partnered with BMO Capital Markets to serve as advisors on the sale, which closed December 29, 2017. Most of the healthcare properties included are located in the Twin Cities metro area, with additional facilities in North/ Central Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

The Nebraska property included in the sale is located at 17001 Lakeside Hills Plaza in Omaha.

Sandler Training Omaha recently broke ground at the future site of its brand new training facility at 10711 O Street, which is scheduled to open this summer. This state-of-the-art training facility will further improve the sales training product Sandler has been providing the Omaha community for decades.

The sale follows a November announcement by IRET that it had entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell its entire healthcare portfolio, which totals 29 medical office building and healthcare tenant-occupied properties. According to an IRET press release, the company plans to complete the sale of its remaining healthcare-related properties over the next six months as part of its transition to a multifamily-focused company.

Brookestone Meadows Earns National Quality Award Brookestone Meadows Rehabilitation and Care Center has been recognized as a 2017 recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award for its dedication to improving the lives of residents through quality care. The program honors association members across the nation that have demonstrated their Pictured (L-R): Dr. Timothy Malloy, Medical commitment to improving Director; Senator Linehan; Virginia quality of care for seniors Leacock, Administrator; Glenn Van Ekeren, President, Vetter Senior Living. and persons with disabilities.

“This recognition is a direct reflection of the hard-working team at Brookestone Meadows,” said Virginia Leacock, Administrator of Brookestone Meadows. “The quality award process challenged our teams to look closely at how we provide resident care and always ask ‘How can we make it better?’”

The Award Program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. As a recipient of the Bronze - Commitment to Quality Award, Brookestone Meadows may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the Silver - Achievement in Quality Award criteria. “I commend Brookestone Meadows for embarking on the journey to quality improvement,” said the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers Chair Alana Wolfe. “I encourage the team there to continue to build on the strong foundation it has created.”

The National Quality Award Program, which AHCA/NCAL established in 1996, is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which is also the foundation of the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The Baldrige program helps organizations in different business sectors improve and achieve performance excellence.

The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 68th Annual Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 15-18, 2017.

A recognition ceremony was held at Brookestone Meadows on January 12th, with Jack Vetter, founder of Vetter Health Services; Senator Lou Ann Linehan; and Tracy Rathe, Senior Vice President of the Nebraska Health Care Association in attendance.

With the local franchise experiencing significant growth and heightened interest in the Sandler Sales System throughout the Midwest, in addition to the plans for the new facility in Omaha, Sandler also expanded into Des Moines, IA, opening a new office there this past fall.

Sandler Sales Training is a global training organization with over three decades of experience and proven results. Offerings include sales and management training and consulting services for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as corporate training.

For more information about Sandler Sales Training, contact Karl Schaphorst at (402) 403-4334 / kschaphorst@sandler.com. You can also find out more online at www.karlschaphorst.sandler.com.

Ribbon Cutting Held for Mount Michael’s New Learning Facility The first floor of the new addition to Mount Michael B e n e d i c t i n e S c h o o l ’s campus, the David “DJ” Sokol Learning for Life Building, is complete. A ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by the West O Chamber held on January 15th marked its official public debut.

Peggy Sokol helps Oliver Levy, son of John Levy The David “DJ” Sokol ‘99, a classmate of DJ’s, cut the ribbon as Abbot Learning for Life Building Michael Liebl, O.S.B. (far right) looks on. Photo is Mount Michael’s first courtesy of student journalist Jimmy Crotty ‘19. new classroom facility in decades. It was built with a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) focus to enhance the school’s college preparatory curriculum. Construction is underway on the second floor of the building and should be completed in the spring of 2018.

“The David ‘DJ’ Sokol Learning for Life Building is transformative to our campus, school and future,” said Head of School Dr. David Peters, Ed.D. “It gives our students and teachers access to the best learning tools to build upon their already strong educational foundation. I am so excited to see the amazing things our students will accomplish now that they have access to this state-of-the-art learning facility.”

Mount Michael Benedictine School is a Catholic college preparatory residential/day high school rooted in Benedictine values for young men committed to excellence. Students develop spiritually, intellectually, and socially through the comprehensive curriculum and communal experience to become future leaders. Approximately 240 students attend Mount Michael, with a student to teacher ratio of 7:1. The class of 2017 had an ACT average of 28.5, compared to the Nebraska average of 22. For more information, visit www. mountmichael.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Northwest Feed & Grain Introduces New 4-H Rebate Program

Children’s Purchases Property to Increase Capacity, Serve More Children and Families

N o r t h we s t F e e d & Grain Co. and Wa s h C o F e e d & Supply have launc hed a new rebate program to benefit 4-H Clubs in the area!

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center is in an exciting time of expansion, driven by the growing health care needs of children and families.

Construction is underway on the Hubbard Center for Children, a new clinical facility on its main campus at 84th & Dodge set to open in late 2021. Children’s purchased properties from HDR in 2016 to secure additional administrative, education and research space.

Seizing another rare growth opportunity, Children’s has signed a purchase agreement to acquire 12 acres of property adjacent to the HDR buildings along West Dodge Road from Nebraska Methodist Health System. In developing its bid for the property, Children’s worked in collaboration with NP Dodge Company. At closing, Children’s will retain the east parcel of approximately 7 acres and buildings and NP Dodge will purchase the west parcel of approximately 5 acres and a building.

For Children’s, the acquisition will allow parking needs to be met for the foreseeable future and will provide for future expansion space to include co-locating with other organizations serving children and their needs.

For NP Dodge, the acquisition will provide for expansion to its existing West Dodge Road location and the opportunity for future development at this highly visible location.

“We plan to redevelop 8601 Dodge into a mixed-use building,” says Debra Graeve, president of NAI NP Dodge Commercial Real Estate.

“The ground level would be perfect for retail-service businesses such as restaurants, coffee shops, dry cleaners, specialty boutiques and yoga or Pilates studios. We may add a pad site in the northeast corner of the parking lot, which would be perfect for a sit-down restaurant. The surrounding area has thousands of office workers who would welcome more retail options.”

With 4-H Feed Bag Bucks, you’ll earn cash back for livestock and horse feed. Livestock: For every bag of Purina Honor Show Chow, you’ll earn $1; for every bag or bucket of Purina High Octane Supplement, you’ll earn $2! Horses: For every bag of premium Purina Horse Feeds, you’ll earn $1; for every Purina equine supplement bucket or bag, you’ll earn $2! For purchases made at either Northwest Feed & Grain or WashCo Feed & Supply, your bags will be recorded throughout the year, so there is no need to keep track or maintain a running count. The money earned by each club will be rewarded in December 2018 to fund activities in 2019.

Start earning dollars for your club today – make every bag count!

Northwest Feed & Grain Co. in Omaha, Nebraska, and WashCo Feed & Supply in Blair, Nebraska are your local suppliers of animal feeds, equipment, and serves as an information center for clients. For more information about Northwest Feed & Grain Co., serving the Omaha Metro and nearby areas, visit www.northwestfeed.com or call (402) 571-0305.

University of Nebraska Online Nursing Program Moves Up in National Rankings The UNMC College of Nursing is ranked as one of the nation’s Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs by U.S. News & World Report. In its 2018 Best Online Programs rankings released the first week of January, the college’s graduate online nursing program is tied for 58th out of 147 schools, moving up from 61 in 2017 and 73rd in 2016.

CarePatrol Receives 2018 Franchisee Satisfaction Award for 8th Consecutive Year

“This recognition that our graduate advanced practice and nurse leader programs offer such high quality online learning opportunities is important for today’s students and planning ahead for tomorrow’s lifelong learners,” said Juliann Sebastian, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. “Our faculty uses a learner-centered approach within an overall framework of evidence-based learning science. Online strategies provide an array of ways to use technology to support development of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and innovative thinking.”

For this year’s top franchise list, Franchise Business Review surveyed approximately 30,000 actual franchise owners, representing 334 franchise brands, to identify the Top 50 Franchises in four franchise size classes - Small (under 65 locations), Medium (65 120 locations), Large (120 - 299 locations) and Enterprise (300+ locations).

Gathering the information for the rankings required compiling a list of nursing schools offering master’s degree programs online and collecting data from the schools. Five categories were used to rank the programs: student engagement, 30 percent; faculty credentials and training, 20 percent; peer reputation, 20 percent; admissions selectivity, 15 percent; and student services and technology, 15 percent.

The college offers a variety of master’s and doctoral of nursing practice degree specialties that use online and other teaching formats.

The programs prepare nurse practitioners or executives in specialty tracks of women’s health, adult gerontology, pediatric, pediatric and acute care, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health, and administration.

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CarePatrol, the largest n o - c o s t s e n i o r placement agency in the U.S., has been honored with a 2018 Franchisee Satisfaction Award.

It is the eighth year in a row that CarePatrol has ranked highly as one of the top franchise opportunities, a testament to its successful business model and the strong support network provided to franchises across the nation. CarePatrol was founded in 1994 but only franchising since 2009. In that time, the company has grown to over 150 locations nationwide. CarePatrol of Nebraska, which is locally owned and operated by Theron Ahlman, was established in January of 2016. CarePatrol of Nebraska assisting clients in Lincoln, Omaha and surrounding areas with the selection of Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care communities at no cost to the family or senior and connects them with other local resources as needed.

For more information about CarePatrol of Nebraska, visit www. carepatrol.com or contact Theron Ahlman directly at (402) 5802116 / therona@carepatrol.com.

BUSINESS NEWS Swing Under the Wings With Your Sweetheart This Valentine’s Day The Strategic Air Command and Aerospace M u s e u m announces its annual Swing Under the Wings Valentine’s dinner and dance event.

Swing Under the Wings, an event that is full of fun and nostalgia, is set for Saturday, February 10.

Guests are transported back to a time when swing music filled the airwaves and World War II consumed the nation. Swing Under the Wings is an opportunity to relive the best of the 1940s as guests dine and dance in the museum’s Hangar B with historic aircraft such as the Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

Gooch and The Guys will set the mood for this USO-themed party with their big band swing sounds and guests are encouraged to dress in their 1940s best. Prizes are given throughout the night including a prize awarded for the best dressed.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner followed by the dance from 7–11 p.m. Tickets are available for $75 per person for the 6 p.m. dinner, drinks, dessert and dance ticket or $60 per person for the 7 p.m. timeframe which includes drinks, dessert and dance. Discounts apply for members. Space is limited and reservations are requested.

Ticket options are available online at www.sacmuseum.org or call the Museum’s event coordinator at (402) 944-3100 x 253.

Benefit Professionals, Inc. Gives Back in 2017 Benefit Professionals, Inc. has a long history of ser vice to the Omaha Metro and Lincoln communities and an important part of the company culture is giving back.

In 2017, Benefit Professionals, Inc. was proud to support local causes.

The firm took part in the 2017 McCallie Associates, Inc. Golf Outing that raised $12,500 to support the UNO Office of Military and Veteran Services (OMVS). These scholarships support active duty and veteran service members, along with their families. This organization ensures the military and veteran students have the necessary resources and help critical to their success. The UNO OMVS is a one-stop education advocate, committed to successful recruitment, transition, academic progress, and graduation at UNO. Benefit Professionals, Inc. also contributed to the overwhelming success of Power of the Purse, an annual fundraiser to benefit CEDARS, a foster care organization. The mission of CEDARS is to help children who have been abused, neglected and homeless achieve safety, stability, and enduring family relationships. Last year, 2,750 children and youth, and their families, were served through programs offered

by CEDARS. This event collectively raised $96,000.

The 11th Annual DJ’s Dugout Golf tournament was another cause that Benefit Professionals was honored to be a part of. The proceeds of this tournament benefit the American GI Forum.

Established in 1989, Benefit Professionals, Inc., a Bearence Management Group Company, is a group benefits brokerage firm.

The professionals at Benefit Professionals, Inc. work with clients in Nebraska and Iowa, finding solutions to meet the individual needs of each when it comes to employee benefits. For more information, please call (402) 592-7777 or visit www.benefitprofessionals.net.

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BUSINESS NEWS Veterans in Business Forum Announces Upcoming Meetings

Scooter’s Coffee Ranks on Entrepreneur’s 39th Annual Franchise 500

The Veterans in Business Forum (VIBF) meets the first Friday morning of every month (0800-0900). The next meetings will be held 2 February and 2 March at College of Business Administration, Mammel Hall – Room 215, 6708 Pine Street, Omaha, NE 68182-0048.

Scooter’s Coffee, the Midwest-based coffee franchise that has experienced tremendous nationwide growth over the past year, is receiving recognition as one of the country’s premiere franchises in Entrepreneur magazine’s recently released Franchise 500. Scooter’s Coffee landed at #414 on the coveted list that ranks companies for outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

For the February meeting, guest speaker Michael Hall, Small Business Specialist for the 55th Contracting Squadron, will speak on “Contracting With Offutt AFB.” The other guest speaker will be William Brooks of the Disabled American Veterans.

For the March meeting, guest speaker Richard “Rick” Rice, Principal at Proposals2Win, will provide a brief “Introduction to Government Request for Proposals (RFPs).” The other guest speaker will be Joe Smith from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW. The mission of the Veterans in Business Forum (VIBF) is to provide business support, education and advocacy to help veterans succeed in business and increase community awareness of veteran-owned business activities. Veterans, active duty, reservists and civilians are welcome to join and support each other and veteran-related goals.

For more infor mation, visit www.omahanebraska.com/ VeteransinBusinessForumOmahaNetworking or contact Michel Thornhill at (402) 932-7243 / info@littlemountainwebdesign.com.

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A dedication to “Amazing People, Amazing Drinks…Amazingly Fast!”™ helped propel Scooter’s Coffee into the highly sought-after honor. Entrepreneur received more than 1,000 applications. Over its 39 years in existence, the Franchise 500 has become both a dominant, competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Scooter’s Coffee’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

The key factors that go into Entrepreneur’s evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and ability. All franchises are given a cumulative score based on more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.

To view Scooter’s Coffee in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur. com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands now.

Find more information about Scooter’s Coffee online at scooterscoffee. com. Visit ownascooters.com to learn more about the benefits of owning a franchise.

BUSINESS NEWS Zimmerman Allstate Agency Relocates Office to Elkhorn

Fox Fertilizer Grows Team, Inventory to Accommodate Growth in 2018

The Zimmerman Allstate Agency recently relocated its office to Elkhorn! A grand opening celebration was held on January 17th, kicking off with a ribboncutting ceremony conducted by officials with the West O Chamber to commemorate the occasion. A reception was held afterward, with neighbors and clients welcome to stop by to meet the staff and check out the new location.

With the explosion of growth last season and in anticipation of the 2018 season being the best one yet, Fox Liquid Fertilizer Service of Lincoln, NE has prepared accordingly. With the recent addition of new equipment and two new team members, Fox Liquid Fertilizer Service is pleased to announce that they are currently accepting new clients for the 2018 season!

“By increasing both our staff and equipment this year, we are better equipped than ever to serve the Lincoln area,” says owner Jordan Nun. He adds, “When prospective customers reach out to us, and inquire about services for their lawn, we don’t push for ‘add-on services’ or lots of applications; in fact we usually only recommend three applications per season for a beautiful, healthy and weed-free lawn! We are results-oriented and don’t go cheap on the materials we use on your lawn. Our applications are more effective than the competition’s and are able to save our customers a lot of money, and if it’s not right we will always make it right!”

Fox Liquid Fertilizer Service partners with home and business owners to provide fertilizer, weed-control, grub-control, fungicide and other specialty services exclusively for turf grass.

For more information or to inquire services offered by Fox Liquid Fertilizer Service, contact Jordan Nun at (402) 413-0020 or go to www.FoxFertilizer.com.

Zimmerman and his family have resided in Elkhorn for many years.

“My wife and I are excited and feel blessed to bring our business home to Elkhorn and serve the Elkhorn and West Omaha community,” he stated during the ceremony.

A full-service agency offering insurance and financial services, the Zimmerman Allstate Agency is locally owned and operated by Howie Zimmerman. Prior to purchasing this business, Zimmerman was a Regional Vice President of Institutional Distributions for Prudential. In that role, he worked with financial advisors, helping them with complex cases involving strategic planning, business succession and estate planning. These specialty areas are ones with which he continues to help his current clients, with the core business of the agency being Property and Casualty and Commercial Insurance.

For more information about the Zimmerman Allstate Agency, please call (402) 291-9172, email hzimmerman@allstate.com, or visit the website at agents.allstate.com/howie-zimmerman-elkhorn-ne.html.

Nebraska Enterprise Fund Becomes State’s First SBA Community Advantage Lender The Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) has become Nebraska’s first Community Advantage Lender of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) in Nebraska.

Community Advantage is a pilot loan program introduced by the SBA to meet the credit, management, and technical assistance needs of small businesses in underserved markets. The program’s goals are to increase access to credit for small businesses located in underserved areas, expand points of access to the SBA 7(a) loan program by allowing non-traditional, mission-oriented lenders to participate, to provide management and technical assistance to small businesses as needed, and to manage portfolio risk. Community Advantage loans provide financing up to $250,000 and follow the same guaranty and terms as a 7(a) loan. The Community Advantage program is currently scheduled to last through March 31st, 2020.

The Nebraska Enterprise Fund is the premier Nebraska small business Community Development Finance Institution providing business development services and financing to micro and small businesses across the state. NEF is also a network partner of the SBA’s Microloan Program which enables NEF to make loans (loans of $50,000 or less) to small business borrowers. NEF has over $11M in assets and focuses statewide both in urban and local areas. In addition to SBA, NEF partners with USDA, CDFI and banking institutions. NEF envisions a Nebraska where every small and micro business owner has the opportunity and resources to realize their potential. They reach viable entrepreneurs in collaboration with the banking sector or when a business is feasible, but not yet fully bankable.

For more information about the Nebraska Enterprise Fund and their services, go to www.nebbiz.org.

Soaring Wings Vineyard: Damage Repairs From June 16th Storm Nearing Final Stages June 16th storms ravaged Sarpy County and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to Soaring Wings Vineyard’s buildings and vineyard. The loss of its newly-expanded stage was a particularly hard blow. Finally, a new chapter begins.

With much of the necessary repair work done, most notably the replacement of damaged steel on the exteriors of the buildings, it was time to break ground on the new stage. A groundbreaking ceremony with Sarpy County Chamber officials and local area officials was held to commemorate the occasion on December 11th.

The new stage has been designed to work with the floor of the old stage and wrap around it so as to minimize costs. This new design, by Jason Heinze of Schemmer, will actually improve upon the aesthetics of the old stage in many ways.

Mike Mathews of All Purpose Construction has been managing the construction and repair projects.

“We missed having our stage available for the prime summer season this past year,” said Jim Shaw, owner of Soaring Wings, “but look forward to having an improved stage for the coming years.”

For more information about Soaring Wings Vineyard, located in Springfield, NE, Shaw can be contacted directly at (402) 699-2057 / jim@soaringwingswine.com. You can also find out more online at www.soaringwingswine.com.

FEBRUARY 2018 Strictly Business 11

BUSINESS NEWS Yield Champions Promotes Upcoming PROAG® I Training Program Dennis Nun, President of Yield Champions, has announced the final Nebraska PROAG® I Program will be offered in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 15-16, 2018. This program is designed for crop producers, agronomists, seed, chemical and fertilizer dealers and landlords looking for ways to be profitable even at current commodity price levels.

Nun says, “We show growers how to lower production costs on a per acre and per bushel basis and that remains the key to profitability for farmers.” At this event two new products INTENSIFY™ and SYNTOSEFA will be discussed for use in the coming crop year to significantly increase yields in corn and soybeans.

Yield Champions exclusively markets the Conklin Company’s AgroVantage™ products for crop production used by more state and national NCGA corn yield champions than any other. For more information or to register for this event, contact Dennis Nun at (402) 430-7727 or go to www.300BushelCorn.info.

U.S. Chamber Awards Greater Omaha Chamber 5-Star Accreditation The United States Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Greater Omaha Chamber with 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community.

“Accreditation validates a chamber as having programs that benefit their local economy and for positively influencing action in their community,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, Vice President, Federation Relations and Institute for Organization Management. “We applaud these organizations for advancing the principles of free enterprise.”

Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. In order to receive Accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. This extensive self-review can take 6-9 months to complete.

“Accreditation requires an open mind and an all-hands-on-deck mentality. We are fortunate to be immersed in a community capable of both. Thanks to our many, many community partners, our recent 5-star accreditation designation means we can continue to work collaboratively to offer new programs, champion change, position organizations for ongoing success and help our community prosper,” said David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber.

Local chambers are rated Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars.

State chambers are recognized as either Accredited State Chamber or Accredited State Chamber with Distinction. The final determination is made by the Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. To learn more about the United States Chamber of Commerce, visit: www.uschamber.com.

The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber is to champion a thriving business community and prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration. For more information, visit www.omahachamber.org.

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TS Bank Contributes $10K to MICAH House TS Bank recently donated $10,000 as part of a three-year capital campaign to MICAH House in order to help families experiencing homelessness.

In 2016, there were 1,290 homeless children who were served in the Omaha Metro area. MICAH House served 37 percent of those children, with a large majority being from the Council Bluffs area. Families and single women who enter MICAH House are provided an array of services including nutritious meals, counseling resources, on-site health clinic, and a trauma-informed BUDDY play program. Additionally, TS Institute, the non-profit arm of TS Banking Group, helps teach monthly financial literacy and budget courses for clients of MICAH House.

“MICAH House prides itself on being more than a shelter. It’s a place where families can turn in times of need,” said Kelsey Stupfell, TS Banking Group Director of Community Reinvestment. “We are humbled to give back in this way, and help connect families experiencing homelessness with the support services and programs MICAH House provides.”

To volunteer, donate or learn more about MICAH House, visit themicahhouse.org.

TS Bank’s mission is to Ignite Prosperity® in the communities it serves.

Leading the resurgence of community banking, TS Bank reinvests 10% of their net income locally; hosting educational events and partners with local organizations and non-profits. For more information, visit tsbank.com.

The Garrett Group Establishes Cybersecurity Division to Provide Solutions for SMBs The Garrett Group (TGG; garrettgp.com), a Bellevue-based national security contractor, announces the establishment of a new Cybersecurity Division to provide tailored support options to assist clients in recognizing threats, assessing vulnerabilities, and devising risk-based cybersecurity solutions.

The benefits of doing business in the Information Age are undeniable, but it is obvious from even a casual review of headlines over the last few years that reliance on information technology comes with no small amount of risk. Cyberattacks cause billions of dollars in losses every year, and the growing threat isn’t limited to Fortune 500 companies. Small and medium-sized businesses face the same risks and are likely to present a more vulnerable target unable to address the scope and complexity of their specific threats in the face of a small staff, limited resources, and “one-size-fits-all” security solutions. The goal of the TGG Cybersecurity Division is to assist small and medium-sized clients with assessing the myriad of threats, identifying actual risks, and developing practical risk management strategies.

Mr. Andrew Munger leads the Cybersecurity Division. Mr. Munger has 15 years of experience built on a unique and diverse background in cyber strategy, intelligence, information security, risk reduction, layered defense, and strategic analysis. As a member of the United State Air Force, and a top graduate of their Network Intelligence Academy, Mr. Munger specialized in intelligence, information operations, defeating technical threats and countering threats from foreign intelligence services. After leaving the military, he has applied his skills and acquired additional expertise in the private sector supporting multiple efforts to reduce risks to businesses, protect corporate brands, and enhance cybersecurity programs for Fortune 500 companies in the financial and professional services industries.

The Garrett Group is proud to sponsor The Great Plains Cyber Summit on February 5th at the Embassy Suites La Vista. Details can be found at www.eventbrite.com.

BUSINESS NEWS Bluebarn Theatre Presents “Venus in Fur” This month, the Bluebarn Theatre will showcase performances of Venus in Fur by David Ives.

Inspired by the classic 1870 erotic novel and a 2012 Tony nominee for best play, Venus in Fur goes behind the scenes at an audition, where a playwright/director and a mysterious young actress blur the lines between fantasy and reality, seduction and power. As the two work through the script, they enter into an increasingly serious game of submission and domination that only one of them can win.

Venus in Fur is directed by Ablan Roblin. The cast features Matthew Olsen as Thomas and Sarah Carlson-Brown as Vanda. Set & Lighting Design by Steven Williams, Costume Design by Georgiann Regan, Sound Design by William Kirby. Production Stage Manager is Meghan Boucher, with Dramaturgy by Barry Carman.

Performance dates/times: February 1 – 25; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 18 at 2:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 25 at 6:00 p.m. Ticket price is $30 for adults and $25 for seniors 65+ and students. For tickets, call the BLUEBARN box office Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or visit www.bluebarn.org.

BBB’s 2018 Student of Integrity Awards for High School Seniors BBB Foundation is pleased to announce that in 2018 it will be awarding $2,000 Student of Integrity Award Scholarships to three high school seniors from metro Omaha and southwest Iowa (Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties).

Home-schooled students may also apply.

These scholarships were created to recognize and nurture future ethical business leaders.

Independent panels of judges from the academic and business communities in Omaha select the scholarship recipients who best demonstrate their commitment to honesty and accountability inside and outside of the classroom.

These scholarships are made possible by BBB’s Foundation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. This Foundation exists to educate consumers about marketplace issues and charitable giving practices, and it seeks to reinforce BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust. “Each year we are inspired by the hard work, community involvement and integrity of our applicants,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty. “We are looking forward to learning about our applicants and announcing the winners.”

Applicants have to be nominated by a high school teacher, principal, guidance counselor, community or religious leader. The application materials, including an essay and letters of recommendation, must be sent to a BBB office by March 9, 2018.

The application guide with full details and required forms can be downloaded by going to bbbinc.org and clicking on the “Student Awards” icon. The winners will be announced in April. For more information or questions please call (800) 649-6814 #8526.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Great Harvest Bread Co. Celebrates Bakery Expansion, New Menu

Bozell Named Agency of Record for Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

After 23 years in business, Great Harvest Bread Company is excited to announce the expansion of their bakery in Rockbrook Village.

Bozell, a full-service advertising and public relations agency, has been named agency of record for Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

Bozell will be responsible for developing and executing strategic and creative marketing efforts including traditional advertising, digital promotions, and media planning and buying.

A special open house was held in celebration of the newlyremodeled bakery at 10916 Elm St. on January 20th. Guests had the opportunity to sample many of the items from Great Harvest Bread Company’s new extended menu, which now includes a wider variety of sandwiches and salads as well as grain bowls and soups!

The bakery recently underwent construction to remodel and expand their space to add a dining room that would allow more customers to dine-in.

In addition to sampling their new menu items, guests also enjoyed free soda, coffee, and cookies and had the opportunity to enter one of many drawings to win prizes including gift certificates, sandwiches, bread loafs, and more!

Great Harvest Bread Company was originally born out of a single (and amazingly delicious) whole grain bread recipe. Over time, they’ve branched out to develop a dazzling array of products, keeping true to their roots. Still, they approach the creation of all their products with the same basic principles baked into that first loaf of bread. They make their food the right way, with wholesome ingredients and from scratch, so you can feel good about eating their treats. At Great Harvest Bread Co., you get real food that tastes great.

For more information, please contact Dennis or Marian Cihacek, owners of Great Harvest Bread Company, at (402) 390-9988 or visit www.greatharvestbreadomaha.com.

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Consistently ranked as one of the world’s top five zoos, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is an independent not-for-profit organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). With a mission focusing on conservation, research and education, the Zoo is recognized nationally for its conservation, animal care and exhibit design.

The Zoo has achieved an annual attendance of two million visitors, making it Omaha and Nebraska’s largest-attended attraction. It is home to many state-of-the-art exhibits including the world’s largest indoor desert, nocturnal exhibit and indoor swamp as well as North America’s largest indoor rainforest.

As a leader in conservation, the Center for Conservation and Research focuses on areas to benefit animal husbandry and species conservation.

Focus areas include conservation genetics, conservation medicine, rare plant conservation, reproductive sciences and comparative nutrition.

“We were impressed with the work we saw from Bozell,” said Dennis Pate, president and CEO. “The way they are able to pull on emotions with their work will help us get the word out on our efforts to conserve wildlife.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium,” said Jackie Miller, CMO of Bozell. “Many of us are personal fans of the Zoo and our team is eager to tell the Zoo’s complete story to a broader, more diverse audience.”

BUSINESS NEWS

Nebraska Business Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Announced

Registration Open for 2018 Cornhusker State Games

A distinguished group of business leaders and entrepreneurs are being inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame, according to Barry Kennedy, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The inductions take place Thursday, February 1 at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln as part of the Nebraska Chamber’s Annual Meeting and evening banquet.

Established in 1992 by the State Chamber and the University of Nebraska College of Business Administration, the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame recognizes the state’s most accomplished business leaders and their contributions to our free enterprise system. Candidates are nominated by individuals from the business community, business associations and academia.

The 2018 Nebraska Business Hall of Fame class members are: THOMAS C. SMITH – D.A. Davidson & Co., Lincoln Tom Smith started his career in the financial services industry in 1968.

He and partner Tom Hayes started Smith Hayes Financial Services in 1985. Starting with just three employees, they grew to over 100 staff with offices in Lincoln, Omaha and Columbus. They became involved in public finance and started their own mutual fund.

In 2016, the business merged with D.A. Davidson & Co. and manages more than $40 billion in investments, including about $10 billion from the Nebraska offices. Tom was appointed vice chairman of the Davidson Wealth Management Division and serves on the board of directors of Davidson Companies.

JOE RICKETTS – TD Ameritrade, Omaha Joe Ricketts spent more than 35 years helping build and run the company that has evolved into TD Ameritrade, the world’s largest online brokerage and a recognized leader in securities trading and clearing. In 1975, Ricketts co-founded First Omaha Securities, among the first companies in the world to recognize the potential of the discount securities market.

Under his leadership, the company grew quickly and evolved into TD Ameritrade, which has pioneered technology to revolutionize the financial services sector – today managing hundreds of billions of dollars in client assets. Ricketts is currently focusing on a variety of entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures.

JOHN L. HUGHES – Hughes Brothers, Inc., Seward John Hughes is president of Hughes Brothers, Inc., a leader in the electric transmission and distribution industry. Formed in 1921, the business has earned a reputation for quality products that last. The company’s early production was primarily wood products for the electric utility industry.

By the early 1940s, pole line hardware and custom manufactured metal fittings and parts were added. During World War II, the federal government commandeered Hughes Brothers to make products for the war effort.

Today, the factory houses a complete wood, metal and fiberglass manufacturing operation as the Seward-based company does business throughout the world.

J. PAUL MCINTOSH (deceased) – Entrepreneur, Norfolk Paul McIntosh started teaching in the early 1940s and became a vocational agriculture instructor in 1950. Along with his teaching duties, he was also starting a commercial painting company and several agrelated enterprises focused on livestock and fertilizer. In 1952, Paul entered the farm management, apartment and land development business, all of which continue to this day.

McIntosh developed numerous housing developments while growing his agricultural business interests in Nebraska and several other states.

He served on many local, state and national boards and received the Norfolk Betterment Award from the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce in 1993.

Registration is open for the 34th annual Cornhusker State Games, featuring competition in 68 sports at venues in Lincoln, Omaha and surrounding communities. Most sports take place July 20-29, and officials expect more than 11,000 participants.

Rowing, which will take place at Carter Lake, joins the Games as a joint venture between the Iowa Games and Cornhusker State Games.

CSG competitions are open to Nebraska athletes of all ages and abilities.

Registration and information are available at CornhuskerStateGames. com. A new tiered entry fee schedule allows registration through February 14 at below-2017 costs in most sports. The final deadline to register for most sports is July 6.

Opening Ceremonies are set for Friday, July 20 at Seacrest Field with parade-of-athletes, skydivers, fireworks, patriotic tribute, mascot showcase and torch-lighting.

All registered athletes will receive a shirt, free meal, admission to the Opening Ceremonies and a chance to win one of 5,000 custom-cast gold, silver and bronze medals. Finishers in several events will receive commemorative medallions.

The Cornhusker State Games is a qualifying event for the 2019 State Games of America (SGA), which takes place in Lynchburg, VA. The Cornhusker State Games is conducted by the Nebraska Sports Council, which also conducts the NE150 Challenge, the Mud Run and the Pumpkin Run. Platinum partners include Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. of Nebraska, LinPepCo and Nebraska Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine.

Learn more at NebraskaSportsCouncil.com.

Region’s Newest Food Incubator, Kitchen Council, Launches February 6th What will become one of the region’s largest incubators for food entrepreneurs, Kitchen Council, a project of the Greater Omaha Chamber and community partners, will launch Tuesday, February 6 from 6-8 p.m. at a public gala hosted at the organization’s inaugural location, 50 Arena Way, Suite 11, Council Bluffs.

“Kitchen Council is up and running and open for business,” said Holly Benson Muller, managing director, Kitchen Council. “Community members who are passionate about food and committed to supporting local businesses will want to attend the launch event.”

Benson added Kitchen Council joins a nationally growing segment of food accelerators designed to lower barriers to market entry - a strategy that increases startup success and expands inclusivity into what some analysts are calling “the new food economy.”

According to the Specialty Food Association, that economy exceeds $100 billion annually, with food accelerators addressing the need for “foodpreneurs” to tap into a lively production space that offers collegial support, business counseling and assistance with licensing and certification.

The 2,500-square-foot Kitchen Council facility includes a fully-equipped commercial kitchen, as well as access to business-development assistance and additional resources. The startup accelerator will expand to its colocation, the PACE Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center, in 2019.

Programming for the Kitchen Council launch includes a ribbon cutting, partner and supporter remarks, a social hour with food and beverages and an opportunity to meet the original Kitchen Council makers.

Register for the event at www.omahachamber.org/events/kitchencouncil-launch.

Kitchen Council thanks its program partners: Greater Omaha Chamber, Iowa West Foundation, Council Bluffs Chamber, Conagra Brands, and Iowa Economic Development Authority.

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BUSINESS NEWS Fuelwood Energy Plant Visitor Gallery Unveiled at Lied Lodge & Conference Center

Control Depot Now Offering Lutron Lighting Control Systems

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced the completion of educational exhibits located in the Visitor Gallery of the Fuelwood Energy Plant located on the grounds of Lied Lodge & Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm. The exhibits explain and interpret the process used in the plant for turning trees into energy as well as highlight the importance of biomass. Visitors can also watch as woodchips are moved through the Fuelwood Energy Plant and converted to steam that provides hot water (for lodging rooms, kitchen and indoor pool) and room heating and air conditioning for 120,000 square feet at Lied Lodge Conference Center. The exhibit was funded by The Nebraska Environmental Trust as part of Lied Lodge’s $9.5 million dollar renewal.

Control Depot has partnered with Lutron Electronics Company to offer their entire line of commercial lighting control systems.

Control Depot chose to partner with Lutron as they are a recognized leader in the lighting control industry with over 50 years of proven experience. Lutron lighting control systems are ideal for both new and existing commercial buildings and are scalable from single room to entire building solutions. Lutron lighting control will provide the customer with an energy-efficient workplace for years to come.

Control Depot is a building automation and controls distributor serving Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Control Depot sells and supports a wide selection of residential and commercial controls and components including everything from a simple thermostat to a complete web-based building automation system. All operations are conducted with the goal of building strong and lasting relationships with Control Depot’s client base of contractors and building owners by providing value and experience that is unparalleled in the industry. When working with Control Depot, you can expect quality services delivered in a timely manner at affordable rates.

Control Depot is located at 9304 G Ct. in Omaha and more information about the company can be found online at controldepotinc.com. Stop in or call (402) 934-0078 today to learn more about how Control Depot and Lutron can help your business!

The support provided by The Nebraska Environmental trust was used as support for the renewed signage, demonstration, amplification and refurbishment of the space around the gallery to fully reflect the innovations that have happened in biomass and other renewable energies since it was first complete. A key feature at the Lied Lodge Fuelwood Energy Plant is a viewing gallery, easily accessible from the Conference Center and from which visitors can observe the operation of the 4,224-square-foot plant. The trust is funded by proceeds from the Nebraska Lottery and has awarded more than $245 million to more than 1,900 conservations projects across the state of Nebraska since 1994.

The Fuelwood Energy Plant Visitor Gallery project completes phase three of the renewal of Lied Lodge. Built by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1993, Lied Lodge & Conference Center is a fullservice meeting facility situated at Arbor Day Farm, a 260-acre National Historic Landmark and the original estate of J. Sterling Morton, the Founder of Arbor Day in 1872.

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Strictly Business FEBRUARY 2018

BUSINESS NEWS Omaha Olive Garden Restaurant Completes Remodel, Unveils New Look

Two Commercial Condos in Historic Paxton Building Sell for $2.4M

Olive Garden has completed the remodel of its Omaha restaurant, unveiling a stylish new look that creates a warm, vibrant atmosphere.

Built in 1991, the location now features updated artwork, fabrics, materials, lighting, seating and flooring, as well as the new Olive Garden logo.

Investors Realty has sold two commercial condominiums in the Paxton Building at 1403 Farnam Street in Omaha, Nebraska for $2,400,000.

Shamrock Parking, LLC was the Seller; Paxton Investments, LLC was the Purchaser. The two condos total 11,237 square feet and are located near the intersection of 14th and Farnam Streets in downtown Omaha.

The tenants include the 801 Chophouse and the Omaha Tap House.

Ryan Zabrowksi, SIOR, CCIM and Patrick Morris of Investors Realty represented the Seller; Tim Kerrigan, SIOR, CCIM of Investors Realty represented the Purchaser.

As part of an ongoing commitment to give back to the community, the restaurant donated its former furnishings to the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore outlet.

New design elements at the Omaha Olive Garden include: Distinctive décor, maintaining a comfortable, home-like setting; an inviting lobby area with two high-definition digital chalkboards; colorful, backlit bar with recharging stations for mobile devices; flexible seating to accommodate guests and large parties; glass-encased floor-toceiling wine cabinets; and wine pouring stations in the dining areas, featuring Olive Garden’s extensive wine offerings.

The menu at Olive Garden continues to feature guests’ Italian favorites as well as new dishes. The Tastes of the Mediterranean menu celebrates the flavors and cooking styles inspired by Italy’s Mediterranean coast, such as Shrimp Scampi and Chicken Margherita, with all entrées under 600 calories. Additionally, guests can create their own lunch combinations with Lunch Duos. Catering Delivery and To-Go options are also available.

The Omaha Olive Garden is located at 7505 Dodge St. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information about Olive Garden, visit OliveGarden.com.

Living in the Yellow Announces March 24th Basic Pistol Class for Women Patty Nun, an NRA Trained Pistol Instructor, has announced the next Basic Pistol Course for Women being offered Saturday, March 24, 2018.

This full-day class is for women who have little or no previous experience handling a pistol.

Registration is limited to 12 participants.

“More than ever, women are concerned for their safety. We all know there is no substitute for being prepared and aware of our surroundings to insure the safety of ourselves and our family members. That is the common theme of the training we do at Living in the Yellow,” says Nun. “We take our name from the Cooper Code for Self Defense Awareness, that identifies yellow as the color representing those people who are relaxed but alert and aware of their surroundings, and aware of any possible threats. They know where the exits are.”

Patty clarifies, “This is a course for someone who has never held or fired a pistol and does not currently know the difference between a singleaction or double-action revolver, or even between a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol. We provide a relaxed setting where women can learn in a safe environment with a trained, professional team that always have safety as the priority.” She adds, “This does not qualify as a conceal carry course for women, but we plan to offer that in the very near future.”

To find out more information or to register, go to www.LivingInTheYellow. org or call Patty Nun at (402) 432-6470.

Investors Realty, Inc. delivers innovative real estate solutions to investors in the Omaha, Council Bluffs and Lincoln areas. Founded in 1975, the company helps clients buy, sell, and manage commercial and investment properties using advanced technology platforms and communications systems. For more information, visit www. investorsomaha.com or call (402) 330-8000.

Omaha Gets New U-Haul Location at Repair

by Dave U-Haul Company of Nebraska is pleased to announce that Repair

by Dave, an instrument repair business, has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Omaha community.

Repair by Dave at 14220 Fort St., Suite 103 will offer U-Haul trucks, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes. Normal business hours are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. MondayFriday; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday; and on-call Sunday. After-hours drop-off is available for customer convenience. Reserve U-Haul products at this dealer location by calling (402) 592-2359 or visiting www.uhaul.com/Locations/Truck-Rentals-near-OmahaNE-68164/026052 today.

Alternatively, with U-Haul Truck Share 24/7, U-Haul live verification technology allows rental transactions to be carried out entirely on a smartphone at any hour – day or night. There are no membership fees. Simply visit uhaul.com to create an online account.

Repair by Dave owner Dave Fletcher is proud to team with the industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage to better meet the demands of Douglas County.

Volunteers Assisting Seniors Offering Basic Estate Planning Workshop What steps do you need to take to outline what you want to have happen to your assets upon your death? Have you designated who you want to handle your personal and financial affairs in the event you become incapacitated? If you already have an estate plan in place, do you know how often you should review it? Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) is offering a Basic Estate Planning workshop to help answer those questions. The workshop will cover lifetime planning (financial and medical powers of attorney, living wills, succession planning), wills, living or revocable trusts, alternatives and supplements to wills, taxes related to death, and mistakes to avoid in your planning. A volunteer attorney will present the workshop at the VAS office at the Center Mall, 1941 S. 42nd Street, Suite #312. There is no charge to attend the workshop.

For more information on the next available workshop, please call VAS at (402) 444-6617.

For more than 41 years, VAS has provided unbiased information, one-on-one counseling and advocacy to help older adults navigate complex government programs. VAS volunteers also review the required annual reports submitted by guardians and conservators to help monitor the use of a protected persons assets. For more information, visit vas-nebraska.com.

FEBRUARY 2018 Strictly Business 17

BRIANNA

Brianna Kuebler

JMISKO surgical design | md Meet Brianna Kuebler, Director of Marketing at JMISKO surgical design | md.

Tell us a little about your business. - To many, JMISKO surgical design | md is best-known for aesthetics and skincare in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney. Although this is what the company was built on, our team is progressive and evolving.

In addition, we also specialize in hormone replacement, hair and weight loss solutions, and stem cell pain treatment. Dr. Misko has, deservingly so, earned the reputation as a world-renowned physician specializing in hair loss. We are the only practice in Nebraska that offers a Robotic Hair Restoration service that has already changed many lives.

Tell us a little about your family. - I am married to my amazing husband, Jake. We got married October 8, 2016 at a beautiful winery in Sprague. We are both from Lincoln and went to rival high schools. He doesn’t know this yet, but when the time comes, our kids will definitely be wearing green & silver and not black & gold.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Anything with Jake; we are both very active, love to work out, spend time with our families and of course cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs and LeBron James.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I don’t understand the whole Chipotle hype.

What are you the most proud of? - I am most proud to say that both Jake and I come from families with parents still happily married after all these years. We understand how rare that is and we have a great script to follow.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - From my parents: “Never show up empty-handed.”

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Passionate.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - The ability to turn water into…Sugar-Free Red Bull. (I’d save a lot of money!)

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - Being THE BEST aunt.

Which talent would you most like to have? - Sing and play acoustic guitar.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - A nurse. My mom, Nancy Exstrom, and sister, Alicia Fox, work in the critical care unit at St. Elizabeth and I couldn’t think of a more fulfilling or rewarding profession than saving lives for a living.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - taP (the alexis PROJECT; thealexisproject.org). It’s a local non-profit against drunk driving. My first job was at a local advertising agency called Minnow Project. My then-boss, Todd Calfee, is still a mentor and friend.

His late daughter, Alexis, and her boyfriend, Chris, were killed by a drunk driver in 2011. This past fall, our community lost a colleague and close friend of mine who was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike countryside on his way to meet up with his wife, Christy. I have seen firsthand the impact on both families who lost their loved one from the selfish act of drinking and driving. taP, you’re it!

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Ellen DeGeneres. She’s kind, selfless and truly makes the world a better, happier place.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Via our website at JMISKO.com.

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SHAYNE

Shayne Zutavern

STRICTLY BUSINESS Meet Shayne Zutavern, founder and publisher of Strictly Business Magazine.

Tell us a little about your business. - I am involved in several different businesses, but Strictly Business is my flagship business. Strictly Business is a print and online content marketing vehicle we started in Lincoln back in 1993 before content marketing was mainstream. We were also one of the very first publications to publish online in 1996. The business really didn’t turn the corner into the black until I convinced my wife Paige to come work with me. My second most important decision ever, besides marrying her. Building on our success in Lincoln, we launched its sister publication in Omaha with the help of Angela Lee in 2007.

How did you get started in the business? - While publishing a direct mail coupon book, we had so many business owners tell us we should create a business magazine reporting on and about local business.

So we fleshed it out and went for it.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - When we first started out in the publishing business, we were just shy of starvation for several years while getting it off the ground. But we persevered and our hard work and dedication finally paid off; all the ramen noodle meals are like dust in the wind now!

What has been your most important achievement professionally? Generating over 9 million Google search engine views and delivering over 350,000 website page views last year for our clients.

Tell us a little about your family. - I have been married to my high school sweetheart Paige for over 30 years, and we have been business partners for over 20. She has been and is the rocket fuel behind the success of Strictly Business. We have two sons, Schyler and Zane, who are natural-born entrepreneurs. I have no doubt they will eclipse my business accomplishments tenfold.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - In 1983, when I decided to go out on my own and start my own business from scratch rather than stay in the cattle business with my family.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Read and recharge.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - In 1997, my website team built one of the very first secure online shopping websites in the whole Midwest.

It was instantly a huge success, receiving multiple awards almost overnight and was even featured on late night TV. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Don’t stop working on a business or goal when you’re only two inches from gold.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - Break Every Chain or Eye of the Tiger. The latter was of my favorite pep band songs I used to blast with my trumpet so I know each note by heart.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Teacher, professor or doctor.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I know many special people who enrich my life greatly, and even daily, who were an “accident.” So any causes like March for Life and Pregnancy Center.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - Among my favorites are See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar, Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind by Al Ries and Jack Trout, Win Every Battle by Michael Galiga, Cashvertising by Drew Eric Whitman, and last but certainly not least, the KJV Bible.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

- Phone: (402) 770-1220; Email: szutavern@yahoo.com.

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MICHELLE

Michelle Nielson

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

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Meet Michelle Nielson, Senior Community Health Director for the American Heart Association here in Nebraska.

Tell us a little about your business. - The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, our organization now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters. We fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives.

How did you get started in the business? - I’ve worked in public/ community health for the last decade. I was previously with the American Heart Association in 2008 and unfortunately the position was eliminated with the economic downturn. In 2016, AHA had the opportunity to open a new role in Nebraska, focused more on community health and the impact we can make locally. I excitedly applied and was hired in a new role.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - It’s always been important to me to find roles in my career that are impactful and challenging. I like to be involved in something bigger than just one person and work with likeminded individuals and teams. My biggest challenge has been to find a role that satisfies these ideals.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? - I believe it has been my success in building professional relationships. It has been a vital component in each of the positions I have had, currently and in the past.

Tell us a little about your family. - My husband, Clay, and I have been married for 13 years. Clay is the Director of Operations at Omaha Track.

We have two teenage daughters who keep us very busy.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - In 2006, we moved from west-central Nebraska to Omaha. Prior to that year, my career had been made up of jobs that did not meet the goals I had for myself. Omaha provided an opportunity to explore many options to find something far more satisfying.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy golfing, yoga, and when weather allows spending the day on our boat at the lake.

Travel is a passion of mine and I enjoy professional and personal trips.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I am a registered yoga instructor. A few years ago, I went to Costa Rica for a 2-3 week immersion trip and completed an intensive certification program there.

What are you the most proud of? - My children. We have moved them around a few times, they have been enrolled in multiple schools and through it all have met new friends, accepted the challenges of being in new environments and continue to be great kids.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor!

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I would’ve loved to have gone to culinary school to be a pastry chef.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I am very involved in the one I work for, the American Heart Association, and volunteer at all of the events. In addition to that, I support other initiatives that have a similar goal and mission to create healthier lives in our community.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Phone: (402) 658-6066; Email: michelle.nielson@heart.org; Website: www.heart.org.

JIM Jim Shaw

SOARING WINGS VINEYARD & BREWERY Meet Jim Shaw, owner of Soaring Wings Vineyard & Brewing.

Tell us a little about your business. - Soaring Wings Vineyard & Brewing is a family-run business on the outskirts of Omaha. Just 40 minutes from downtown Lincoln and 25 from downtown Omaha, we sit on high hill overlooking the Platte River valley; the views are awesome. In addition to our award-winning wines and beers, we are a fantastic venue for concerts with seating up to 2,000, weddings with seating up to 200 under roof, and company or private parties.

How did you get started in the business? - I began making wine when I was 13 years old. After a forced hiatus, I renewed my wine and beer making in my twenties. The business started in 2001 with the purchase of our land.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - The weather has been a challenge for us at times, with wild swings in temperatures that can be hard on the grapevines.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? Well, I have another full-time job as an airline captain. On that path in my career I worked in aviation safety on an international level. After investigating the SwissAir 111 accident I received the Presidential citation from the International Air Lines Pilots Association. A couple of the projects I worked on have helped give us the safest years on record recently in aviation.

Tell us a little about your family. - I’ve been married for 37 years to my wife Sharon. We have three adult children.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?

- When a girl I was dating asked me if I had any dreams. I told her I always wanted to fly. She suggested I take flying lessons and a few years later I was in the Air Force as a pilot.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Read.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - My past expertise as one of the world’s foremost experts on in-flight fires and aircraft wiring.

What are you the most proud of? - My kids’ good hearts.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Hearing George Washington Carver’s famous quote on being all you can be.

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? - The power to heal.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - Inventing.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Musician or writer.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Easter Seals, and I’m also passionate about supporting organizations related to leukemia, as my grandfather died from it, and breast cancer, as I have a sister, three sisters-in-law, and one niece that have all had it.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Ben Franklin, my hero.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Through our website, www.soaringwingswine.com.

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LAWRENCE

Lawrence Owens

CONCENTRIC VISUAL DESIGN Meet Lawrence Owens, owner of Concentric Visual Design.

Tell us a little about your business. - Concentric Visual Design successfully helps startups and world-class manufacturers bring products and services to market. By offering multiple services, I help companies stay lean with research and development as well as sales and marketing. My core competencies are industrial/ mechanical and graphic design with an extensive work background in manufacturing. I’m an expert plastic part designer. My degree is in visual communications and I majored in digital video in college.

I use this range of skills to create brand-centric product designs, packaging, product explainer videos, tradeshow displays, retail pitch decks, websites, user interface design and “whatever else” is needed to launch and market a new or existing product or service.

How did you get started in the business? - Many things led me into design. My first memory of designing something was in grade school in my first art class where we made sculptures out of clay. About that time, I was also having my dad hacksaw my bikes and reweld them to be more cool. He is creative like I am; I always say the designer and engineer in me came from my dad and working with him in our family business when I was younger. I think I’ve truly always been a designer and problem solver at heart.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- Through creative design I was able to help a medical device manufacturer invent a method to more efficiently distribute laser energy to patients at several different treatment areas of the body.

This greatly reduced the number of laser modules needed and/or moving parts required to animate the energy for coverage. This invention has been designed into dozens of laser medical devices treating conditions such as chronic pain and toenail fungus.

Tell us a little about your family. – I’m happily married with two awesome stepchildren, two incredible grandsons, two pugs and a cat. Hmmm, seems like we need another cat to even things out. My oldest grandson inspired me to write a song that won an award in the Galaxy of Stars contest a few years ago. He’s musically inclined like grandpa. The newest addition to the family is my second grandson, who was literally just born on January 23rd.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - As I get older, I become increasingly excited to mow the lawn. Over the past few years I’ve been experimenting with three-dimensional creative lawn mowing.

If you drive by my house in the summer you’re sure to notice a spiffy pattern of grass at different heights. I keep the front pretty tame but do some experimenting in the back. I’ve amassed dozens of patterns, some of which come to find out make birds think my yard is water.

It’s funny to watch their confusion. Someday I would actually like to start a creative mowing business and let the kids run it. It would be really neat for parties and open houses.

What are you the most proud of? - My family.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Loyal.

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If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - Phone: (402) 261-6779; Email: lowens@concentricvisual.com; Website: www.concentricvisual.com.

ANALISA

Analisa McMillan

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA ONLINE Meet Analisa McMillan, Director of Educational Innovation and Design at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). She’s also a teacher and student advisor for the Integrating Technology into Health Professions Curriculum for the Health Professions Teaching and Technology, MHPTT program at UNMC. Tell us a little about yourself and your profession. - My passion is designing and teaching courses that engage students and transform their learning in non-traditional ways. Education should be flexible enough to meet the needs of all students enrolled while ensuring they leave with a solid educational experience. As an online student, an instructional designer and a teacher, I can attest to the fact that online courses can give students an optimal learning experience. I’m lucky to work with online faculty who also believe in the power of an education in any environment. When designing an online course, we focus on what students need to know and be able to do upon completion.

What is your goal in your position? - Our students’ success is the ultimate goal. I want them to walk away knowing that they have not only mastered the material, but they can apply it in real life. I work hard to support my students from the first day of class by letting them know that I’m available to help, to mentor and to teach them.

I have an open door “email inbox” and respond in a timely and respectful manner.

Do you have any secrets to success when working toward this goal? - Designing the courses in a way that promotes students’ success, giving them the tools to succeed and believing in them.

What is one thing you tell potential students who are thinking about going back to school online? - Jump right in and take a class!

You never know if you’ll like it until you try. The beauty of online learning is you can make it fit in your schedule and not have to fit your schedule around a traditional class time.

Tell us about an online student who has made an impression on you. What made their story stick out? - When I work with the College of Public Health (COPH) online master degree students getting ready to present capstones from other states and countries, I can see the effect an online program has on them. Not everyone has the opportunity to attend a brick and mortar higher education program. One of my students was presenting her capstone to a live audience at COPH from Tanzania. She was a bit skeptical at first, but we used a web conferencing system, and she was super excited about the practice run to see that it worked and she could do it. I felt her excitement as did the audience. She presented and graduated with a master’s without ever stepping foot in our building.

Tell us more about the program in which you teach. - The Health Professions Teaching and Technology, MHPTT program is a great choice for all health professionals that want to or are teaching.

The program gives the pedagogical and technology tools to practitioners, instructors, administrators and anyone who wants to teach in healthcare related fields. It’s the integration of technology into pedagogy that differentiates the MHPTT from similar programs.

We don’t just teach you about teaching, we teach you about teaching and using technology purposefully to teach and engage learners in all classroom settings.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Information on UNMC programs is available at www.unmc.edu. Also, the University of Nebraska Online website provides information and a pathway for students interested in the online programs from NU’s four campuses at online.nebraska.edu.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Centris Federal Credit Union Announces Promotion and New Hire

Strictly Business Editor Amanda Wilson Celebrates 5 Years

Centris Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the promotion of Heidi Weeks, Assistant Vice President, Mortgage Services for Centris’ management team and the hiring of Doug Arrick, Mortgage Service Representative.

Weeks joined the Centris Mortgage Division in 2010 as a Mortgage Service Representative.

Since that time, Weeks has filled positions as a Lead Member Service Representative and Mortgage Production Manager. Weeks is Heidi Weeks active in the Omaha Area Board of Realtors, Nebraska Mortgage Association and Women’s Council of Realtors Omaha in which she was awarded Strategic Partner of the Year in 2015. Weeks has 22 years of experience in the mortgage services industry.

Arrick has worked in the banking industry for 25 years with 17 years specifically in mortgages. He will be located at the East Broadway Council Bluffs branch serving the mortgage needs of Centris members in Pottawattamie County. Arrick is a member of the Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors.

Doug Arrick Founded over 80 years ago, Centris Federal Credit Union is one of Nebraska’s largest community chartered credit unions. Centris serves Douglas, Sarpy, Lincoln and Pottawattamie counties and has 12 offices located in Omaha, Grand Island and North Platte, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The mission of Centris Federal Credit Union is to be a trusted life-long financial partner. Visit the website at www.centrisfcu.org.

Amanda Wilson, editor of the Strictly Business Lincoln and Omaha publications, is celebrating five years with the company this month!

Beginning her career as Strictly Business celebrated its 20th anniversary in Lincoln, she reaches this milestone simultaneous with its silver anniversary. Wilson has much to be proud of with the body of work that has been produced each year over the course of the past five, as she composes much of the content on behalf of her clients along with her duties as managing editor. With two magazines each month that reach a collective 25,000+ offices and business locations in Lincoln and the Omaha Metro, she has been responsible for the editorial content in 120 magazines in the time she has been with Strictly Business and her work has been read by hundreds of thousands of readers.

Regarding this career accomplishment, Wilson warmly states that it has been an honor to have this opportunity and to promote a wide variety of clients who all contribute to making our business community one that continues to thrive. She also credits the other members of her team for being tremendously dedicated to the quality of the magazines and the success of the clients that Strictly Business is fortunate to promote.

Please join us in congratulating Amanda Wilson on her 5th anniversary with Strictly Business!

Rowe Earns Prestigious MOBA Service Award, Graves Inducted Into Hall of Fame Don Rowe of Millard Lumber is the recipient of the Metro Omaha Builders Association’s prestigious MOBA Service Award for 2017. The MOBA Service Award recognizes members who have outstanding accomplishments and demonstrate exceptional commitment to promoting and protecting the home building industry.

Rowe has served on the MOBA Board of Directors for 16 years, earned the MOBA Associate of the Year award in 2006, is a past Chairman of the Associates Council and Served on the NSHBA Board of Directors as Secretary and Government Affairs Trustee. He is a past President of the Home Builders Association in Lincoln and is a NAHB Life Spike.

Don started in the lumber business at Hoppe Lumber in Lincoln, NE in 1977, and has been with Millard Lumber for 21 years and is their Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Metro Omaha Builders Association also recently honored Gene Graves, who was inducted into the MOBA Hall of Fame. Graves has a 40 year track with MOBA and has served on their Board of Directors and on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Home Builders.

As MOBA’s Executive Director in the 80’s, Graves brought the Street of Dreams to the Omaha market. Today, he is the owner of Graves Development Resources and builds homes under Scottsdale Step Free Homes.

The Metro Omaha Builders Association was chartered in 1946 and is a not-for-profit organization that was established to promote and protect various aspects of the home building industry. MOBA members are builders/developers and their trade partners who are dedicated to preserving integrity and lifestyle through high professional standards and sound business practices in the industry. MOBA is well known for producing the Street of Dreams, the Omaha Home Show, Remodel Omaha Tour and the Parade of Homes. For more information, visit www.moba.com.

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Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Michael Moylan Michael Moylan, president of Shamrock Development Inc., received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Fr. Flanagan Division at the 2018 Annual Awards Banquet held on January 20th at the German-American Society Hall.

An Omaha native, Moylan began his real estate career as a sales associate in 1988. In 1991, Moylan joined Investors Realty, Inc., a leading Omaha commercial real estate firm with which he is still affiliated. In 1994, he started Shamrock Development, a firm that specializes in developing properties in downtown Omaha. He earned his designation as a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) in 1996.

Moylan’s downtown developments include The Paxton, a mixed-use development at 14th and Farnam Street, and condominiums/retail at the 1000 Dodge Building/1009 Capitol that includes NOSH, DJ’s Dugout and Hap Abraham Catering. Shamrock has developed the historic Barker Building and the 1501 Building – both apartments in downtown.

Most recently, Shamrock has developed The Capitol District, a mixed-use entertainment district in downtown at 10th and Capitol Avenue, which includes the new Marriott Hotel, apartments, parking, offices and retail space, all surrounding a modern-day town square.

A Leadership Omaha participant in 2002, Moylan has been active in numerous organizations and charities including Sacred Heart Church and C.U.E.S. (Christian Urban Education Services). He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and has been a participant in Strategic Coach, an entrepreneurial training program in Chicago, since 2001.

In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, other AOH award winners this year include: Hibernian of the Year – Bob Sullivan; Presidential Awards – John Farnan and Matthew McCarville.

PERSONNEL NEWS Taleena Stanbrough Joins Five Nines Five Nines is pleased to announce the hiring of Taleena Stanbrough as the Director of Human Resources. Stanbrough has over 11 years of experience in human resources roles. She looks forward to helping the company continue to be successful, and hopes to create a culture of engagement that allows Five Nines teams to continue accomplishing their goals.

“We are thrilled to have Taleena join our team,” said Jennie Scheel, Chief Financial Officer at Five Nines. “Her expertise in the field of human resources, as well as her strong work ethic and positive attitude will help Five Nines continue to put the right people in the right seats to reach success.”

Founded on an intense desire to solve problems and build long-term relationships with clients, Five Nines leverages technology to drive business success. With offices in Lincoln, Omaha & Kearney, Five Nines advises the best IT solutions for Nebraska based businesses, offering Managed IT Services. Through its unique service model, Five Nines’ clients experience reduced costs, accelerated growth, and increased productivity. Learn more at: www.gonines.com.

Two Outlook Nebraska Employees Recognized for Excellence, Achievements Outlook Nebraska (outlookne.org) is proud to announce that James Harvey has been recognized as the 2017 Associate of the Year. The award honors individuals who excel in their position, while demonstrating the Outlook core values of trust, collaboration, respect and growth.

Harvey has been with the organization for over 10 years and is dedicated to developing his skill sets and trying new things. He job shadows, serves on organization committees, and volunteers in the community. According to his peers, he has a positive attitude and constantly looks for ways to do more than just his primary role as a finisher. He has a perfect attendance record in 2017. Harvey speaks at monthly public luncheons and attends all Outlook Nebraska events. He completed several triathlons and races in 2017, including the Sumtur Twilight Dash and the Christian Records Annual Eye Run. He plays the violin at community events and at Outlook functions. Harvey is an advocate of the Outlook Nebraska mission.

James Harvey

Brian Grams

Outlook Nebraska has also proudly nominated Brian Grams for the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Peter J. Salmon Award.

This award honors employees who excel in their positions at NIBassociated agencies.

Grams joined Outlook Nebraska in 2014 as a finisher and became a machine operator in 2015. He is dedicated to the continual development of his skill sets and routinely facilitates teamwork with his fellow associates. According to his peers, Grams has a strong work ethic and works well with multiple departments. He is always willing to help others and goes the extra mile for the organization.

Grams is the current chairperson of the Outlook Nebraska Quality Workplace Environment Committee that oversees an organizational action plan for improvements and volunteers to speak at monthly public luncheon events. Additionally, he is a member of Outlook’s competitive goalball team.

Attorneys Lawrence J. Roland and Daniel J. Epstein Join Goosmann’s Omaha Law Firm Jeana Goosmann, CEO & Managing Partner of Goosmann Law Firm, is pleased to announce that Attorney Lawrence J. Roland and Attorney Daniel J. Epstein have joined the Goosmann Law Firm’s Omaha team.

Attorney Lawrence J. Roland has joined Goosmann Law Firm as an Omaha trial attorney. Roland focuses on litigation, banking and finance, employment and labor law, and trucking and transportation. Before becoming an attorney, Roland worked in the Lawrence J. Roland financial industry, television and media, food processing, and trucking. His diverse base of experience in different industries throughout his career has allowed Larry to provide strategic legal advice with a thorough understanding of each of his clients’ needs, challenges, and opportunities. Roland, originally from Chicago, Illinois, received his Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law and MBA at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He is actively involved in the Nebraska and Iowa State Bar Associations as well as the Omaha Bar Association, where he is a Public Service Daniel J. Epstein Committee member and member of Lawyers in the Classroom. Roland is currently the President and Governance Committee Chair for the Essential Pregnancy Services Board of Directors.

He is licensed to practice in Nebraska and Iowa.

Attorney Daniel J. Epstein has joined the Omaha Goosmann team as a trial and construction lawyer. Epstein joins the firm with over 17 years of legal experience in the Omaha metro, handling alternative dispute resolution, business and commercial litigation, and construction law.

Epstein’s vast litigation experience helps him give strategic advice to clients to protect assets, resolve disputes, and avoid future lawsuits. He listens closely to each client’s needs and goals to formulate a strategy to help them achieve their goals and overcome any obstacles. Originally from Omaha, Epstein received his Juris Doctor from University of Nebraska College of Law and his undergraduate degree from University of Michigan. Epstein is involved in the community, currently serving on the board of directors of the Jewish Community Center. He is an active member of the Nebraska State Bar Association and the Omaha Bar Association. Epstein is licensed to practice in Nebraska.

Goosmann Law Firm expanded to Omaha in June of 2017. This became the firm’s third location following Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Sioux City, Iowa. The firm has since added 8 new team members in Omaha and will be continuing to grow throughout 2018. Currently, the firm is in the process of building out their office space in the Advent Building located in West Omaha next to Village Point. In 2017 the firm was named one of the top 100 fastest growing law firms in the United States by the Law Firm 500. Since 2009, when Jeana Goosmann first started the firm, the Goosmann team has grown to three locations with over 40 team members.

To learn more about Goosmann Law Firm, visit www.GoosmannLaw.com or call (855) 843-4531.

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know & Who Knows You! At Strictly Business Magazine, we strive to recognize local businessmen and women for their significant awards, promotions, achievements, and/or efforts in partnership with other organizations and the Omaha Metro community. If you know of someone who meets these criteria and wish to include their news in our publication, please call (402) 466-3330 or submit your news via our website at www. strictlybusinessomaha.com.

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PERSONNEL NEWS

Jim Greisch Appointed to Platte Institute Board of Directors

Shannon Motter Assumes Assistant Director Position at Santa Monica

The Platte Institute (platteinstitute.org) is pleased to announce that Jim Greisch, an Omaha-area Certified Public Accountant, has been appointed to the Institute’s Board of Directors. The nine-member board, led

by Gail Werner-Robertson, oversees the Platte Institute’s mission to remove barriers to economic growth and opportunity statewide.

“We are fortunate to have Jim Greisch on our board and grateful for the commitment he’s making to our organization,” said Jim Vokal, CEO of the Platte Institute. “Jim’s many years of experience and leadership in the Nebraska business community will strengthen out campaign to identify and eliminate obstacles to creating more businesses and better jobs in Nebraska.”

Greisch is a managing partner for the RSM US audit, tax and consulting firm’s unit in Nebraska. A graduate of Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Finance, Greisch currently serves as the Public Policy Chair of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the AICPA’s Insurance Experts Panel, and has served as Chair of the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants.

“During my nearly 40 years serving Nebraska businesses, I have seen the impact public policies have on hardworking, entrepreneurial Nebraskans.

The Platte Institute is one of the few organizations in our state that is working consistently to cut that red tape and create more opportunities,” said Greisch. “I’m excited to join the Platte Institute’s board and to be part of helping more people to find their Good Life here in Nebraska.”

In November of 2017, Santa Monica, Inc. appointed Shannon Motter, LADC to the Assistant Director position. Shannon has been in the behavioral health field for 11 years, and has worked for Santa Monica as a therapist for the past four years.

She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree and is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Shannon has been an important part of Santa Monica’s growth and will remain an asset to the agency in her new position as Santa Monica continues to grow.

Founded in 1972, Santa Monica has partnered with over 2,700 women on their journey to recovery from addiction and alcoholism.

Reuniting families, reintegrating productive women to the community and providing exceptional service has been the vision of Santa Monica and continues to be for the future. Santa Monica provides a Halfway House program with a step down level of care.

For more information about Santa Monica, visit www.santamonicahouse. org or contact Heather Kirk, Executive Director, at (402) 558-7088 / heather@santamonicahouse.org.

Nebraska Recycling Council Announces Election of New Board Members Nebraska Recycling Council (NRC), a statewide nonprofit dedicated to maximizing the economic and environmental benefits of resource recovery in Nebraska, is pleased to announce the election of three new board members at its annual meeting in October.

Beginning 2-year terms in January 2018 are Brittney Albin, Sustainability Director, Lincoln Public Schools (Lincoln, NE); Kim Burge, Fundraising Coach (Valentine, NE); and Larissa Binod, Environmental Educator (Kimball, NE). Officers elected for 2018 are Danielle Easdale, President; Craig Gubbels, Vice President and Secretary; and Marty Hager, Treasurer.

Three existing board members were reelected for 2-year terms: Anna Baum, Upper Loup NRD, (Mullen, NE), Craig Gubbels, Integrated Recycling (Mead, NE), and Frank Uhlarik, City of Lincoln (Lincoln, NE). They will join Matt Ashmore, Eagle Printing (Lincoln, NE), Danielle Easdale, Firstar Fiber (Omaha, NE), Cliff Fleener, Valmont Industries (Valley, NE), Marty Hager (Lincoln, NE), Gene Hanlon, City of Lincoln (Lincoln, NE), and Dan Warren, Aqua Systems (Lincoln, NE).

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Nebraska Recycling Council is a statewide, member-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of resource recovery in Nebraska. Our goal is to re-energize recycling in Nebraska through innovation, education, training, and the power of collaboration. Visit www. nrcne.org for more information.

Brittney Albin

Kim Burge

Larissa Binod

PERSONNEL NEWS

Radio Talking Book Service Announces New Staff in 2018

American Institute of Architects Nebraska Chapter Elects 2018 Board

Radio Talking Book Service (RTBS) saw the retirement of three key employees in 2017 — Paul Stebbins, Station Manager, retired after 11 years; Ann Pelikan, Weekend Board Operator, retired after 8 years; and longtime Volunteer Coordinator Sybil Mahan retired after 23 years.

The American Institute of Architects, Nebraska Chapter, announces the election of their 2018 Board of Directors. President, Jeff Monzu, AIA, Leo A Daly; President-Elect, Vanessa Schutte, AIA, DLR Group; Secretary, Michael Sinclair, AIA, Schemmer; Treasurer, Dan Grasso, AIA, Sinclair Hille Architects; Directors: Matthew DeBoer, AIA, HDR; Michael Alley, AIA, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture; Associate Directors: Lisa Bell, Associate AIA, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture; Codah Gatewood, Associate AIA, Studio 951 and Past President Dave Johnson, AIA, Studio 951. The American Institute of Architects is the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society. Resources at www.aiane.org.

Thus, 2018 begins with new team members — congratulations to new hires Ryan Osentowski, Station Manager; Michael Halula, Weekend Board Operator; and Betty Deepe, Volunteer Coordinator!

Radio Talking Book Service has served as Nebraska’s audio companion for 43 years, bringing the printed word to life for the blind and visually impaired. Volunteers read newspapers, magazines and books providing human-voiced print information for individuals with visual or physical disabilities which prevent them from reading printed material. For more information or to arrange a tour of the studio, visit the website at www.rtbs.org or call (402) 572-3003.

Nebraska Community Foundation Welcomes Two to Growing Team Nebraska Community Foundation has welcomed two new members to its staff – Denise Garey of McCook and Katie Kinsella of Lincoln. Garey and Kinsella are among six new employees the foundation has welcomed in the past two years, the majority of whom are occupying newly created positions, just one indicator of NCF’s dramatic growth in recent years.

Denise Garey will serve NCF as an affiliated fund development coordinator focused on Denise Garey southwest Nebraska, including her hometown of McCook. As affiliated fund development coordinator, she provides training, education and resources to local volunteers as they strengthen and enhance their community impact. Prior to the Foundation, she served as fund coordinator for McCook Community Foundation Fund, housing director at McCook Economic Development Corporation and director of community relations for Northeast Community College.

Katie Kinsella also joins the Nebraska Community Foundation team as executive Katie Kinsella assistant to the CEO. She provides support to the CEO, performing a variety of organizational, logistical and administrative duties. Prior to joining the NCF team, she worked as an executive assistant at Nebraska Heart Institute.

Nebraska Community Foundation empowers community leaders, builds nonprofit capacity, and links charitable giving to the creation of greater economic opportunity and prosperity. Headquartered in Lincoln, the Foundation serves communities, donors and organizations by providing financial management, strategic development, education and training to a statewide network of 1,500 volunteers serving 250 communities.

In the last five years, 39,142 contributions have been made to Nebraska Community Foundation and its affiliated funds. Since 1993, Nebraska Community Foundation has reinvested $291.6 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.

Colliers Omaha Promotes Three to VP The Omaha office of Colliers International has announced that Cori Adcock, Chris Mensinger and Terry Root have been promoted to the position of vice president.

Adcock joined Colliers Omaha in 2011 and brought with her over 20 years of experience in project management and client relationship having worked for a national van line. She was named as a 2016 Colliers Omaha Chairman’s Club member, a recognition honoring top producers, and was designated a 2016 CoStar Power Broker.

Cori Adcock

Mensinger joined Colliers Omaha in 2011 after a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. She has positioned herself as a top producer and was named a member of the Colliers Omaha Chairman’s Club in both 2016 and 2017. Mensinger is the president of the Omaha Chapter of CREW, Commercial Real Estate Women.

Root has been with Colliers Omaha for 15 years and is the leader of our regional hospitality practice. His expertise lies in helping hotel development companies with site selection and acquisition as well as facilitating acquisition and disposition of operating hotels for hotel ownership groups. In addition to these services, Root has also been a long-time member of the Omaha retail team. He is a graduate of Creighton University.

Chris Mensinger

Colliers International Group Inc. is an industry-leading global real estate Terry Root services company with 15,000 skilled professionals operating in 68 countries.

With an enterprising culture and significant employee ownership, Colliers professionals provide a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors worldwide. Services include strategic advice and execution for property sales, leasing and finance; global corporate solutions; property, facility and project management; workplace solutions; appraisal, valuation and tax consulting; customized research; and thought leadership consulting.

For the latest news from Colliers, visit Colliers.com.

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SANDLER TRAINING

by Karl Schaphorst, President

402-403-4334

www.karlschaphorst.sandler.com

Don’t Answer Unasked Questions!

I’m reminded of a salesperson in a furniture store helping a young couple look for a dining room set. After the couple picked out the set that they loved, and the salesperson had checked and confirmed that it was in stock, and the order form had been written, the salesperson decided to show the young couple how easily the drawers opened and closed on the buffet. He let them know that the smooth ride of the drawers was due to ball bearings. The wife lost all enthusiasm for the furniture. She then told her husband that she couldn’t possibly have anything with ball bearings in their house because she had swallowed a ball bearing as a little girl and nearly died. She turned and left the store. The husband mumbled his apologies and followed her out.

Did either the wife or the husband ask why the drawers opened and closed so easily? No! The salesperson answered a question that neither of these buyers asked. Other buyers may have cared why; these buyers didn’t.

The result is a canceled order and salesperson frustration. He talked his way right out of the sale! And the lesson this salesperson may learn is that you never say there are ball bearings. He may be convinced that the sale was lost because of those ball bearings.

And if I come into the store specifically looking for a dining room set with ball bearings, what chance do you think there is that I’ll ever be told about them? The sale was lost because an answer was given to a question that was never asked. Ball bearings had nothing to do with the sale being lost.

Answering unasked questions is a trait that many salespeople have taken to heart as the way to get a prospect to buy. Knowing about your product/service and wanting to tell anyone who will listen is what drives the need to answer unasked questions. Unfortunately, many salespeople wind up giving answers that cause the prospect to further question whether or not he is doing the right thing by considering your product/service. Unwittingly you are giving the prospect more information upon which to raise objections. Why give the prospect the information to raise objections? This only makes closing that much harder. Most answers to unasked questions occur when there is a lull in the conversation. The salesperson decides to fill in the lull by explaining more, hoping that some of what is said will connect with the prospect. This is a form of “Let’s throw it on the wall and see what sticks.” And if the prospect shows any signs of “connecting” to what has just been thrown on the wall, the typical salesperson’s response is to throw even faster.

Stop answering unasked questions. When the lull occurs, and it will with every prospect, ask him a question. Don’t make a statement!

And once you ask the question, wait for a response. Product/service knowledge is essential to determine if the prospect is the right one to buy what you are selling. This knowledge is NOT meant to be used to bury the prospect with facts and figures hoping that some of the facts and figures will convince him or her to buy. Giving the prospect more information can lead to losing a sale. This only convinces the salesperson that even MORE explanation about the product/service is needed.

Don’t give the prospect reasons to raise objections by answering his or her unasked questions. Your job is to ask the questions and then evaluate whether the answers the prospect gives qualify him or her for your product or service.

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Sandler Training is a global training organization with over three decades of experience and proven results. Sandler provides sales and management training and consulting services for small- to mediumsized businesses (SMBs) as well as corporate training for Fortune 1000 companies. For more information, please contact Karl Schaphorst at (402) 403-4334 or by email at kschaphorst@sandler.com. You can also follow his blog at karlschaphorst.sandler.com.

NON-PROFIT NEWS Omaha Pantry Heartland Hope Mission Sees Growth at Millard Location

Vision Maker Media Sets the Stage for Upcoming Film Festival

Heartland Hope Mission will mark its first year with a full-service Millard pantry location at 5321 S. 139th Plaza this spring.

Hear tland Hope has held a satellite pantry in the Millard area, in partnership with Lord of Hosts Church, since 2008.

The pantry is currently open every second Saturday of the month from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and the last Wednesday of every month from 1:30-3:30 p.m. providing food and clothing to low-income families.

Vision Maker Media is bringing Native storytelling and film to life at the seventh biennial Vision Maker Film Festival. More than 30 new films by diverse filmmakers will showcase at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center in Lincoln, April 20-26.

Eight Millard Public Schools have 40% or more students that qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicative of the need for a food pantry in the area.

Working with filmmakers of color on all levels is a key focus of this weeklong event, from inspiring future filmmakers to polishing fine skills and knowledge of professional resources.

Our partners in the National Minority Consortia (NMC) will each share their feature documentary films and bring filmmakers of color to Lincoln to work with emerging filmmakers.

At Heartland Hope Mission’s South Omaha and Millard food pantries, working poor families choose a week’s supply of nutritious groceries including: milk, frozen meat and fresh produce; to prepare wellbalanced meals at home. Clients also receive: clothing, hygiene items, diapers, and access to a Client Service Specialist, who assists with SNAP (food stamp) applications and navigational services.

Local Native youth will learn from professional documentary producers during workshops open to the public, April 21-23. Teachers, students and the public are encouraged to attend and learn about a variety of cultures. Vision Maker Media will be screening stories of social justice, hope and overcoming adversity throughout this powerful event. For more information, visit visionmakermedia.org/festival.

In 2017, over 45,000 people received food at Heartland Hope Mission, a twenty-five percent increase. The Millard location has seen a 46% increase in individuals served since establishing its permanent location last year. All services are provided locally. For more information, visit HeartlandHopeMission.org.

Outlook Nebraska Receives International Recognition for Innovative Use of Technology

Omaha Arts Organizations Partner With Conagra to Shine the Light on Hunger Omaha Performing Arts, Omaha Symphony, Omaha Community Playhouse, Opera Omaha and Joslyn Art Museum have been proud to partner with the Conagra Brands Foundation this holiday season in support of the 11th annual Shine the Light on Hunger campaign.

This community-wide tradition, running now through February 14, is a rallying call to leaders, businesses and families throughout the local community to support hunger relief programs and provide meals for those who are food insecure.

Tackling the issue of hunger is a collective effort and therefore as part of the overall campaign, the following cultural institutions will help to raise awareness through a community wide canned food drive.

• The Durham Museum • Joslyn Art Museum • Omaha Children’s Museum • Omaha Community Playhouse • Omaha Performing Arts Society (Holland Performing Arts Center and Orpheum Theater) • Omaha Symphony Association (Holland Performing Arts Center) • Opera Omaha Patrons are encouraged to bring canned food and other non-perishable items to all participating cultural organizations through February 14, 2018.

All donations collected will support Food Bank for the Heartland. This year, with the support of the very generous local community, Conagra Brands has set an ambitious goal of raising the equivalent of 1.4 million meals to support hunger relief efforts of Food Bank for the Heartland.

To find out other ways to get involved, visit www.holidaylightsfestival. org and click on the “Shine the Light on Hunger” tab.

Outlook Nebraska (outlooknebraska.org) was recently honored with the Tec hnology and Passion Club Award. This award was presented at the annual event of Club Technologia e Passione, titled “Le Vie dell’Innovazione” (The Roads of Innovation). This international award is presented to organizations that have distinguished their activity by using innovative approaches to stimulate further cutting-edge research and development. Candidates were selected from around the world.

Outlook was recognized for its innovative use of technology to enable its business to address a social need - 70 percent of blind Americans are unemployed. Adapting a machine with auditory and tactile cues makes it possible for a blind person to be an operator after completing training. Eric Stueckrath, the nonprofit’s CEO, presented at the annual event in Lucca, Italy, on how nonprofits can use entrepreneurial ideals to address social needs.

Headquartered in Italy, Club Technologia e Passione is an international nonprofit association made up of paper industry manufacturers.

The club’s mission is to search, reward and promote excellence and innovation in the industrial technology fields.

More than 75 percent of the associates working in Outlook’s production facility are legally blind. Currently, eight machines on the organization’s production floor are equipped with voice output software. Additionally, camera systems, magnification devices and tactile indicators allow these associates to operate machines independently.

According to Stueckrath, learning about other nonprofits and collaborating with them can help Outlook and other nonprofits meet their technology needs and work together to further the various missions of charities.

“It is an honor to be recognized by industry leaders from around the world who have the passion to help us achieve our mission to positively impact everyone who is blind and visually impaired,” Stueckrath said.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS CEDARS Expanding Services to Bellevue A long-standing Nebraskabased nonprofit is expanding its services for children, youth and families into the Bellevue and Omaha, Nebraska area.

CEDARS, a child-caring organization already p ro v i d e s o n e - o n - o n e advocacy and mentoring to youth in the Bellevue area to help them get back on track before they get deeper involved with law enforcement. With this expansion, additional services, including CEDARS Foster Care and Family Support programs will be in place to serve the community.

Because CEDARS foster parents are equipped with exceptional training, have access to the staff team 24/7, support groups, and quarterly gatherings for foster families, CEDARS is one of the most trusted foster care teams in the state.

CEDARS passion for helping kids in crisis and building strong families has been fueled by community involvement and support for over 70 years.

Since its founding in Lincoln in 1947 by a loving couple who sought to provide a loving home for 22 children in need, the organization has been on a mission to provide safe refuge to children and youth who have no other safe place to spend the night.

Anyone wishing to join the growing CEDARS team as an employee, foster parent, or volunteer is encouraged to visit cedarskids.org.

For more information about how CEDARS cares for children and their families, call (402) 434-KIDS (5437) or visit www.cedarskids.org.

Nebraska Workplace Health Symposium Coming This February The American Heart Association is proudly hosting the inaugural Wo r k pl ace Health Symposium o n T h u r s d a y, February 22 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center.

The Symposium is an innovative opportunity for companies to come together and learn from industry leaders about creating a culture of health and wellness for their employees.

“We are expecting attendees ranging from HR and benefits, to company health and wellness leaders. Everyone can do their part to make their workplace healthier,” said Michelle Nielson, Senior Community Health Director for the American Heart Association – Nebraska.

Attendance is free of charge. A light breakfast and lunch will be served.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to gain valuable information about continuous quality improvement for employee health in the workplace!

To register, visit heart.org/omahaworkplacehealth. Questions?

Contact Michelle Nielson at Michelle.Nielson@heart.org.

First National Bank of Omaha Grants $20K to Family Housing Advisory Services

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Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc. has been awarded a $20,000 grant from First National Bank of Omaha, which also operates as First National Bank Fremont and First National Bank North Platte.

Family Housing Advisory Services’ mission is to improve the quality of life and eliminate poverty by helping people achieve housing stability and financial security. This funding will help the organization develop financially-wise consumers through education and coaching, encourage residents to build wealth through financial incentives and matched savings, prepare foster care youth to financially transition to adulthood, and alleviate poverty through tax credits.

In total, First National Bank of Omaha has awarded more than $1.1 million in community development grants to 51 organizations in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas. The grants, which support Affordable Housing, Educated Workforce and Economic Development programs, mark the bank’s final disbursement of grant funding for the year. First National Bank awarded a total of $1,840,000 in community development grants in 2016 to organizations across its seven-state service area.

To learn more about Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc. visit www. fhasinc.org.

To view First National Bank’s 2016 “First in the Community Impact Report” and learn more about the full extent of its community contributions, please visit: www.firstnational.com/site/about-us/in-the-community/index.fhtml.

NON-PROFIT NEWS Uncorked at Flemings Prime to Benefit Angels Among Us

NAMI Omaha Announces Upcoming Public Educational Meeting

Uncorked at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, a signature wine tasting event and fundraiser, will be held on February 24th from 1-4 p.m.

It will benefit Angels Among Us, a Nebraska nonprofit that financially assists families battling pediatric cancer.

Uncorked at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse will feature over 50 extraordinary wines from around the world including Duckhorn Vineyards, Freemark Abbey, Sonoma Cutrer Vineyards and others. As a perfect complement, Chef Partner Doug Case has curated a selection of hors d’oeurves for guests to sample and indulge. There will also be silent auction items to bid on. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at myangelsamongus.ejoinme.org/uncorked.

Angels Among Us is currently assisting over 60 families in our community.

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.

Once approved, families are provided with support up to 18 months and bills are paid directly to the creditor, ensuring that funds go for their intended purpose. For more information about Angels Among Us or the upcoming fundraising event, please contact Susan Nelson at (402) 934-0999 / susan@myangelsamongus.com. Learn more about Angels Among Us online at www.myangelsamongus.org.

NAMI Omaha is excited to share that their free upcoming Mental Health NAMI Affiliate meeting, open to the public, will be held on Thursday, March 1st from 6-8 p.m. The topic will be “Region 6 Behavioral Health Services,” presented by speakers Taren Petersen, Director of Network Services, and other Region 6 staff members. No reservations are necessary. A complimentary light meal will be served.

These meetings take place the first Thursday of each month at First United Methodist Church, located at 7020 Cass Street in Omaha. Parking is available on the east and north side of the church. Enter through doors 4 or 6 and proceed to room 112.

NAMI Omaha is a local affiliate of The National Alliance on Mental Illness. They provide free support to family and friends who have a loved one living with mental illness through education, literature, workshops, conferences, support groups and more. They also offer support groups to the individuals who have a mental illness.

For information, go to www.naminebraska.org or call (402) 345-8101.

For helpful articles on mental illness, follow on Facebook at www. facebook.com/NAMI/Omaha.

Comedian Jeff Dye to Headline Child Saving Institute’s Cabaret 2018 to Help Kids Child Saving Institute’s (CSI) Board of Directors will present its biggest fundraiser of the year, Cabaret 2018, on Saturday, June 2 at 6 p.m. at the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District, 222 N. 10th St. This year’s event features one of today’s hottest comedians and star of the NBC docuseries show “Better Late Than Never,” Jeff Dye, which just completed its second season.

Dye is a nationally touring comedian, actor, host, prankster and Bigfoot enthusiast. He has appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon, finished third on “Last Comic Standing,” and had his own “Comedy Central Presents” special. His latest album, “Live from Madison,” has been a Top 10 album on the Billboard Comedy Charts and is playing exclusively on Sirius XM. Cabaret guests support this work by purchasing tables or tickets for a fun evening that includes cocktails, dinner, and laughter. Chairs for the event are Tasso and Emily Sideris; Co-chairs are Addie and Robert Hollingsworth.

Tickets are $175 per person. To sponsor a table, purchase tickets, or for more information, please visit childsaving.org or call (402) 504-3661.

Funds raised from the evening supports CSI’s quality programs, including parenting classes, emergency shelter for children and youth, therapy, older child adoption, foster care, and developmental early childhood education.

Empowerment Network Founder & President Willie Barney Headlines MLK Event On January 15, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine once again honored the life and work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., with a keynote presentation by Willie Barney, founder and president of the Empowerment Network. The event, which was free and open to the public, was held at Clarkson Tower, Lower Storz Pavilion. Barney’s message focused on working together to advance Dr. King’s vision Barney delivers inspirational keynote.

Photo credit: Kara Haworth (UNMC) and economic agenda. The key points were: 1) Reclaiming Dr. King’s Legacy; 2) Reigniting the Sense of Urgency; and, 3) Rebuilding Our Communities by Uniting and Finding Common Purpose. He encouraged the audience to use their gifts and do their part in making our city and state an example for the rest of the nation.

For more than 25 years, Barney has worked in strategic planning, marketing, communications, community building and facilitation.

Barney graduated with a double major in economics and business administration from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. A strong supporter of lifelong learning, he has continued his education through advanced leadership training including, the Summer Leadership Institute for Community Development at Harvard University and Executive Leadership and Management Training at the Northwestern University Media Center in Chicago.

In 2006, he worked with others to launch the Empowerment Network, a collaborative of residents, leaders, and organizations working to improve the economic condition and quality of life for African-Americans, north Omaha residents and the greater Omaha area. Find out more about Empowerment Network online at www. empoweromaha.com.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS Omaha Home for Boys Announces 8th Annual Golf Tournament

Children’s Scholarship Fund Accepting Scholarship Applications

Omaha Home for Boys is excited to announce its 8th Annual Golf Tour nament taking place June 6, 2018 at Tiburon Golf Club. This fun-filled day of golf on the beautiful greens of Tiburon offers a number of sponsorship and team opportunities. Sponsorships range from $150 to $2,000 and offer a unique promotional opportunity for businesses. The 4-person scramble tournament costs $600 per foursome, which includes green and cart fees, lunch and dinner.

Proceeds from the Omaha Home for Boys Golf Tournament support the more than 300 youth served by the Home annually. Through its residential, transitional living and independent living programs, Omaha Home for Boys equips and empowers young adults with the skills needed to lead independent, productive lives despite the many obstacles faced by these at-risk youth.

To register a foursome or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Omaha Home for Boys development office at (402) 457-7165 or visit OmahaHomeForBoys.org.

The Home extends thanks to Scheels for serving as this year’s Dinner Sponsor at the golf tournament.

Children’s Sc holarship Fund is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2018-19 school year.

HETRA Offering Barn Tours for Prospective Volunteers Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) is currently seeking volunteers!

HETRA offers Equine Assisted Activities for adults and children with disabilities. Equine-assisted activity contributes to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of individuals with special needs.

It provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport, and recreation and leisure.

Participants are learning to control the horse through reining and use of aids. Therapeutic riding sessions are conducted by PATH, Intl. certified instructors, are periodically assessed by a licensed therapist, and are assisted by many valuable volunteers.

Barn tours held for prospective volunteers happen regularly and are a vital part of recruitment for HETRA’s equine assisted therapeutic programs. In 2017, HETRA served over 240 participants, conducted nearly 3,000 programming hours, with the help of over 250 volunteers who logged nearly 20,500 hours. The vitality of the program rests with the commitment and depth of an exceptional volunteer base.

Registration is made easy through online sign up at www.HETRA. org. Tours are led by HETRA Staff during active sessions. During this time, attendees learn the difference between therapeutic riding and therapy services through the observation of riders, instructors, therapists, and current volunteers.

Time is also spent learning about the available opportunities for volunteering and what it takes to fulfill these critical roles. Volunteer duties include grooming, tacking, leading, side walking, equipment coordination, with the opportunity to advance to higher level activity.

Find a tour date on HETRA’s event calendar at www.HETRA.org.

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Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha is a local nonprofit that provides K-8 scholarships to qualifying families so they can access a private K-8 education. All scholarships are financial need-based scholarships. Since 1999, more than 33,000 scholarships have been awarded valued $34 million dollars.

Applications will be open from February 12 - May 4, 2018. For more information on CSF, please visit www.csfomaha.org or call (402) 819-4990.

Nebraska Recycling Council Relocates Office The Nebraska Recycling Council team is busy preparing to settle into their new office on February 8th. Remaining headquartered in Lincoln, upon completing the move the Nebraska Recycling Council will be located at 3800 VerMaas Place, Suite 102. The new office will provide a more functional space for the organization, which is very exciting!

Nebraska Recycling Council is a statewide, member-based, 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of resource recovery in Nebraska. The goal of the Nebraska Recycling Council is to re-energize recycling in Nebraska through innovation, education, training, and the power of collaboration.

For more information about the Nebraska Recycling Council, visit www. nrcne.org.

Community Supported Art Shareholder Opportunities Available Interested in owning original, local art, but not sure where to start?

Community Supported Art (CSArt) is the program for you! When you purchase a share of CSArt, everyone wins. Your dollars go directly to a selected group of local artists, who create original work especially for this program.

As a shareholder you receive original work, and have the opportunity to build relationships with the artists along the way through different events.

CSArt is an easy, affordable way to start your collection of local art. Shares go on sale Monday, February 26th at 10:00 a.m. Head to www.omahacreativeinstitute.org/csart-omaha-1 to learn about pricing and the participating artists.

Questions about the program? Call or email Andrew at (402) 996-1092 / info@omahacreativeinstitute.org. CSArt is a program presented by the Omaha Creative Institute, a nonprofit that provides local artists with the training and opportunities they need to build sustainable careers.

NON-PROFIT NEWS Grief’s Journey to Host First 2018 Family Day Grief’s Journey will host the first Family Day events of 2018 on the weekend of Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Sunday, March 4, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

These half-day programs are filled with crafts and activities to honor and remember special people who have died. Families work together in this fun, lighthearted setting.

Family Days are hosted several times through the year. The fall and winter events are themed around Dia De Los Muertos and the holidays, Tinsel and Tears. The half-day programs can also serve as an introductory opportunity into the other services provided by Grief’s Journey.

Most people (including parents, clergy, teachers, doctors) aren’t taught how to talk about death or support grieving children and families.

Approximately 6% of youth will experience the death of a parent and 20% will experience the death of an immediate family member, but 90% of children and teens will experience the death of someone significant in their lives before graduating from high school.

Research indicates that unresolved grief correlates to issues such as poor school performance, employee absenteeism, loss of school and workplace productivity and lingering emotional and behavioral burdens. Healthy coping leads to long-term success for children, families, businesses and communities.

Family Days at Grief’s Journey are open to adults and youth ages 3-18.

There is no charge to attend these programs. Pre-registration is required and is available at www.griefsjourney.org.

Volunteers Help Open Door Mission in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day Again this year, hundreds o f vo l u n t e e r s h e l p e d make a difference in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteers were on-hand at Open Door Mission’s campus from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. to provide assistance with sorting and counting toys, sorting clothing and other household items, stocking shelves, and more.

For over 60 years, Open Door Mission has provided services to hungry and homeless men, women, and children each day with the help of caring individuals in the Heartland. “You would not believe the amount of work that is accomplished from the assistance of volunteers,” says Candace Gregory, President/CEO. “When those we serve see other people from the community at Open Door Mission, they know someone cares.”

“In this one day, hundreds of volunteers provided manpower that will go unmatched! It literally impacts the lives of thousands of homeless and near-homeless individuals and families. What a blessing -- we are truly grateful! It was a remarkable way to celebrate and honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” says Gregory.

For more information about Open Door Mission, visit www. opendoormission.org or call (402) 422-1111.

Heartland Family Service Extends Invitation to Senior Prom Heartland Family Service will host its 17th annual Senior Prom on April 22, 2018. It will take place at the Field Club, 3615 Woolworth Avenue, from 4-7 p.m.

The event will pair the teens of Heartland Family Service’s Junior Friends society with those in our community for an oldfashioned dinner dance. Seniors will be treated to dinner, flowers, traditional prom pictures, and nostalgic music. For the many seniors who never had the opportunity to attend their high school prom, the Senior Prom is a chance to get dressed up, grab their favorite gal or pal, and swing to the beats of yesteryear. Tickets are $10 and an RSVP is required. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Kara Warner at (402) 552-7480 / kwarner@heartlandfamilyservice.org.

Since 1875, Heartland Family Service (heartlandfamilyservice.org) has responded to the needs of our area’s most vulnerable children and families. Each year, the agency’s 50 programs serve more than 52,000 individuals of all ages — from infants in our Family Works program to seniors in our Generations Center — from more than 15 locations in eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. We provide critical human services to the individuals and families who ultimately shape the future of our community through the following program areas: Child & Family Well-Being, Counseling & Prevention, and Housing & Financial Stability.

African Culture Connection Receives $10K Grant From Weitz Family Foundation African Culture Connection (ACC) announced the receipt of a $10,000 grant from the Weitz Family Foundation for general operating support.

African Culture Connection’s unique education and social programs respond to two unmet needs: 1) The importance of building community awareness of and respect for African culture and diverse cultures as a whole; and 2) The pressing need of very high-risk populations, primarily African-American children and youth of low-income, for opportunities for positive development.

Formed in 2000, The Weitz Family Foundation is a private grantmaking family foundation founded by Wally and Barbara Weitz.

The Foundation seeks to break the cycle of poverty in Omaha, NE by empowering individuals, agencies, and organizations to create a more equitable and peaceful society. The Foundation seeks to identify and address the institutional and systemic injustices and gaps which fuel poverty. The Weitz Family Foundation seeks new ideas and innovations in social change to address the core issues.

African Culture Connection (ACC; africancultureconnection.org) is an organization of professional teaching and performing artists using authentic African dance, music, visual art and storytelling to encourage students to learn more about the positive contributions African cultures have made to in society. Founded by Charles Ahovissi, a professional dancer, drummer, performer, choreographer, stage costume designer, and tailor from Benin, West Africa, African Culture Connection’s mission is to educate audiences through African culture and art experiences to encourage an appreciation for the richness diversity brings to all.

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HEALTH NEWS NSSA Announces New Stroke Support Groups Two new stroke support groups, run by members of the Nebraska State Stroke Association’s Stroke Advisory Council, will begin in 2018!

“Nebraska’s Hope for a Better Tomorrow Stroke Suppor t Groups” will provide dinner, a speaker and sharing time on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in Omaha from 6-7:30 p.m. The 2018 meeting dates are: February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, and December 11. The groups meet in two locations: 1. Nebraska Medicine Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Room 121-02, 505 S. 45th Street, Omaha, NE 68198. To learn more, contact: Sarina McNeel at bagroup.help@gmail.com or call (402) 699-2666.

2. Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals - Omaha Campus Dodge Room, 17500 Burke Street, Omaha, NE 68118. To learn more, contact: Amy Goldman at agoldman@madonna.org or call (402) 413-3184.

Did you know there are more than 25 stroke support groups in Nebraska?

To search by day, visit nebraskastroke.org/events.

More than 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. The mission of the Nebraska State Stroke Association is to serve Nebraskans through stroke prevention, education, advocacy, and support services. Since 1985, NSSA has been providing education and outreach on the signs of stroke and serving as a resource for those affected by stroke in Nebraska. To donate to NSSA, find a speaker or learn more, visit www.NebraskaStroke.org or contact Linda Stephen at (402) 484-8131 / hello@nebraskastroke.org.

Nebraska Medical Center Verified as State’s Only Level I Trauma Center When Nebraska Medicine leadership announced a change to Omaha’s trauma system in August of 2014, the announcement was made with an eye on the future. The goal: to expand its trauma services, provide 24/7/365 care and become a nationally recognized, Level I trauma center. That goal has officially been met, with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) verifying Nebraska Medical Center as a Level I trauma center, recognizing the trauma center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.

Previously only a state-designated Comprehensive Trauma Center, achieving the ACS verification means Nebraska Medical Center not only provides the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. Nebraska Medical Center is now the only ACS-verified Level I trauma center in the state, with the nearest other facilities being in Des Moines, Kansas City and Denver.

There are five separate levels of verification in the ACS program, each with its own set of thorough criteria that must be met to achieve ACS verification. A team of experienced reviewers also conducts an on-site review and evaluates the criteria against the hospital’s actual performance. ACS verification means the medical center provides the full breadth of trauma services to the community via 10 dual-board certified trauma surgeons, all who live in the Omaha community.

Nebraska Medical Center currently employs more than 50 subspecialty physicians who are experts in trauma surgery, neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, orthopedics, oral maxillofacial surgery, urology, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) and ophthalmology. The hospital also has a dozen physicians certified in pediatric critical care and pediatric surgery.

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Jennie Edmundson Foundation Announces 2018 Nursing Scholarship Opportunity 2018 Nursing Scholarships are now available!

The Jennie Edmundson Hospital Foundation offers nursing scholarships each year to qualified candidates. If you are just beginning your educational career path in nursing, continuing your nursing program or returning for a higher degree in nursing you would be eligible to apply. Programs that qualify for nursing scholarships include Associate Degree in Nursing, Bachelor Degree in Nursing, RN to BSN, or Masters in Nursing program.

The scholarship applications are available the first of February. The deadline date for submitting completed applications is the first week in April. The recipients of these nursing scholarships are notified no later than June. These scholarships are awarded for the 2018/2019 academic year.

Please contact Sandy Westphal at (712) 396-6059 or email sandy. westphal@nmhs.org for any questions regarding the scholarships, application packets to be sent or the application/selection process.

Or, visit the website at www.jehfoundation.org/about/school-ofnursing/scholarships to download the application packets.

The Jennie Edmundson Foundation supports programs that benefit its patients and their families, its employees, volunteers, students and the communities it serves in Council Bluffs and southwest Iowa. To learn more about how you can be involved visit www.jehfoundation.org.

Cassling Family Foundation, CQuence Health Group Start Healthier Generation Sponsorship The American Heart Association is delighted to announce a landmark three-year sponsorship with CQuence Health Group and Cassling Family Foundation. Known as the “Healthier Generation Sponsorship,” it aims at getting today’s children more active and healthy.

One-in-three American kids and teens are overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963. Children are facing health issues that previously weren’t seen until adulthood. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels.

According to Mike Cassling, CEO of CQuence Health Group and longtime supporter of the AHA, physical activity not only prevents health issues, but is proven to help children build self-esteem, improve social skills and excel academically.

“Schools are dealing with shrinking budgets and, as a result, are unable to provide the necessary recess and PE equipment to support the AHA’s recommendation of 60 minutes of daily physical activity,” said Cassling.

“I am honored to support the AHA through this sponsorship to ensure every child has access to the tools necessary to live a healthy and active lifestyle.”

The sponsorship will be in place for all three AHA – Omaha flagship events. The sponsorship encourages attendees to bring a sports ball to the events. Companies and Omahans can donate balls even if they are not attending the events. Balls can be brought to the AHA– Omaha office at 9900 Nicholas St., Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114. These sports balls will be given out to schools, community centers and after school programs.

HEALTH NEWS “My Special Aflac Duck” Takes Home Best of CES 2018 Award

Registration Open for Diabetes Education of the Midlands’ Annual Conference

Aflac capped off a busy week at the Consumer Electronics Show by accepting the Best of CES 2018 Award for Best Unexpected Product for “My Special Aflac Duck,” the new social robot designed to help children coping with cancer. The smart companion was created by Sproutel, a research and development workshop focused on making health care playful, based on a year of child-centered research conducted by Sproutel at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

D i a b e t e s Education of the Midlands is hosting their annual conference: Beyond Blood Sugars: Total Body Diabetes Management on April 7, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Embassy Suites La Vista Conference Center, 12520 Westport Parkway, La Vista, NE 68128.

The Best of CES Awards celebrate the innovation and noteworthy products on display by the more than 3,900 exhibitors at CES each year. “My Special Aflac Duck” was also recognized as the winner of the prestigious “Tech for a Better World” CES Innovation Award and the IHS Markit Innovation Award for Robotics and Drones at CES 2018.

This one-day conference addresses new technologies, diabetes facts, and much more, with the goal of providing attendees with the information needed to look beyond blood sugars and manage their health. This program is designed for individuals with diabetes, family members, and those interested in learning more about diabetes.

“Understandably, many people were surprised to see an insurance company and a duck at CES - the global stage for innovation. Aflac is grateful that attendees took the time to learn about My Special Aflac Duck and recognize not only the impressive technology built into the social robot, but the important impact that we believe it will have on the children and families facing cancer across the country,” Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. “Receiving this award confirms our core belief that investing in creating tangible ways to improve our world is good for our communities and our business, and we invite others to support this worthy cause.

The keynote speaker is Gary Scheiner, author of six books including: “Think Like A Pancreas-A Practical Guide to Managing Diabetes with Insulin.” Gary has been a Certified Diabetes Educator for 22 years and has had Type 1 diabetes for 33 years. He was named 2014 Diabetes Educator of the Year by the American Association of Diabetes Educators and serves on the National Board of Directors for JDRF.

Nebraska Community Blood Bank: It Takes a Village to Save Lives Through Blood Donation When Lisa Bockman started coordinating blood drives at Aksarben Village in 2017, she had no idea she’d be sitting in the donor chair next to her mom, Betty, for her first time donation.

What brought her mom out to donate blood? Lisa asked her to do it.

The number one reason why people don’t donate blood is because they’ve never been asked.

It’s coordinators like Lisa, Special Events Coordinator at Noddle Companies, who are changing that.

“Coordinators need to be someone who wants to rally together to help others and build unity in a community, whether it’s various businesses like here at Aksarben or to build community among coworkers elsewhere,” she said.

As Lisa works to expand the number of regular donors, she is focusing on educating those who might be afraid.

“I’ve been donating regularly since we’ve started hosting and I always have a great experience. The collections team puts me at ease and the process is quick. For those who are apprehensive, I ask them to just stop by, walk through the process with me, see how easy and painless it is and then maybe consider helping save a life themselves.”

This year’s Aksarben Village blood drives are February 9, May 18, August 17 and November 9. To schedule a donation visit NCBB. ORG and use sponsor code AKS. Nebraska Community Blood Bank works with more than 150 businesses and organizations to host blood drives in Nebraska. If you are interested in coordinating a blood drive, please email blooddrives@ncbb.org or call (402) 486-9427.

Other experts will include endocrinologists, diabetes educators, dentists, sleep specialists, and otolaryngologists.

For more information or to register, visit www.diabetes-education. com or call (402) 399-0777. Register before February 28th to take advantage of the early bird pricing!

Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives to Combine to Form New System Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health have signed a definitive agreement to combine ministries and create a new nonprofit Catholic health system. The combination brings together two leading health systems, allowing the organizations to expand their mission of service and create a healthier future for people and communities across 28 states.

The new health system will build a stronger operational and financial foundation to expand access to quality care, build upon complementary resources and capabilities, and reinvest in critical areas to accelerate improvements in care delivery. It will include more than 700 care sites and 139 hospitals, offering people and communities access to quality care delivered by approximately 159,000 employees and more than 25,000 physicians and other advanced practice clinicians. The organizations are geographically complementary with no overlap across hospital service areas.

The new organization will be led by an office of the CEO. Lloyd Dean, president and CEO of Dignity Health, and Kevin E. Lofton, CEO of CHI, will both serve as CEOs, each with specific and independent responsibilities and decision-making authority.

The governing board for the new organization – the Board of Stewardship Trustees – will include six members from each legacy board and the two CEOs. The new organization plans to establish its corporate headquarters in Chicago and operate under a new name that will be chosen in the second half of 2018. Local facilities will continue operating under their current names.

Dignity Health’s Board of Directors and Sponsorship Council and CHI’s Board of Stewardship Trustees have approved the combination. The deal is anticipated to close in the second half of 2018 and is subject to federal, state, and church approvals.

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Building Maintenance There’s little more important for a commercial property owner as well as for the occupants of a building, or tenants when applicable, than the proper building maintenance being performed on a regular basis. Ideally, if this is done correctly, business is conducted as usual and it goes without notice for the most part. However, on the other hand, if not kept up with as it should be, there are things that you will surely notice that are less than desirable, even dangerous and disastrous, for any number of reasons. This also translates into being more costly to repair or replace as opposed to protecting your investment and ensuring longevity by maintaining.

There are a number of variables to consider that have an impact on the building environment and operations within it. A maintenance schedule is a must, whether you’re performing the tasks or outsourcing the work.

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For property owners, some will have a full team of professionals dedicated to building maintenance while others will do some of the items themselves and contract out the others to trusted professionals with whom they have developed a working relationship. For tenants, while there are some things you may be responsible for based on your lease, generally the majority of the items will be performed by property management.

There are several instances when communication regarding building maintenance is important. Understanding the history of maintenance is imperative when a property changes hands. It’s also important for property owners and their employees and professionals contracted to perform maintenance to be on the same page. For property owners and tenants, it’s more about clearly defining who is responsible for what and bringing attention to any concerns as soon as possible.

All told, building maintenance is one area where being proactive can save you from major mechanical breakdowns or excessive depreciation. Below you’ll find a basic list of items that, while not exhaustive, are all important to have checked or performed on a regular basis in order to keep your building functioning at all times.

• Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System Testing • Sump Pump – Check Connections, Winding Motors, and Lubrication • Water Pump – Domestic Water Circulating Pumps, Checks and Lubrication • Dry Pipes – Air Compressor, Fire Compressor, Check for Leaks • Garage Doors and Parking Gates – Lubrication, Adjustments of Beams, Pressure System Testing • Exhaust, Supply and Return Fans – Motor, Belts and Barometer Testing, Air Flow Testing in Supply and Return Vents • Elevator – Belt and Pulley Checks and Load Testing • Winterization of Pipes • HVAC: Coil Cleaning, Filter Replacement, Evaporator/ Condenser Changing, Belts, Line Clearing, Amp and Ohm Motor Testing, Condensate Pipe Checks, Air Flow Testing, and Water Flow Testing • Emergency/General Building Management Systems Operation and Testing Especially with respect to the importance of the first and last items on the list, Bob Sorensen with FireGuard, Inc. emphasizes, “It is imperative that building/ property owners have knowledge of, and adhere to, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards.

Compliance helps maximize system integrity to avoid failure and ensure fast, effective response in a fire emergency.

He concludes, “As your One Call One Source for all fire and life safety needs, FireGuard saves time and money in being able to handle all needs in-house. Eliminating multiple vendors saves on truck charge costs as well. We design, sell, install, and inspect all types of fire protection and life safety equipment, including: Fire Alarm Systems, Fire Sprinkler Systems, Special Hazard Systems, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Door Inspections, Restaurant Systems, Exit & Emergency Lights, Fire Appliances & Accessories and more!

FireGuard truly handles it all.

Also, going back to NFPA codes and standards, they are constantly changing. FireGuard’s personnel are the experts who will walk you through and explain exactly what is required – and what is not – to ensure you are up to code and in compliance within your building. Please call (402) 592-1999 for a free consultation.”

Technology will come into play to some extent with any type of building maintenance in this day and age. It often is involved with what’s being performed to maintain components of your building.

On the other hand, for the existing technology utilized within your building, whether it’s related to the maintenance of your building or other operations, it applies to your needs there as well.

System integration has become commonplace, opening up a world of options and with associated benefits that translate to building maintenance.

“Our goal is to make technology an after thought for the client from a maintenance standpoint,” says Jason Muehlhausen with Echo Systems.

“Selecting the proper system design is vital at the beginning of the process. Along

Jason Muehlhausen Echo Systems

FireGuard’s licensed, qualified, and experienced personnel are among the very best in what they do: inspection, testing, and maintenance of all fire protection systems.”

Bob Sorensen FireGuard, Inc.

Sorenson also notes, “When planning and budgeting for the required inspections and maintenance of your building’s fire protection systems, you should expect quality, efficiency and reliability.

A key benefit FireGuard offers is that we keep track of when all of our customer’s inspections are due for them. When it comes time for a routine inspection or to be performed, we then call to schedule service at a time most convenient for the customer. This eliminates any inspection being missed or past-due. Our customers are always current on their inspections because of the detailed monitoring we provide.

FireGuard, Inc. not only offers the Priceless Protection you deserve, we provide peace of mind in knowing that in one phone call, any and all of your fire and/or life safety needs and concerns will be resolved. Life safety systems are too important to be out of service! FireGuard’s knowledgeable technicians are on-call and available to handle emergencies 24/7. When you call FireGuard, you will not get a machine; you speak with a real person – every time – who will dispatch a technician promptly. Whether downtime is scheduled or unscheduled, we have the skills and experience to minimize system service interruptions, which is imperative to keeping your business running.”

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the same lines, when we design an AV system it’s open-ended with the potential for growth. As our clients’ businesses grow and their needs change, modifications can easily be made.

Furthermore, if you’re making a significant investment in technology, it’s wise to enter into a service contract to maintain the newly-installed system. Far too often the value and savings a service contract offers during the life of an AV system are overlooked. We’re able to provide plenty of recommendations based on the individual client for asset protection and for optimal performance and longevity. Our system designs aren’t cookie cutter; they are designed based on the client’s system functionality requests. Extensive planning and research go into each design as well as our recommendations on what’s needed in the future to keep it well-maintained.”

He also notes, “We can offer every aspect of AV systems, lighting control, shading solutions, and security systems, which is an asset.

One call to one technology service provider helps to ease our client’s minds. In some cases, clients will use multiple AV integrators based on price alone. I’ve seen examples of this and the client has gone through the pain of having to redesign, re-engineer and reinstall a completely different solution.

Also, beware of selecting the lowest-priced solution/integrator; you may save money now but it will probably cost you more money in the long run. In most cases the low-cost AV integrator installs the AV system, the job is done, and you rarely hear from them again. This term is commonly referred to as ‘Hang and Bang.’ Once the project is completed the service after the sale is usually non-existent.”

Muehlhausen also mentions a major trend for building owners to consider. “The addition of an AV control system with the capacity to monitor AV equipment over their internal network is one thing that I think is delivering particularly great results for our clients.”

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Speaking of controlling the systems responsible for integral functions, Pat Killeen with Engineered Controls further advises, “Since Engineered Controls provides our customers with products for their buildings that serve the purpose of maintaining comfort, improving energy consumption, and providing a secure environment. Simply put, when it comes to our role in building maintenance, it is our job to make sure that the building’s mechanical and electrical control systems are functioning properly, as designed, and that everything is in good working order.

Pat Killeen Engineered Controls

Building owners invest significant resources in environmental and building control systems. These systems can be costly to operate, yet essential for occupant comfort, productivity, and safety.

Keeping systems operating at peak performance also reduces energy use and lowers utility costs, a growing concern for buildings owners worldwide.

Maintenance constitutes a significant percentage of expenses in most facilities and is therefore worth optimizing. Maintenance costs consume nearly as much of a typical building’s operating budget as utility costs and amount to more than one-third the total operating expenses.

Despite the importance and expense of maintaining building efficiency, most building owners, some 55% in the US alone, rely on reactive maintenance programs to care for their equipment.

This means they wait until equipment fails completely before initiating corrective action. Realistically, reactive maintenance is not maintenance at all and should be called repair work.

This leaves approximately 45% of building owners who take the

traditional preventative maintenance approach, which means performing regular, prescheduled maintenance checks and minor repairs. This approach yields the best results.

When building owners ignore routine preventative maintenance, building occupants’ comfort can be negatively impacted whereby this can lead to employee absenteeism, low productivity, or even worse, becoming sick.

Furthermore, building owners could also see energy efficiency degraded by as much as 10% to 30% over a one- to threeyear period. Beyond its impact on energy efficiency, lack of maintenance can lead to equipment failures where equipment replacements can drive up the unbudgeted cost of capital expenses. This can also disrupt employee or tenant comfort and lead to equipment issues that pose a safety risk in a building.

Besides equipment failures, the lack of building maintenance can compromise indoor air quality and unnecessarily increase energy usage. These kinds of problems can get more expensive the longer building maintenance is ignored.

A more efficient way to incur minimal costs and achieve maximum availability is to implement a service plan that uses proactive and predictive maintenance based on the actual condition of the equipment rather than a predetermined schedule. With this approach, equipment is maintained at a continuously high level of performance rather than waiting for something to fail. In addition, a predictive approach can be used to prioritize repairs and maintenance so that the most important systems, as judged by the building owner, are repaired first, ensuring the most effective return on investment.

The most efficient approach is to include progressive analytics to leverage the big data generated by today’s advanced Building Management Systems (BMS). This data provides accurate, timely, and actionable information that can be leveraged to refine service programs even further and achieve optimal building performance.

Building owners can make data-driven decisions based on the impact that the recommended maintenance will have on the efficiency of a building’s performance.

For example, in a predictive maintenance program, key operating parameters of equipment are checked regularly by staff or monitored automatically by BMS sensors. The readings are then analyzed and used to evaluate the condition of the equipment and predict the future performance or likelihood of failure. This means that repairs are performed at the ideal time, resources are not wasted on unnecessary work, and the equipment is maintained at a higher level of performance.”

With much of building maintenance and repair being quite technical, even more so than one might think, it’s critical to carefully evaluate your options, and to involve a professional in that process.

Their take on things and guidance when you’re making decisions about how best to handle it is invaluable.

Steve Van Gorp McGill Restoration

To illustrate yet another excellent example of this, Steve Van Gorp with McGill Restoration discloses, “We specialize in restoration, which goes hand in hand with preservation. As such, we do a lot of work in buildings specific to structural integrity. With my extensive experience in the coating industry, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. As such, I can fully attest to the importance of investing in the use of the proper methods and materials to maintain your building.

Specifically with anything that’s composed of structural steel, coating serves the purpose of protecting from corrosion. Parking garages, for example, are especially prone to accelerated corrosion given

frequent traffic and along with it, heightened exposure to the deicing agents used on our roads. Given that it’s no longer just salt that is used, that’s only become more of a concern. The same holds true for any building components that are exposed to the elements and also equipment, and to protect other types of materials aside from structural steel.

Building maintenance plays a huge factor in the integrity of your building. If you’re not watching for areas of corrosion or using the proper types of paint to protect against that, you could be in trouble. Once there is noticeable bubbling, whether it’s on steel, concrete, or another surface, there’s a reason why the paint is letting go, and that reason can vary. Furthermore, it’s a little more technical than just slapping a coat of paint on it and calling it a day. Sure, it may look good for the time being, but it’s not fixing any underlying issues that could be getting worse. If allowed to compound into something major, you’ll eventually have to deal with it, at which point it will be much more complex of a project and more costly to have done. When people think of painting, they tend to think it’s as simple as going to the store, picking some up, and taking a few hours to get the job done. However, there’s science behind the coatings that should be used in certain circumstances. We work with many specialty manufacturers that have developed unique products for very specific conditions, such as coatings that hold up against 98% sulfuric acid, antimicrobial coatings, coatings that when applied with a professional sprayer dry in 10-15 seconds for ideal use on high-traffic buildings, and so on. Contractors make an investment in equipment and materials for a reason. We always want to provide the best options to our clients, and look into many different aspects from the testing behind it to its performance in the lab setting and in real life use.

Whatever the case, be wise with your maintenance decisions and hesitant about letting cost be the only factor that influences those. What’s least expensive now may prove to be more costly in the long run. In this case, a new coat of paint always looks nice, but oftentimes aesthetics is only one of multiple concerns that need to be addressed. I strongly encourage taking advantage of consulting with a professional when you notice something suspicious.”

Finally, maintaining a clean and presentable place of business and work environment is equally as important as everything else we’ve covered thus far. It’s a simple and straightforward aspect of building maintenance that should be performed on a regular basis.

There you have it, plenty of useful information to consider with respect to your current building maintenance and how it is well in hand versus how it could be improved.

Take it from the experts and be sure to take your building maintenance seriously and stay on top of it.

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Kids’ Health There are many different types of businesses and organizations, both large and small, that are committed to supporting the good health and overall wellness of our community’s youngest members. Physical, mental and emotional health are all equally important and are all being addressed as such by parents/guardians and professionals alike. We took the opportunity to consult with a couple of our clients who graciously offered their tips and insights.

Dental Health: “Regular dental checkups should be done twice a year, every six months,” advises Candace Crews with Anding Family Dental. “Oral home care for kids should include brushing their teeth two times a day for two minutes each time, and flossing every night. Often, kids and adults alike think they are brushing for two minutes until they actually time themselves. Setting a timer will ensure you hit the mark consistently, so I recommend having one available nearby the other brushing supplies. I also encourage parents to still help Candace Crews their kids brush and floss up to 6 years of age.

Anding Family Dental Since fluoride helps prevent cavities, in adequate doses, fluoride is helpful to a child’s dental health. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste at home helps stop the growth, or multiplication, of the cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. For kids, at their six-month dental check-ups, the professional application of fluoride can destroy those same bacteria.

Additionally, diet plays such a large role in dental health. Sugar can have such a negative impact on kids’ overall dental health. Many sugary foods tend to stick to our teeth, especially in the pits and grooves, and can cause cavities. Everything is okay in moderation, but limiting the intake of sugary foods and beverages is wise, especially for kids. Consider substituting healthier options. Also, avoid chewing gum containing sugar.

Instead, replace it with gum or mints containing xylitol.”

In closing, Crews emphasizes, “Kids listen to their parents and also pay attention to their parents’ oral home care habits. The habits you create as a kid will usually stick with you into adulthood.”

Mental Health: “The health benefits associated with providing mental health therapy can help kids and families lead stronger, healthier lives,” advises Kalisha Reed with CRCC. “Kids and families often have improved relationships and communication. Individuals may learn to manage their emotions in a more positive and healthy way. Those who have experienced trauma and/or grief learn ways to cope effectively.

Children and teens are faced with many issues that may impact their ability to be successful at Kalisha Reed school, work, or to have healthy relationships CRCC with their parents, peers, and/or siblings.

Proving mental health therapy helps to build resiliency by addressing these topics in a safe, therapeutic environment. Additionally, helping those who have been impacted by trauma can help to increase their skills in

expressing and managing their emotions.

However, a significant barrier for many families is access to services.

This is especially true with kids who have special needs. Access can be compromised by insurance, location of providers or services, and finding someone you can trust. In helping to address this issue we have two locations servicing Northwest and Southwest Omaha. We partner with the Connections Program to provide therapy in the schools and to decrease socioeconomic barriers as well. Additionally, we have a partnership with Millard Public Schools to house a mental health therapist who provides an integrated approach to school-based mental health care.

As a mental health therapist, my primary focus is to promote positive mental and emotional wellbeing for kids and their families. I specialize in working with children and adolescents who have co-occurring mental health and special needs due to medical complexities and/or cognitive deficits. In working individually with kids, I focus on promoting positive social skills, feelings identification, expression of emotions, and trauma.

My work with families focuses on how to help their child be the best they can be by supporting individual family needs. Community resources can include providing parenting education on attachment through group therapy and parenting classes. I also help families in accessing other resources such as joining the Y, getting a mentor, or encouraging participation in an activity as a family.”

In closing, Reed emphasizes, “It is okay to seek help and ask for help.

Therapists can serve as an extension of the family unit, providing needed support, education, and most of all treatment to disorders that may be negatively affecting you and impacting your relationships. CRCC offers a collaborative approach to the treatment needs of children. Our integrated use of therapy services ensures that the needs of the child and family can be met under one roof.”

Partnering with the right professionals throughout the journey of raising a child and the different stages you’ll go through will ensure you are doing what’s necessary to keep him/her healthy and happy. We encourage you to be proactive and diligent, reach out and connect, explore the possibilities, find what works and stay the course!

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Wedding Planning A new year is upon us, and for many who will be getting engaged or married in 2018 or who will be a part of a couple’s special day, it will be one to remember. Right about now, future brides and grooms are at various points in their wedding journey, from newly engaged and getting started with planning to gearing up for a spring wedding that’s right around the corner.

With everything that goes into wedding planning, at any given time there will be something (or a multitude of things) that needs your attention. As such, putting together a team of experienced professionals to help guide you through the process will ensure that getting hitched goes off without a hitch. *Symbolic Gestures* Getting down on one knee, presenting the ring, the rings themselves, meaningful tokens of appreciation to those who are with you on your special day and your journey up until the wedding and in life as man and wife – these are all time-honored traditions of matrimony, among many others.

Finding the perfect engagement ring precedes the vast majority of proposals – best not to risk it with the empty box routine unless you’re sure you can pull off one of the most memorable moments of your life with the promise of going shopping together to pick it out. Past that, wedding rings and even bridal gifts can fall within specialty areas of a fine jeweler. *Time & Place* Booking your venue(s) is one of the very first things that should be done to ensure your date is available and secure it. This primarily goes for the ceremony and reception site(s), but also could apply to where you’ll host other wedding-related events if you’re selective and not just any place will do or you’re hoping to coordinate an optimal location based on other factors involved.

With the majority of event spaces, when booking the venue you’ll also be receiving the services of an event coordinator. With plenty of experience specific to that particular venue to offer, you’ll want to tap into all of their knowledge, talents, capabilities, and wisdom based on lessons learned over time. While you’ve either never planned a wedding before or have a limited amount of experience, this is what they do for a living, day in and day out.

No two venues are alike, and the number of guests, as well as the space, amenities, and services offered, will factor into whether it will work for your event. Also not to be underestimated is the “WOW” factor; creating a setting that is as memorable as everything that’s taking place on your special day is the ultimate goal.

“At their core, weddings come down to the ‘I Megan Gilligan dos’ and exchanging of vows,” says Megan Omaha Marriott Gilligan with Omaha Marriott Downtown Downtown at The at The Capitol District. “However, these Capitol District

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moments often do not come to mind at first. When you think about weddings, you think about the dinner, the toasts, the dancing, the cutting of the cake, the photos and more. Therefore, having a memorable location for the reception is often just as important as the wedding itself.

At the Omaha Marriott Downtown at The Capitol District, couples will find a unique, stunning location to host their memorable event. The building’s modern and sophisticated design features floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in outdoor light for exceptional photos. In fact, every function room in the hotel offers an option for natural light.

In addition, the Omaha Marriott Downtown offers the ability to host weddings, receptions and brunches both inside the hotel and outside.

During warmer months, couples can hold their ceremony poolside on the hotel’s rooftop deck and then move to the rooftop entertainment area for the reception. Or, couples can host a larger reception in one of the hotel’s elegant ballrooms.

The hotel’s team also provides superior service. With a dedicated events manager in-house, a skilled culinary team with years of experience in the food & beverage industry and an exceptional staff overall, the Omaha Marriott Downtown can help create the best once in a lifetime experience for couples.

For more information about weddings at the Omaha Marriott Downtown, visit www.downtownomahamarriott.com/weddings.”

There is high demand for venues with lodging or at a location where it’s nearby so arranging transportation isn’t incredibly costly, and also with easy access to plenty of dining and entertainment options. Hotels or venues within close proximity to them are desirable for many other reasons, most notably lodging for out-of-town guests and partygoers who plan to fully indulge in the festivities. Hotels also particularly useful as a staging point. Instances might include the bridal party getting ready on the big day before the ceremony ensues or having a place to get ready before a bachelor/bachelorette party and crash after a wild night on the town.

In fact, there are local venues that would be ideal for more than one, or even all, of the events surrounding a wedding – the engagement party, bachelor and bachelorette party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, and gift opening brunch.

Back to the diversity of venues, there are many different options in the city, and also many outside of it that offer scenic views of the countryside. For the latter, an idyllic venue that already has natural charm makes for a gorgeous setting for a wedding.

For those who are expanding the search to locations outside of the Omaha Metro, Soaring Wings Vineyard & Brewing is an excellent option to consider.

“We are minutes from Omaha and have 10 acres of grapes surrounding the winery, which is a beautiful backdrop for a wedding ceremony and/or reception,” says Sharon Shaw with Soaring Wings Vineyard & Brewing. “Since we sit high on a hill overlooking a valley, it allows for some spectacular views, especially at sunset.

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private use of our deck in the evening with the rental of the venue. We’re also currently building a new stage that will be done in the spring. If live music is on the agenda for your wedding, this is an exactly the setup you’d want to have at your reception venue. Many find Soaring Wings to be the ideal spot for both the ceremony and reception based on our line-up of amenities and our pricing being no different for both than either one independently.

When planning, it’s important to keep in Sharon Shaw mind that since it’s an actual winery and Soaring Wings brewing, it’s a bit unique as far as restrictions Vineyard & Brewing go. Due to our license, we are only able to serve wine and beer produced onsite. We cannot allow any outside alcohol. However, you’ll find the quality of wine and craft beer we make and serve to be more than satisfactory, especially compared to what is commonly served reception venues that don’t have the same luxury.”

Also a popular destination to incorporate into a bachelorette or bachelor party, Shaw advises, “Groups can rent out our party room or are welcome to come out anytime during hours of operation.

With both wine and craft beer, there are options for tastings or you can just order and enjoy as you like. Groups can also book a tour; these, however, are by appointment only and are a great addition to your party.”

Broadening the options yet again, going beyond the city and well past anything here in Nebraska, you might have something completely different in mind for the backdrop for your wedding affair. Travel has become much more popular among couples, with destination weddings offering benefits that many enjoy. To set the stage for just about any wedding-related milestone – engagement, ceremony, honeymoon – there are places all over the world that could be the site of your dreams. When planning a destination wedding or honeymoon, the earlier you start, the more availability and options you will have to choose from. It’s also wise to enlist the services of a professional; one who is experienced in wedding-related travel will have plenty of inside information that will help to guide your decisions, put together an itinerary and coordinate any special details, find the best pricing and package deals, and help you avoid any surprises upon arrival or during your stay. This isn’t something you want to book without personal assistance as there are many variables to consider and of course, the fact that it’s one of the most important moments in your life.

“At The Vacation Store & The Cruise Company, you’ll work with experts who have been helping clients plan their dream weddings and honeymoons for over 30 years now,” says Dana Smithberg with The Vacation Store & The Cruise Company.

“Not to mention we help plan the perfect trip a couple will remember for a lifetime as the one when they got engaged. We are here to assist and walk you through every step of planning your engagement, honeymoon or destination wedding!”

Dana Smithberg Everything goes so fast once the question The Vacation Store & is popped. Oftentimes it goes something The Cruise Company like this: ‘You’re engaged! Congratulations!

So what’s next?’ Well, now you’ll be planning a wedding and a honeymoon, heck maybe even kicking things off with a destination engagement party. How will you fit it all into an already overscheduled day? We have a specialist ready to work with you to plan and schedule all of your upcoming ‘firsts’ so that you have the time to enjoy them.”

With destination weddings in particular, she notes, “Destination weddings continue to a hot trend!

Couples today are looking to tie the knot in unique locations while doing so in style and in a way that fits their budget. From the small and

simple private wedding to the large and extravagant celebration, there’s something for everyone! And they’re doing everything from an arrival day welcome cocktail party by the pool to a day after the wedding bonfire on the beach, complete with s’mores and drinks.

Another current trend is incorporating excursions. Adventure has definitely been on the minds of many destination couples. Whether it’s snorkeling in Belize, hiking in the mountains of Italy, or boating on the coast of Australia, wedding couples are customizing these experiences to their interests as well as what their guests will enjoy.

Truly, the destination weddings of today are taking the idea of getting married abroad to a whole new level!”

In conclusion, offers the following advice: “Trust the experts! Our consultants have the inside scoop and the tools to assist you with all of your needs. Our wedding/honeymoon professionals are ready to share their knowledge so that every stage of your planning goes smoothly.

It is essential to maximize your time and investment. Wedding costs and all the trimmings add up. You want a personalized experience. We offer a one-of-a-kind service that will provide you with recommendations to help you control costs and manage the overwhelming details when selecting your venue, entertainment, transportation and travel partners.

All of our travel specialists undergo in-depth training and are prepared to find you the vacation or cruise that best matches your needs, budget and preferences.” *“Cake Table” Confections* The fare and beverages are generally a big part of any weddingrelated event you’ll be hosting, but for many of them, particularly the reception, the dessert shares a starring role.

As is customary with weddings, what’s a wedding reception without a cake? Or, more specifically, the cutting of it (and smashing it lovingly into each other’s faces) at least. In modern times, however, this has evolved quite a bit towards incorporating the sweet treat(s) of the bride and groom’s choosing, which might not be cake at all. Or, if it is indeed cake that you’re after, which still remains commonplace, there are also different variations of cakes to consider if you’re looking to get creative. Just as every wedding is unique, so is the bride and groom’s choices in this area. For example, you might have an incredible dessert bar and a smaller cake to cut ceremoniously.

At The Omaha Bakery, they can truly do it all. Special requests are always welcome!

Ultimately, there are unlimited variations, with no right or wrong.

Do whatever you like! Whether you have a classic tiered cake in mind or one that’s decorated uniquely, want to serve your favorite treat or have a themed spread, or would like a dessert table with an assortment of indulgent options because it’s always nice to have choices, The Omaha Bakery can bring your dessert dreams to life.

And again, for all of the other affairs leading up to the big day, you certainly can’t go wrong with serving a decadent dessert either! *Bridal Beautification* Who doesn’t want to look their very best on their wedding day?

Chances are, you’ve got a goal to reach that’s related to getting in shape, whether it’s losing weight or targeting an area that would make you look and feel better in a strapless dress or slim-fit suit style. None are magically going to happen overnight, so the sooner you get to work, the better.

As many of us are all-too-familiar, stubborn fat in awkward places leads to being self-conscious. That is definitely not what you want to be focused on throughout your wedding day, or every time you look at your photos for the rest of your life. If you are not comfortable with how you look, taking action now is so much better than regretting it later.

Aside from the ultimate wedding bod, you’ll be selecting attire and accessories, booking your trip to the salon and spa or appointments for any of your other beauty/grooming needs, etc. These are all things that will need to be planned well in advance. There are lead

times for ordering to ensure your dresses and suits arrive in time as well as being on the safe side when accounting for alterations that may be needed. Then there’s the fact that professionals such as hair stylists, makeup artists, nail technicians, estheticians, etc. book up well in advance, and you don’t want to take your chances there either.

“Brides, grooms, bridal party, mothers and fathers of the bride and groom - we’re here to help achieve the style you are looking for,” says Brooke Ahlman with Brookelyn’s Hair & Replacement. “Everyone involved in a wedding wants to look their very best, in person on the big day and in the photos and videos that will last a lifetime. As such, when it comes to scheduling your appointments, I suggest doing it as early as you possibly can in the planning stages.

Brooke Ahlman For wedding parties, we can book a block of appointments in the salon or we will come to Brookelyn’s Hair & Replacement you to help make the day go as smoothly as possible. Scheduling ahead is also helpful as we may need to plan to have multiple stylists available depending on the size of your wedding party.

When it comes to bridal trends in the hair industry, things are always changing and people come up with new ideas or styles desired.

Since we offer hair extensions, which add length and/or volume, it makes any number of creative hairstyles one might want possible.

Oftentimes clients will provide pictures for inspiration and we’ll recreate those looks. It’s important to note that some styles take much longer than others, which is yet another reason to plan ahead.

Trial runs are popular for good reason; it’s not ideal to wing it and come up with something the day of your wedding or engagement pictures. For updos, having healthy hair is really important as it can make the process go easier, so try to avoid doing anything that might damage it leading up to the date. Also, with this in mind, we carry many different hair products that can help with the health of your hair leading up to when you’ll be getting it done so that it will look amazing come wedding time. Feel free to call me at (402) 649-0212 to schedule a time to meet and go over the specifics!”

With so many exciting possibilities, planning a wedding is what you make it. A surefire way to put together the wedding of your dreams is to enlist a team of professionals who know their stuff, who you can count on as reliable resources, and who are passionate about what they do. Likewise, keep in mind you’ll be working together over a period of several months to over a year in some cases. Give yourself the opportunity and leeway to be selective. Use your initial communication over the phone or in person to judge how well you’ve been able to build rapport in a short time as well as how satisfied you are with the answers to your questions. With such amazing wedding vendors locally, there’s little need to worry because the perfect ones are out there, it’s more a matter of getting organized and planning ahead. Now that you’re engaged, get to dreaming AND doing!

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Senior Living We’ve all heard the saying “age is just a number.” For each number past 65, the age that defines one’s status as a “senior,” there’s great variance as to what that looks like for each individual. Sure, everyone can count on getting to enjoy those great discounts, but other than that you could find yourself anywhere on a wide spectrum. As life expectancies continue to rise, aging as gracefully as Jane Fonda or Warren Buffett (or Charlie Munger for that matter!) isn’t as much of an anomaly anymore. Alternatively, we are faced with serious health conditions such as the epidemic of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis at an earlier age or the prevalence of cancer. Fortunately here in the Omaha Metro, the resources that are available for seniors in our community are just as diverse as the population they serve.

Future Projections for the Senior Population What You’ll Need to Know to Help You Plan Accordingly The noticeable growth of the senior care industry is for good reason, supported by the growing need for services that meet very specific needs. With Baby Boomers entering into their senior years en masse, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates there will be 83.7 million people over the age of 65 in the nation by the year 2050.

In comparison, that is almost double the population of people that age in 2012.

“As Baby Boomers enter retirement in droves, the senior living industry is continually changing to meet their demands,” says Jennifer Knecht with Immanuel. “The change is a good thing - providing more choices for seniors. For instance, opening this year in Omaha is Immanuel’s Lakeside Village Lofts. Stepping away from traditional senior living communities, Lakeside Village Lofts support younger, more active seniors, offering independent high-end apartments without the worry of home upkeep and maintenance.

Jennifer Knecht Lakeside Lofts will join Immanuel’s existing 11 Immanuel senior living communities in the Omaha and Lincoln areas.

The options are vast for senior living and with these additional choices comes complexity and confusion for seniors.

The best first step is to start the planning process early. Do your parents have plans or goals for their retirement? Are they currently meeting those goals? Start the conversation early. If you’re not sure how, or need help sorting through the array of senior health and lifestyle choices, reach out to the experts. Immanuel’s senior living consultants have been there, helping families for decades sort through the confusion and develop a plan. So when the time is right, there’s a plan. No crisis, no panic, just a plan.

Still, it’s never easy when you notice Mom or Dad may need additional help. And most people aren’t sure what to do about it - it’s not the kind of decisions you make often in your life, and no one is prepared for it.

The issues you notice aren’t going to go away; in fact, they’re probably only going to worsen. Talk to your loved one about your concerns. Then,

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reach out to the experts. Being open to additional help is only the tip of the iceberg—health concerns, emotional aspects, and logistics can all be overwhelming. At Immanuel, our senior living consultants are the experts. They’ve helped thousands of families create plans.

Sometimes the answer is a move, yet sometimes other resources are the right choice. Whether it’s with us or with someone else, we’ll help you create a plan that fits your unique family and situation. That’s our non-profit, Christ-centered mission, helping families is our first priority.

If you’re thinking a move could be right, you’ll want to explore all the options, make sure every box is checked. There’s no better way to do that than touring senior communities. Spring is a great time to get out there and explore the options. If you need help knowing what questions to ask, download Immanuel’s Non-Profit vs. For-Profit Comparison Guide at ImmanuelDifference.org. It contains all the tough questions you want to ask on a tour.

We’re coming up on an ideal time for rightsizing too, which is the process of ensuring your loved one’s home is meeting their goals for retirement. Spring is also a great time to assess whether the home is working towards the goals for the future or against them. Was snow removal difficult this winter? Does the furnace have another year? Have household chores become more difficult? What yard maintenance is needed this spring and summer and do they even want to do it anymore? Answering these questions can be great conversation starters with aging loved ones. The answers may signal additional support is needed, or perhaps a move.

For many families, making a move to senior living is tough. It’s complex, there are emotions involved, it’s a decision people often put off until an injury or health crisis occurs. But, for many of the families who make the move, they tell us they wish they had made the decision sooner.

Mom’s happier, Dad doesn’t have to deal with snow or ice removal, they both have found meaningful social connections and are more fulfilled—and healthier—than they ever were on their own.

There are a lot of misconceptions about senior living; that it’s only for the old, the frail. But senior living today has changed. We’ve seen a huge response from younger retirees looking for a change - excited to move to a place where there’s no maintenance, where there are wellness and social opportunities, a place where they can accomplish their retirement goals. For these families, there’s no better time to explore senior living.”

Look no further than the Omaha Metro and Lincoln areas for evidence of the impact that the dramatic growth of the senior population already made, as there will be a number of new facilities opening in 2018, following the same trend that was evident in 2017 and the years prior.

“Both will have new communities opening in 2018,” says Mary Ann Stallings with Bridge to Better Living. “Independent, Assisted and Memory Assisted Care will be offered in various continuum settings. Seniors and their families will be able to broaden their choices for a transition to Senior Living with several hundred additional apartments available. The Baby Boomers have asked for more amenities, and residents will see new additions such as Bistros, fitness centers, chapels, new technology, theaters and Mary Ann Stallings restaurant style dining. Bridge to Better Living Bridge to Better Living already has toured or visited with the new communities and is able to share available information with clients about the possibility of viewing floor plans, touring after construction is finished, choosing an apartment and moving as the communities open their doors. BBL has been working with clients and current communities since 2010 and looks forward to growing the options for Senior Living.”

Stallings explains how one would benefit from utilizing the services offered by a senior placement agency, stating, “Seniors and families often begin their own search for Senior Living options by using questions they have read on the internet or heard from others. When they realize the difficulty and stress associated with the navigation of retirement communities and then connect with Bridge to Better Living,

they often wonder why they didn’t start with BBL. It is important for us to know our clients’ needs and history to have their journey be stress-free. Bridge to Better Living has the knowledge, contacts and resources needed for a successful research resulting in quality of life.

Why would anyone want to have the confusion, anxiety and exhaustion of touring several communities in a limited time, with budget constraints or a non-understanding of professional terms used, when an expert could do everything at NO COST to the client?”

Other seasonal changes impact seniors, Stallings advises. “Families must first realize who the key player is in this journey and recognize their needs. Visit with them, their therapists, physicians, neighbors and clergy. Will this be a short-term change or a lifestyle transition? If needing to move to an Independent, Assisted, Memory Care Assisted or Skilled Care community, contact a Transition Consultant such as those at Bridge to Better Living. BBL’s consultants listen and work with families to identify available resources to help in each situation. No two families or loved ones are the same and no two communities are identical. We address those differences for a successful transition and quality of life.”

As for other things that will likely impact seniors, Stallings advises, “Social engagement is important all year round and in all types of weather. Remain active and in contact with friends and family.

Transportation is sometimes risky during the winter and others may provide transportation for you to events or group activities. Winter is a wonderful time to look into the contents of closets and cabinets to see what needs to be discarded, donated, given to family and friends or sold. If you are thinking about moving to a community, consider only what is needed. If receiving 2-3 meals a day is there a reason to keep multiple sets of dishes and cookware? Will you need an ironing board? A vacuum? Washer and dryer? Moving means changes and now is the time to identify the possessions you value. You may be surprised at how little is needed to be happy. Bridge to Better Living has resources to assist you reorganize, downsize or pre-stage and move to your new apartment.”

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2018 will have many positive things going for it, namely more choices in senior care as well as senior living. The demographics support the building of new senior living communities, so the need for senior care continues to rise as well.

The Benefits of Proactive Health Assessment and Care Good Health is the Key to Quality of Life for Seniors Health issues are often behind increased isolation, resulting in depression. When left unaddressed, conditions that could be easily treatable or corrected gradually worsen over time. What started out as a minor issue can snowball into a much larger problem before you know it.

There are many choices out there for seniors, whether it be home health care or a move to a community that will keep them engaged socially and mentally, where their health is also able to be regularly monitored. This is optimal in order to address any issues in a timely manner. For families who don’t have the resources for a full-time move to a senior community, an in-home care provider, transportation or meal delivery service, or a day service within a community would be among the available resources to contemplate. Anything to look forward to and stay socially connected will lead to better quality of life and health outcomes. Socialization should not be overlooked, as isolation can lead to depression and cause other problems. Seniors need to continue living a meaningful life!

Admittedly, with busy schedules and so much going on in our personal lives, we aren’t always able to check up on our senior loved ones as much as we wish we could. Enlisting the help of a caregiver for the times when you know you can’t be there to help out is a great option to consider. These professionals are also able to alert you of any issues they notice in their time spent with your loved one, such as decline in health, things that are out of place around the house, etc.

This being the case, in-home care has become another popular resource in the community, allowing seniors who are able to remain living in their homes longer. There is diversity within the companies

locally as well, with services ranging from non-medical assistance with housecleaning, meal preparation, pet care, errands and transportation, companionship etc. to providing medical care that’s needed on a regular basis. With many different options, you’ll want to look into what is offered to be sure it matches your specific needs.

As time goes on, these needs will change, and you’ll need to make adjustments accordingly. Communication between all parties involved will help you react in a timely manner.

Specialized Care and Increased Options Making a Big Difference Finding The Right Fit is Worth the Time and Effort In general, with more specialized services becoming available, there are more people out there who are able to benefit from them. We’re seeing senior care diversifying based on meeting specific needs at different stages of life and in response to health epidemics. This is not only evidenced by more options for in-home care, independent living, and assisted living but also for hospice care and specialized memory care.

For example, as we continue to learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s, everything from approaches to caring for those who are suffering from any of these conditions to the living environment has been modified accordingly. Coupled with the growing population affected, now there are entire facilities and wings dedicated to memory care.

Within the senior care continuum, rehabilitation is yet another core offering. There are now some state-of-the-art rehabilitation facilities that are post-acute or short-stay, helping patients to get well and transition back to their homes or to a community that offers the appropriate level of care moving forward. Others offer rehabilitation with the option to transition back to wherever the person calls home or to reside there short-term or long-term.

Therefore, again it’s important to understand the differences between each.

In any case, do your very best to be an educated consumer and a strong advocate for yourself or your loved ones.

Making End-of-Life Arrangements Brings Comfort, Peace of Mind to All Fewer Stigmas Surrounding Planning Thoughtfully for Death With wonderful resources to help make all of the necessary arrangements for when one’s time comes to pass on and what might be needed for day-to-day life leading up to that point, people are more apt to talk about and plan for death well before it’s on their doorstep. Along with downsizing and moving to a community where ideally you can remain at home as you age and transition to higher levels of care, estate and funeral planning will come into play as may hospice care.

There are over 100 pieces of information needed at the time of death – some within the first few hours, like your social security number, and most within no more than 24 hours.

In lieu of listing the entire 100+ items you will need, some key pieces of information that you will need when making arrangements, whether at the time of need or when planning ahead, include: the deceased’s full name (including maiden name if it applies), spouse’s name if married, date of birth, social security number, birthplace, marital status, date and place of marriage, military branch and enlistment/separation dates, discharge papers, and any life insurance policy information. When your loved ones are experiencing the shock and grief of your death – whether it was anticipated or not – providing all of this information can be very difficult emotionally and even logistically.

Planning ahead and pre-paying for your funeral services are important for many reasons, including the fact that it can lock in prices that tend to increase each year. Whether or not you choose to pre-pay for your funeral services, letting your loved ones know how you want to be remembered is strongly recommended.

The less they have to plan, the less likely it is that there will be misunderstandings or hard feelings.

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Future Projections for the Senior Care Industry Demand vs. Supply Fuels Current Speculation of Labor Shortage on the Horizon Now that we’ve covered a range of information pertaining to seniors, highlighting the various resources available in our community now and coming soon, let’s switch gears and discuss the future of the job market.

As with many professions in healthcare fields, those in the senior care industry will be in high demand to meet the growing need.

Opportunities will grow exponentially, proportionate to the growth of the senior population and longer life expectancies. While there will be more interest in degree programs, there is still expected to be a labor shortage to some extent. In this type of environment, hiring and retaining the best care providers is critical for any business serving seniors.

As Baby Boomers age between now and 2030, the need for senior care – and for senior care workers – will increase to unprecedented heights. The competition for workers will become even more fierce than it already is and organizations that focus on selecting the right talent and retention strategies to keep that talent engaged will have an edge on their competitors.

Across all sectors of the long-term care industry, workers are exiting the industry faster than they are entering it. At the same time, competition for workers within the industry is increasing due to expanding options for how and where people receive support and services.

Hiring the right people is one strategy to increase retention. Putting the right people in the right jobs increases their job satisfaction, becoming contagious because having the right people in the right jobs makes things better for the people who work with them. With turnover rates as high as 75%, recruitment and selection alone will not stop the bleeding. Leaders and managers must get intentional about other retention strategies.

Enabling naturally caring people to see a pathway for a career in senior living is a start. Then once you have selected people talented for the roles, allowing them to create their own plans for development within the senior care industry will ensure the very best people stay in jobs they are naturally wired to perform. Where do you start to hire great people? Ask candidates these questions: • Do you love helping people?

• Can you naturally pick up on what people need even if they do not tell you?

• Do you have a gift for staying calm and composed, even in trying circumstances?

• Are you quick to notice even small changes in people?

• Are you a natural smiler?

• Are you more interested in hearing other people’s stories than in telling your own?

• Can you keep track of a lot of detailed responsibilities while also making each person you encounter feel significant?

While these questions will assist in eliciting caring behaviors from candidates, a scientifically-validated selection instrument can help you do an even better job of finding the right people who will provide the best care – hire after hire.

Focus more on potential than experience. You can teach people what they need to know about the specifics of working in senior care. You cannot teach them to care about people and you cannot install a heart for service.

Scout and recruit continuously. Look for people who provide great service in restaurants, retail stores, libraries and community centers.

Keep a keen eye out for those who seem to work especially well with older people. Ask those people to come work for your organization.

And, if you do not have a role for them immediately, add them to your talent bench – individuals you can call upon in the community who you know will be a fit for the role and the culture.

Get creative. Connect with people who are caring for family members through offering support groups for caregivers or tapping into places in which unpaid caregiving happens, such as churches, synagogues and community centers.

Develop the leaders of your future. Now is the time for senior care leaders to begin planning and implementing strategies to help them win the war for talent that has already begun and promises to persist.

People are the key. Winning this war starts with selecting the right talent and continues with strategies for retaining top performers.

Providing opportunities for learning and development is one of those strategies, and may be the key to unlocking your organization’s best future.

Millennials and the generation that follows them (Generation Z, born 2002 and after) will make up a significant portion of the individuals to fill the growing need for workers in senior care. Opportunity for growth and development is the number one factor influencing both the attractiveness of an organization to Millennials and their willingness to accept a job offer.1 In conclusion, talent development should be a priority for your organization for three reasons: 1. It helps you attract and hire top talent; 2. It helps you retain top performers; and 3. It helps you prepare your organization for the challenges of the future.

National Workforce Crisis Facing Long-Term Services and Supports. (September, 2017). Leading Age. Retrieved October, 2017 from www.leadingage.org/sites/default/files/WorkforceFactSheet_0. pdf. 2 Millennials at Work: Reshaping the Workplace. PricewaterhouseCooper. Retrieved October, 2017 from www.pwc.com/m1/en/services/consulting/documents/millennials-at-work.pdf 1

To summarize, there are many things on the horizon that will have an impact on all of us as we age, affecting society as a whole spanning from a community level to a global level. For seniors, while there are good “rules of thumb” that apply to most or to keep in mind for when the time comes, there are also certain things to pay attention to depending on one’s needs and circumstances. Regardless, the more you know, whether you’re a senior or have a loved one who is, the better prepared you’ll be!

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