StrictlyBusinessMagazine POBOX57397,Lincoln,NE68505 SERENA NULL Anant Operations JEN BurnsRICKCenterMONJARASSphereBESANCON&McDonnellSIXCITYRIVER SUE CentrisMOHRFederal Credit Union MATT OmahaAnybodySCHARTZSupplements NICK ShelfGenieSTARKEY I N T HIS I SSUE • Fall Landscaping & Outdoor Living • Senior Living • Joining Organizations CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS • McGill Law • The Wedding Barn • Harmony Med Spa • Midtown Medical Group STRICTLYBUSINESSOMAHA.COM OMAHA • SEPTEMBER 2022 TM ABUILDINGSCALABLEMOBILE NETWORK
Where IT goes for IT support. As an IT leader, you know your team can solve almost anything. But when it comes to solving everything, even your experts could use more experts in their corner. Cox Business has a complete portfolio of cloud solutions to help you overcome any challenge, all supported by a provider you already trust. Get started www.coxbusiness.com/cloudat
September 2022 Strictly Business 1#PrintProudDigitalSmart HOURS 10AM-8PMMON-FRISAT9AM-8PMSUN11AM-7PM DeGuns 252 N 134th ST. Lincoln, NE 68527 DEGUNS.NET Providing THE wiDEST cOllEcTiON of the highest quality guns and accessories at the lowest prices. 10,000+ GUNS IN STOCK Only 38 Minutes from west Omaha! MILLIONS OF ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION CLASSES & TRAINING RANGE – RETAIL – AMMO – CLASSES 134TH O St.
Letter FrOm tHe preSIDeNt NEWS 4 23 28 PersonnelBusiness Nonprofit SPOTLIGHTS 15 22 35 36 McGill Law The Wedding Barn Harmony Med Spa Midtown Medical Group FEATURE STORIES 37 39 46 Fall Landscaping & Outdoor Living Senior Living Joining
Publisher/Founder/Accounting Shayne Zutavern - SZutavern@yahoo.com
prODUCtION teAm: Editor/Operations Hannah Hundley - Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com
CONTENTSOrganizations
SALeS teAm: President/Sales Paige Zutavern - Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com
DerekHannah Devyn
Let Strictly Business help you lock in your status as THE ExPErT in your industry, utilizing print, the internet, and social media. Find out how by contacting Paige at (402) 466-3330.
Strictly Business Celebrates Anniversary in Omaha and a Milestone of Giving
Writer Devyn Sanderson - Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com
This is a wonderful time to talk about the spirit of giving as we creep up on the holiday season. Even if our time and resources are limited, I think of the words of Anne Frank: “No one has ever become poor from giving.” I encourage anyone reading this to take these words to heart and look around for ways to give back.
2 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart 2017, we were introduced to another wonderful local nonprofit, Domesti-PUPS. This organization trains and places therapy or service dogs with people who have disabilities, typically young children who suffer from seizures. We have had the blessing of working with the founder of Domesti-PUPS, Michelle O’Dea, and her fellow volunteer team ever since. This year, our 10th Annual Party in the Garden Fundraiser benefitting Domesti-PUPS, is on Friday, September 9. These last 10 years of hosting Party in the Garden have been truly humbling. It’s a one-of-a-kind event. In addition to aiding the mission of an impactful organization and raising money that ends up changing and saving lives, I love how this fundraiser has brought together so many businesses and people in the community over the years. Connecting people is one of our pillars at Strictly Business . Putting on the Party in the Garden Fundraiser is one of the ways we do this while giving back at the same time. This is why it’s one of my favorite events of the year!
September is the anniversary month of Strictly Business in Omaha. Our history dates back to 1993 when my husband Shayne and I, along with some amazing friends, founded Strictly Business in Lincoln. We knew we wanted to eventually expand into Omaha to promote local businesses here as well, especially since so many people do business in both markets. When we hit the 15-year mark in Omaha, that was really special and it’s amazing to be going beyond that now into 16 years. All of these years would not be possible without our amazing advertising clients. I’m also thankful for all the committed employees I’ve had over the years and the friends and family who make up my support system. What has been fun in recent years are the new relationships we’ve formed with more businesses and organizations through some different features and stories we started implementing in the magazine. Notably, the Employing Omaha feature and the WomenOwned Businesses feature have been great additions to the many ways we tell peoples’ stories and meet the needs of our clients. A feature that remains strong and enriches our publication is the Supporting Nonprofits feature. This feature has allowed us to form relationships with so many wonderful nonprofits and give them an affordable way to share their mission on a big scale. Something that has always been important to me and my team is giving back to the community. In fact, this year Strictly Business is celebrating the 10-year milestone of our annual fundraiser, Party in the Garden. We help organize this event throughout the year and host it at our office in Lincoln. For the first four years, we partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association of Nebraska to support the amazing work they do to care for individuals and their loved ones in the area who are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. In
Art Director Derek Nosbisch - Design@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com
As local business, we have a responsibility to enhance the community we do business in—the community our clients, partners, and employees live in. I know there are many other businesses that do their part to give, like Strictly Business does through Party in the Garden and various other activities. I would love to hear your story! How do you and/ or your business support local nonprofits? If you send me your story, we’ll share it on our Facebook!
Connecting people is one of our pillars at Strictly Business. Putting on the Party in the Garden Fundraiser is one of the ways we do this while giving back at the same time.
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. printed in the U.S.A. Copyright ©2022 by pZAK, Inc. third Class postage paid at Lincoln, Ne 68505 pAIGe ZUtAVerN - Omaha/Lincoln - president (402) 730-0096 | paige@StrictlybusinessOmaha.com
In the wake of COVID-19 there has been a clear shift in how we work. There are many reasons behind this, but we also understand how mobility supports business continuity objectives and solves the challenges of hiring and retaining top talent. Without geographical restrictions, organizations can meet their goals and adjust to changing times.
Intelligent Networking
Business Continuity Mobility architecture must prioritize continuity. A modern complete business continuity disaster recovery (BCDR) plan includes several solutions such as automatic failover to wireless, backup as a service and disaster recovery as a service. Identify your ideal Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) times. Also consider your desired uptime goal and the compliance standards your company wants to reach.
Moving workloads to a cloud environment helps provide flexibility, allowing employees to complete tasks without coming into the office. It also supports bringyour-own-device (BYOD) policies, reducing investments required for additional hardware. Your mobile workforce accesses their digital workspace with a secure, single sign-on (SSO) through solutions such as Identity as a Service (IDaaS). They can work from a virtual desktop and use their applications in the cloud.
Cox Business offers solutions to the challenges posed by mobility initiatives, allowing IT teams to focus on business-critical objectives. Forming a partnership expands the capabilities of your team, helping to deploy and integrate technologies quicker while optimizing reliability and efficiency. However, it’s vital to develop benchmarks to measure success and help leaders understand the return on investment (ROI). Build your strategic plan by outlining criteria for the following areas.
Dedicated Internet Access
September 2022 Strictly Business 3#PrintProudDigitalSmart STAY CONNECTED www.StrictlybusinessOmaha.com @SbmAGOmAHA/StrictlybusinessmagazineOmaha To Get Your FrEE Subscription: www.StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com/subscribe-strictly-business 24/7 Strictly business magazine (402) 466-3330 Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com AbOUt tHe COVer 5 Benchmarks for Building a Scalable Mobile Network
Whether your organization takes a cloud-first approach, deploys SD-WAN or uses a combination of both, Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) ensures your network can support business-critical cloud applications. Review your company’s high-capacity applications driving the need for DIA fiber including upload and download requirements. Think about the impact of symmetrical speeds on productivity and employee experiences. the future of mobility is happening now and Cox business experts are here to guide your organization through the complex challenges that come with it. Learn more at www.coxbusiness.com
The speed of digital innovations means inflexible infrastructure is a thing of the past. Changing or increasing without redesigning the infrastructure and hardware is essential. An intelligent network can evolve and proactively respond to changes on demand. An SD-WAN is a flexible network solution for optimizing traffic for remote and mobile workers. Enterprises may use SD-WAN to replace outdated architecture or as an overlay to legacy networks such as MPLS or metro Ethernet. It also provides a pathway to Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero-Trust models. Your organization should identify benchmarks for SLA’s, QoE and QoS.
Cloud Environment & Applications
Security CyberEdge’s Cyberthreat Defense Report found 85% of organizations suffered from a successful cyberattack last year. Your enterprise architecture changes your security posture, so you need to understand the minimum security requirements for your organization. Security benchmarks should consider specific metrics and understand threat levels to prioritize them. Cox Business can help determine priority levels for network endpoints versus the edge, data encryption, user authentication, and cyberattack prevention.
Contour is honored to receive this recognition yet again! The Excellence in Construction awards program is the industry’s leading competition, developed to honor innovative and high-quality Merit Shop construction projects. The award honors all construction team members, including the contractor, owner, architect, and engineer. The winning projects, selected from entries submitted from across Nebraska, are judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, workmanship, innovation, safety, and cost.
According to the U.S. Census, the Omaha metro area population is expected to hit the one million mark by 2024, and there is a major need for electricians to help keep the area shining. The electrical industry is also currently experiencing a shortage while simultaneously projected to grow 9% through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationally there are nearly 85,000 job openings for electricians with local salaries ranging from $75,000-$100,000 plus benefits. In the next 10 years, the number of projected jobs in this field stands at around 800,000.
Contour Construction earns eagle Award for Scoular Renovation work
CONTRACTORS us in Nebraska402.429.5407atp.nebraska.gov
The existing training building was built in 2002. The new addition to the building, which started in November 2020, puts the campus at over 56,000 square feet. Since the building was opened, just over 1,000 have graduated from Building Omaha’s nationallyrenowned apprenticeship program.
CEO and Founder Aaron Newell has been in the collections field since 1996. A Nebraska native, he moved to Lincoln to attend college and earned his paralegal studies degree from Lincoln School of Commerce.
Locally owned and operated AR Solutions is pleased to celebrate 17 years in business in September. The debt collection agency has a division that specializes in healthcare collections that is HIPAA compliant. All asset recovery specialists are trained on medical billing, medical terminology, and insurance processes which accelerates recovery of receivables due clients. In addition to healthcare collections, AR Solutions also has a division that performs retail and commercial collections.
Contour Construction is proud to announce that the completed work in the Scoular Building renovation has earned an Eagle Award for Excellence in Construction (EIC) from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Nebraska and South Dakota Chapter. The award will be presented during the Nebraska South Dakota Chapter EIC awards banquet on September 15, at DelRay 817 in Lincoln. This award is a testament to the dedication and skill of the team at Contour Construction, with the help of the general contractor, Sampson Construction. Project Manager for Contour is Adam Daws and their partner at Sampson Construction is Nate Hotovy, who trusted Contour with his project. The entire project consisted of the renovation 51,000 square feet of office space in the Scoular corporate headquarters with a very tight deadline. From the more than 5,000 square feet of walnut wood paneling to the custom built door openings with side lights, plus the bathroom partitions and casework, it required significant attention to detail and craftsmanship.
After 20 months of construction, Building Omaha—dually funded by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)—has opened a new 24,000-square-foot addition to its Electrical Training Center located at 8960 L St. in Omaha. To celebrate, Building Omaha hosted a grand opening ribbon-cutting event on August 12, complete with tours, food trucks, vendor demos, and other fun activities. In addition, remarks were given by Congressman Don Bacon, Mike Bunach (NECA), Kevin Wetuski (training director, JATC), and Barry Mayfield (business manager, IBEW).
With AR Solutions, you can trust that your accounts will be handled with the highest quality service so that you can focus your time and energy on what you do best—running your business. AR Solutions is licensed, bonded, and insured, and has more than 30 combined years in medical collections. For more information, visit arsolutionsinc.com or call (402) 817-3929.
4 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
September Marks 17 Years in Business for AR Solutions
Contour Construction, a certified WOSB (Woman Owned Small Business), is a commercial carpentry construction business that offers expertise in commercial finish and trim carpentry, select rough carpentry, architectural casework, doors, frames, hardware, accessories and specialties, and industrial concrete placing and finishing. Learn more at contour-construct.com.
Building Omaha (iBew-neCA) Hosts Grand Opening for electrical Training Center
Make Homes ACCESSIBLE
Assistive Technology Partnership A state sinceagency1989
“With Omaha growing, now is the perfect time to recruit more people to a lucrative electrical career by enrolling in our apprenticeship training program at our new state-of-the-art facility,” said Mike Bunach, executive director of NECA. “Our hybrid program blends classroom learning from seasoned professionals with on-the-job training from licensed journeymen, all while students earn as they learn and embark on an exciting career.”
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“Without the continued support of our clients, we wouldn’t have any success or anniversaries to celebrate,” Aaron shared. “AR Solutions just wants to express our utmost gratitude to everyone who has supported us thus far and moving forward.”
Building Omaha (IBEW-NECA) is a nonprofit organization established through a collective bargaining agreement devoted to promoting the union electrical construction industry through advertising, publicity, continuing education, and a wide range of services to both the union and management members. For more information, visit buildingomaha.org.
September 2022 Strictly Business 5#PrintProudDigitalSmart BuSineSS newS Legal Aid nebraska Recognizes McGill Law as 2022 Law Firm equal Justice Partner
Those professional and personal encounters will help to grow into further engagements and increased awareness of opportunities.”
Ireland’s success is multifaceted, based on a history of consistent industrial policies, available skills, an agile workforce, and the benefits of EU membership and its related market access. To learn more about becoming one of the companies across the Midwest that have invested or found opportunities for them in Ireland, go to www.idaireland.com.
“We at True North Home Care believe that home is simply the best place to be, and if you can’t be home, being surrounded by people who love you can make any place feel home-like,” said Owner Kayla Nelson. “If your loved one could benefit from one-on-one care, whether at home or in a skilled nursing/assisted living facility, please don’t hesitate to reach out today to learn more about how our services can improve their quality of life.”
McGill Law has long supported the mission of Legal Aid of Nebraska and the work that they do to provide equal justice for Nebraskans from low-income backgrounds. Awards are given to attorneys, law firms, and community partners that contribute to making equal justice happen for Nebraskans. For more than 50 years, Legal Aid of Nebraska has provided dignity, hope, self-sufficiency, and justice through quality civil legal services, and McGill Law is honored to be recognized as a partner in equality by Legal Aid. To learn more about supporting McGill Law at the luncheon, contact Jessica Maynard at jessica@McGillLawyers.com.
McGill Law was created in 2011 by Jodie Haferbier McGill to serve families in a much bigger way than only focusing on their legal issues. McGill Law’s focus is on their clients’ well-being and their family’s future successes. McGill Law concentrates on respectful, empowered divorces and adoptions. To learn more, visit www.McGillLawyers.com, call (402) 548-5418, or email info@McGillLawyers.com.
“We attended a Startup Omaha Week event, run by the Omaha Chamber and other partners,” said Karen Healy, VP of technology and business services of IDA Ireland. “It was fantastic to see the continued level of start-ups emerging in Nebraska.”
Ireland continues to be an ideal location for companies seeking to internationalize their operations and has proven a trusted partner to U.S. companies on their investment journeys. For example, LinkedIn’s international headquarters is based in Ireland where they employ almost 2,000 people. In addition, Ireland’s thriving technology and sports technology clusters are being noticed as leading sports technology companies such as StatsPerform, Strava, ThrivelGlobal, and Whoop have all scaled teams in Ireland across many roles, including international services and software engineering.
McGill Law is proud to announce that they have been recognized as a 2022 Law Firm Equal Justice Partner awardee by Legal Aid Nebraska. They will be honored at the Friends of Legal Aid Nebraska luncheon on Thursday, September 29 at the Happy Hollow Country Club in Omaha. They invite supporters to join them for the luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., either in-person or virtually. The luncheon will also be featuring key speaker and author Rachel Louise Snyder.
“We like to see it as a two-way street of investment between the U.S. and Ireland,” said Healy. “Companies like Glanbia, Kerry Foods, CRH, and Smurfit Kappa are Irish companies who have scaled substantial teams in the U.S. The sister agency of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, helps Irish companies grow their presence and exports internationally. They are engaged with the business community in Nebraska. They work hard to help their clients build connections globally and hire people in the U.S. to grow their companies in this attractive market.”
The caregivers at True North exemplify their core values of passion, honesty, commitment, nurturing, diversity, equity, inclusion, and excellence. True North even has a Spanish-English speaking caregiver and a caregiver proficient in American Sign Language available to better assist your loved one.
True North Home Care opened earlier this year to offer dependable and compassionate caregivers for families needing home assistance. Whether it’s help with errands, light housekeeping, cooking, or personal care, True North will be there to help you or your loved one maintain independence and safety at home.
“Ireland and Nebraska have many commonalities—agriculturally strong, growing tech, and a passion for sports!” said Healy. “I believe that connections will continue to grow and develop further.
Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Dan Mulhall and his delegation visited Nebraska earlier this year. “By the game taking place in Ireland, we were lucky to welcome a strong contingent from Nebraska to Ireland.
nebraska vs northwestern Football Game Sparks interest in ireland Business Connection
Innovation is happening at Nebraskabased companies, and Ireland wants to be the international springboard to help Nebraska-based companies reach overseas markets. IDA Ireland, the government agency responsible for promoting investment in Ireland, visited Omaha and Lincoln to celebrate the Aer Lingus College Football Series that took place between Nebraska and Northwestern on August 27. In partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber and LinkedIn, IDA Ireland met with business and technology leaders at the newly opened LinkedIn offices in Omaha. Ireland is impressed by Nebraska’s thriving start-up and technology ecosystem.
There are also efforts in Ireland to scale companies in the U.S.
L-R: Ciara Mularkey, iDA ireland and Karen Healy, iDA ireland at Startup Omaha.
The guiding vision of True North Home Care is to nurture their clients with devoted care and serving hearts as they navigate the challenges of maintaining safety and independence at home. Their passionate, personal caregivers provide everything from chore work and companion care to hands-on home care services. To learn more, visit truenorthhomecare.com or contact Kayla Nelson at kayla@ truenorthhomecare.com / (402) 981-8593.
“Supports delivered to U.S.-based businesses on behalf of the Government of Ireland are on a pro-bono and confidential basis,” said Healy. “We provide support on every step of the investment journey, from due diligence to information gathering, discovery visits, and, once set up, we continue to help through practical supports.”
True north Home Care enters Omaha Market with Compassionate, Certified Caregivers
Ireland is focused on establishing a strong business connection with Nebraska-based companies and growing its international footprint.
“We are thrilled to showcase the organizations that best exemplify the highest standards of ethics,” said BBB president and CEO Jim Hegarty. “This will be our 25th year highlighting those that make such positive contributions in our communities. The Torch Awards for Ethics embodies BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust. We can’t wait to celebrate with all the winners of these important awards.”
6 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
J.H. & Sons Clothier Opens Omaha Location at One Pacific Place
BuSineSS newS Mind & Body wellness Center Anticipates Grand Opening in Omaha
J.H. & Sons Clothier is pleased to announce that their new location in Omaha is now open at One Pacific Place, 10357 Pacific St., STE 20. With the help of the Greater Omaha Chamber, they hosted their ribbon cutting on June 17 to celebrate the grand opening and showcase their esteemed collection of suits, dresses, and classy business wear.
J.H. & Sons Clothier is a family-owned and operated menswear retailer—now in Omaha! For more information, visit jhandsons.com or call (531) 999-3344.
Please follow the Better Business Bureau on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok at @bbbomaha. Learn more at bbb.org.
Tickets and sponsorships are available at BBB.org/OmahaTorch.
Concentrating on a variety brands that deliver consistent quality and style, they appeal to anyone from the traditional businessman to the hip weekend warrior. Some of the brands featured at J.H. include Peter Millar, Canali, Eton, Isaia, and more.
Attendees will experience a superb event and be treated to a dual-plated lunch featuring fillet mignon from Omaha Steaks. Learn more about the event by contacting Josh Planos at jplanos@ bbbinc.org / (402) 206-8276.
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is pleased to announce their prestigious Torch Awards for Ethics luncheon will be back on Wednesday, September 21. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Embassy Suites in La Vista. This will be the 25th anniversary of the marquee event.
Better Business Bureau’s Torch Awards for ethics Luncheon Set for September 21
The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics, formerly known as The BBB Integrity Awards, honors businesses and charities located in metro Omaha and southwest Iowa. The event’s keynote speaker is John Carreyrou, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and the New York Times bestselling author of Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup . His reporting on Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos, was widely publicized.
Steelcase Research Finds what People Value in Their Post Pandemic workplaces
Steelcase surveyed nearly 5,000 workers in 11 countries in late 2021, many of which have returned to the office after working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report reveals 87% of people will spend at least some of their time working from the office, but 45% prefer working from home. The report highlights three main findings that will help organizations create offices that work better than they did before:
• People are willing to trade remote workdays for their own workspace at the office.
• Access to private spaces is increasingly important as more work happens on video. “It’s not enough to simply re-open the office doors and offer a hybrid work policy,” said Chris Congdon, director of global research communications for Steelcase. “Today’s office needs to earn the commute of employees. The office must support the new ways people work while helping to create a sense of community where people belong and feel valued.”
To read the complete report, visit steelcase.com/globalreport2022.
The Mind & Body Wellness Center understands that both the body and mind have to be healthy to work together. They are now scheduling sessions by appointments for September. You can get more information or schedule an appointment by visiting mindbodywellnessomaha.com, call (402) 203-5269, or email admin@mindbodywellnessomaha.com.
The Mind & Body Wellness Center is excited to announce that they will be holding their grand opening on Saturday, October 1 with a soft opening in mid-tolate September in Omaha. They will be located at 2808 S 80th Ave., STE 160. The center will be specializing in Ketamine IV therapy for behavioral health disorders. They collaborate with the Nebraska and Iowa medical health community to offer Ketamine IV therapy with an emphasis on establishing “set and setting” and catering specifically to their clients’ specific needs. Their business will provide a new optional path to improving treatment resistive depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and post addiction withdrawal syndrome. Trained journey guides and anesthesia professionals will team up with physicians and behavioral health professionals to provide comprehensive care for those that matter most to them, their clients.
J.H. & Sons is backed by a strong heritage of customer service in men’s apparel that began in 1975 in St. Cloud, MN by James (Jim) Halberstadt and his family. Since retired, Jim handed down the business to his son Jeff who has since expanded the stores to Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Des Moines, and now Omaha. Jim’s values of delivering unmatched style, value, and service are alive and well in their stores to this day. J.H. & Sons takes these beliefs along with a sharp eye on the current menswear market to the Midwest. They are a fashion-driven store with roots based in traditional men’s tailored and casual style.
A new global research report from Steelcase, “The New Era of Hybrid Work,” points to employees’ new needs since the pandemic began — greater control, comfort, and privacy in the workplace. As employers encourage people to work in the office, the office must work harder to meet these new needs.
• When people like their office, they are more engaged, productive, and connected to the organization’s culture and likely to stay.
402-334-7000 centrisfcu.org/mortgage NMLS: 490617 SOLD 8/4/22 12:57 PM Page
If you sign up for holiday lighting before Friday, September 30, you can receive 15% off on material cost. Sign up before Tuesday, November 1, and you can receive 10% off on material cost.
Deluxe Landscape Design is gearing up for the holiday season by running a great special on their holiday lighting services. They conduct these services as a distributor for Brite Ideas Decorating and Holidynamics, allowing them to wholesale LED Christmas lights at a reduced price.
The Metro Omaha Builders Association was chartered in 1946 and is a not-for-profit organization that was established to promote and protect the home building industry. MOBA members are builders/developers and their trade partners who are dedicated to preserving integrity 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 & Outdoor Living Tour, and the Parade of Homes. For more information, visit www.moba.com.
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Cox Announces entryintoMobile industrywith Pilot Launch of Cox Mobile
Scan for information!more Journey Home Starts Here Your
When you partner with the Centris Federal Credit Union mortgage team, you will work with knowledgeable, professional and local mortgage specialists that will help guide you on your home buying journey. Contact us today to see why the Centris team is the right mortgage partner for you.
Skilled Labor Shortage with $9K Donation
Deluxe Landscape Design Offers Holiday Lighting Special for 2022 Season
MOBA presents donation check to benefit Builders of the Future program at MOBA's industry night.
For 29 years, BOTF has been serving Nebraska’s construction industry through trade-specific educational opportunities for high school and community college students. To date, BOTF has provided hands-on, builder-mentored construction experience to over 5,000 high school students. BOTF helps expose and assists in training over 500 students per year in 36 Nebraska high schools to become new workers in the construction industry.
MOBA Reinforces Commitment to Combating
In addition to distributing holiday lighting, Deluxe Landscape Design provides installation, removal, and storage of your holiday lights and offers hundreds of different decorating options. Their services are offered to both residential and commercial clients.
To request a 100% free, no obligation estimate or catalogue so that you can look and see what kind of amazing lighting and decorations they have to offer, call (402) 225-6600.
On August 29, company’sCoxpilotannouncedCommunicationsCoxthelaunchofMobile,thenewmobile phone service, in three of its markets. Exclusively available to Cox home internet customers, eligible residents in Omaha, Las Vegas, and Hampton Roads, VA now have access to Cox Mobile’s flexible mobile phone plan options. The company plans to continue to launch Cox Mobile in its remaining markets on a rolling basis throughout the rest of the year. Designed to fit every lifestyle, Cox Mobile customers will have unlimited talk and text with two simple, high-speed data plans to choose from – Pay As You Gig and Gig Unlimited. With Pay As You Gig, customers only pay for the data they need instead of overpaying for a one-size-fits-all plan. Cox Mobile customers also have access to reliable 4G LTE and 5G coverage, and the ability to stay connected with Cox Internet at home and with more than 4 million of Cox’s on-the-go wifi hotspots.
Through the generous support of members and sponsors, the Metro Omaha Builders Association (MOBA) is proud to present a $9,000 donation to The Builders Foundation to benefit their Builders of the Future (BOTF) program. Funding for this program was raised during MOBA’s Annual Golf Outing and will help to assist BOTF in providing a handson, builder mentored construction experience to high school students throughout Nebraska.
September 2022 Strictly Business 7#PrintProudDigitalSmart BuSineSS newS
Deluxe Landscape Design offers a wide range of services for lawn care and landscaping, including seeding, sod, fertilization, aeration, mowing, trimming, mulching, retaining walls, and holiday lighting. Their highly-trained crew is made up of experienced, motivated, and talented individuals who all keep their motto of “Quality is Always Important!” at the forefront of their work. Their holiday lighting division uses only the highest quality LED lighting to ensure that you receive the best service. Learn more at deluxelandscapedesign.com.
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“We’ve done extensive research to understand what our customers want and expect from their mobile provider,” said Cox Communications president Mark Greatrex. “Cox Mobile gives our customers what they asked for – a simple, flexible, and reliable mobile experience wherever they go.”
If you’re interested in exploring if Cox Mobile is right for you, you can visit your nearest Cox retail store, go directly to www. cox.com/mobile, or simply call 1-(800) 234-3993.
8 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
The Assistive Technology Partnership needs contractors to quote on and complete projects located in the homes of individuals with disabilities and senior citizens. The modifications assist individuals to live independently and, in some cases, make it possible for them to live in their home instead of a nursing home. “We are experiencing a shortage of contractors to assist us with completing these projects,” said Director Tobias Orr. “The independence of an individual can depend on their being able to enter/exit their home, manage their daily care using grab bars and handrails, and maneuver their wheelchair through doorways.” Plans are provided for ramps, accessible showers, and door widening. Those who are interested in helping the Assistive Technology Partnership complete these projects to make homes accessible can see a listing of available statewide projects by visiting www.atp.nebraska.gov or by contacting Elizabeth Lamborn at elizabeth.lamborn@nebraska.gov / (402) 429-5407.
Assistive Technology Partnership in need of Contractors to Make Homes Accessible
The Assistive Technology Partnership is a state agency in the Department of Education, Nebraska VR, and was established in 1989. They assist Nebraskans with disabilities, their families, educators, service coordinators, employers, and a host of agencies to learn about and use assistive technology. The program started with one office and a staff of five. Today six offices and a staff of 26 work to connect Nebraskans across the state to assistive technology. Learn more at atp.nebraska.gov.
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PaulDavidMadsentoSpeakon“FromGrief to Growth” at Omaha empowermentBreakfast
Omaha Empowerment Breakfast is proud to reveal that they have selected Paul David Madsen as the speaker for their upcoming breakfast on Friday, September 2. Paul experienced real grief when his wife of 40 years and daughter passed away just 9 months apart. While attending grief support groups he noticed few men attended. This inspired him to write his book, Men Grieve, Too — Tools to Help Men Rebuild After the Death of a Loved One . Paul hosts retreats and day-long seminars focused on helping men deal with their grief. You can find more information about his retreats and seminars by visiting NeverGrieveAlone.com. Paul is also the producer and host of The Grow Your Biz Show and Behind the Words TV which appear on KPAO-TV and several social media platforms under the growmedia.com branding. Prior to his work in media, Paul worked in all phases of the recruiting and staffing industry, primarily in IT and healthcare niches. Paul is a graduate of Dana College in Blair, NE.
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The Omaha Empowerment Breakfast is a non-membership networking opportunity held monthly on the first Friday with great speakers, great food, and endless connections. People attending can showcase their business by being a three-minute speaker or being an event sponsor. To learn more and register for the September 2 breakfast event, visit omahaempowermentbreakfast.org.
“We love doing business in Omaha and are pleased to have been a part of the local business community for the last 14 years,” shared Owner Trisha Sullivan. “I am also so proud of our team and how much we have grown since our beginning. We are all excited to see what the future holds for Midtown Medical Group. Midtown Medical Group isn’t just a job for us; it’s our way of contributing to the betterment of the lives in the community where we live and work.”
Midtown Medical Group is a local, small business that provides employment physicals, drug testing, and health screenings to employers. They founded their company on – and still provide – disability evaluation services, and continue to grow in offering valuable services to the local area. To learn more about Midtown Medical Group, visit midtownmedicalgroup.com or contact Trisha Sullivan at tsullivan@midtownmedicalgroup.com / (402) 558-1440.
StretchLab Elkhorn offers a team of highly trained Flexologists® that will give you a deeper stretch than you could ever achieve on your own. StretchLab offers one-on-one stretches with a Flexologist customized to fit your individual needs, as well as group stretches led by a Flexologist to guide you through a series of stretches and learn the proper stretch tool to use. StretchLab Elkhorn is located at 20110 Pierce St. To learn more, contact their local facility at (531) 238-4004 / elkhorn@stretchlab.com or visit stretchlab.com.
Midtown Medical Group Celebrates 14 Years of Business in September
“Our team at CFO Systems is passionate about serving our clients with enthusiasm and integrity,” said CEO Brett Frevert. “While honoring our strong core values, our CFOs, controllers, bankers, accountants, finance, supply chain, and HR leaders collaborate internally and externally to provide expertise to our growing client base. We are honored to earn a spot on this prestigious list for the sixth time, and look forward to continuing to provide tremendous value to our clients as they strive for growth as well.” Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.
CFO Systems is a nationwide firm founded in 2004 to provide practical, experienced financial, human resources, and procurement leadership to small and middle-market organizations of all industries. Learn more at www.cfosystemsllc.com.
Midtown Medical Group is excited to be celebrating their 14th anniversary on Friday, September 9. The local, 100% female-owned, small business was established in 2008 to offer disability evaluation services. Since then, they’ve grown their team of licensed medical providers and psychologists; expanded across two states and 10 locations to become Nebraska’s top provider; and has recently added employment services to their offerings to help companies with their preemployment needs through physicals, screenings, and drug testing, among other services.
StretchLab Elkhorn recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony in conjunction with the Greater Omaha Chamber on July 21 to celebrate the official grand opening of their new location! To further celebrate StretchLab’s new location, a Kona Ice social was held following the ribbon cutting and attendees had the opportunity to meet with local businesses that have partnered with StretchLab Elkhorn. In addition, 20% off was available on select retail items and guests had the chance to enter to win Husker football tickets and a football signed by Heisman Trophy winner, Eric Crouch.
September 2022 Strictly Business 9#PrintProudDigitalSmart BuSineSS newS WATER • FIRE STORM • MOLD RESTORATION SERVICES (402) belforusa.com891-1300 HELLO@FOTOFUNSPOT.COM (402) 915-1386 2022 W nner Eve Pho ographer WITHBRANDYOURBUILDA PHOTO BOOTH Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Held to Celebrate Grand Opening of StretchLab elkhorn
CFO Systems earns Position on 2022 inC 5000 List of “Fastest-Growing Companies”
CFO Systems, founded in 2004 in Omaha, is proud to announce that they have once again earned a position on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. A mere one in 20 have made the list six times, and CFO Systems is one of those companies. With a rank of 2,239 for 2022, CFO Systems continues to provide small & middle-market organizations the leadership needed to help them grow.
10 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart BuSineSS newS Experts in Building Control Technology POWERED BY As a leading Building Control contractor, Engineered Controls’ goal is to provide customers with products and services to create efficient, safe and comfortable building NE.Officestypesmaintenanceretrofit,solutionscompleteEngineeredenvironments.Controlsoffersturnkeycontrolincludingconstruction,serviceandforfacilitiesofallandsizes.inOmahaandLincoln, 866.395.0186 | engineeredcontrols.com Building Automation and Controls I Security I Lighting I Gas Detection I Parking Management A Business ethics Alliance to Host ethicSpace Conference October 13 with Sherron watkins
The Business Ethics Alliance is pleased to invite you to their EthicSpace Conference on Thursday, October 13, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. with keynote speaker Sherron Watkins. The conference will take place at the CHI Health Center and it will be centered on Creating a Culture of Trust. Along with built-in networking opportunities, lunch, and Sherron’s speech, Dr. Erin Bass from the University of Nebraska at Omaha will be speaking on Ethical Decision Making. Additionally, Dr. Erika Kirby from Creighton University will be speaking about Psychological Safety. The goal of the conference is to concentrate the mission of the Business Ethics Alliance into a one-day event that helps organizations be more ethics-focused the other 364 days of the year. Attendees will walk away with practical tips and tools that will help them to create work environments where people feel valued, respected, appreciated, and heard.
The Business Ethics Alliance has a mission to build leadership, strengthen organizations, and elevate Greater Omaha through positive, practical business education. Tables, tickets, and additional sponsorship information for the EthicSpace Conference can be found at businessethicsalliance.org. Call (402) 280-2235 with any questions.
Brookestone Meadows nursing Home Plans to Remodel while Giving Back
Brookestone Meadows has been in the process of remodeling the interior of their rehabilitation and long-term care facility. On August 4, the team spent the afternoon loading any remaining furniture from their building into trucks to donate to the community. Some furniture went to Thrift World and the majority of it went to Least of My Brethren. They were able to donate about 10 loveseats, 24 living room chairs, 12-15 end tables and nightstands, 10 really nice small kitchen tables, and a variety of chairs to Least of My Brethren. In addition, 35 of their chapel chairs were donated to the Hooper Senior Center. Not only is Brookestone Meadows enhancing the inside of their walls for the benefit of their residents, but they are also looking outside their walls to enhance the community. Brookestone Meadows in Elkhorn creates a living environment that radiates love, peace, spiritual contentment, dignity, and safety, while encouraging personal independence. You’ll always find a culture of rehabilitation and overall improvement of health. Short-term rehabilitation patients are served by team members trained to meet their unique and specialized needs. Their long-term care services provide quality care and dignity in life. For more information, visit brookestonemeadows.com, call (402) 289-2696.
Aksarben Village 6750 Mercy Rd Suite 4 Omaha, NE 68154 HarmonyMedSpa.net | 402.915.6659 YourBestSelf@HarmonyMedSpa.net
• September 5 - National Shrink Day
Bringing awareness to mental health is a big part of Clearwater Counseling, PC’s mission. The month of September, which is full of special days dedicated to shedding light on many important mental health topics, is a great opportunity to learn and share information.
• September 25 - National Psychotherapy Day
• September 13 - Positive Thinking Day
In addition to raising funds via their annual golf event, Center Sphere also gives their nonprofit members an opportunity to earn for their organization by participating in the Non-Profit Ambassador Program. More information can be found at www.centersphere.com/non-profitCenterambassador-program.Spherewouldalso like to share their upcoming Omaha networkwide events. On Thursday, September 8, Fibrenew will host Coffee & Connections from 7:30 – 9 a.m. at The Fireside Banquet Room, 841 Tara Plaza. On Thursday, September 22, a Network-Wide Social hosted by Pixel Fire Marketing will run from 4 – 6 p.m. Pixel Fire Marketing is located at 10828 Old Mill Rd., STE 5. Center Sphere is an established network of business professionals whose mission is to share referrals, ideas, and resources through genuine relationships. For more information about Center Sphere or to inquire about attending a complimentary meeting or event, visit www. CenterSphere.com or connect with Omaha Market President Martina Niemeyer at Martina@CenterSphere.com / (402) 536-0289.
Nonprofit, Announces Upcoming Events
For the entire month of September, Clearwater Counseling encourages individuals to acknowledge Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, as suicide is one of the top 10 causes of death. This observation is intended for people to discuss resources, warning signs, and risk factors surrounding this highly stigmatized topic. Other important occasions in September that bring attention to the topics of mental health, wellbeing, and treatment include the following:
Clearwater Counseling, PC is a private practice offering mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults in the Grand Island and Omaha areas. They utilize various evidence-based therapeutic techniques and theoretical approaches to serve clients in the following specialties: addictions, anger management, anxiety, cooccurring disorders, depression, divorce/blended family issues, grief and loss, life adjustments/stress management, major mental illness, parenting and attachment trauma, relationship/codependency, selfesteem, trauma and PTSD, and work/life balance. To schedule an appointment with Clearwater Counseling, or for more information about mental health services, please call (308) 210-8487 or email info@ clearwatercounselingne.org. Learn more at clearwatercounselingpc.org.
A list of activities, food vendors, musicians, and more for Sip Nebraska, organized by Blur Parties, is available at www.sipnebraska.com and on Sip Nebraska’s Facebook page (@sipnebraska). There are various lodging and hotel options available to guests within downtown Lincoln. Volunteer and sponsor opportunities are still available by calling (402) 882-2448 or emailing Stacy Leners at stacy@blurparties.com for more information.
Clearwater Counseling encourages Mental Health Awareness in September
Center Sphere Raises Funds for Little Giants
September 2022 Strictly Business 11#PrintProudDigitalSmart BuSineSS newS Need Electrician?An Commercial • Residential Call today! (402) 215-1914@ExSeptionalOnes We will provide each child with a safe, loving environment with engaging and stimulating learning. (531) 365-6805 NOW ENROLLING! HIRING WITH BONUS 9th Annual Sip nebraska Festival Set for weekend of October 7-8 at Haymarket Park
The finest wines, craft beers, and distilled spirits produced in Nebraska will once again be showcased at Sip Nebraska, returning to Haymarket Park Ballpark in Lincoln on October 7-8. The two-day event will be full of entertainment, including local bands such as Mason Michael, Ro Hempel, One2Go, and Beaten Path. Interactive activities include artisan and craft vendors, delicious food trucks, goat yoga, stand-up comedy by Yer Mom’s Comedy Show, sip and learn sessions, tasting competitions, and other activities at Haymarket Park, taking advantage of the cool and comforting fall atmosphere. Nebraska at Rutgers football game will be on the jumbo screen Friday evening! Tickets range from $15-$75 and can be purchased at sipfall2022. eventbrite.com. Tasting and limited edition tickets include commemorative items in addition to wine, hard cider, craft beer, and distilled spirits tastings.
Harmony is here to help you be your best self on your big day Bridal GroomprepprepPhotoprep “I Do” MotherRecoveryDayoftheBride
Center Sphere is excited to announce that they raised a grand total of $12,300 for local nonprofit The Little Giants Foundation at their Annual Charity Golf Tournament in July. Held at the Tiburon Golf Club, Center Sphere members had the opportunity to take their professional networking onto the green for an amazing cause.
Center Sphere will begin taking applications from their nonprofit members for the 2023 Golf Tournament recipient in January.
Uniti Med focuses on connecting talented healthcare professionals with medical facilities across the country in need of temporary employees. Uniti grew quickly after launching in 2021, and that rate of growth has only improved in 2022. Since January, their permanent staff has gone from 25 to 68 employees—a dynamic mix of seasoned staffing experts and ambitious young professionals. Staffing up quickly has been critical in order to sustain substantial revenue growth, with weekly sales up 350% since January. To learn more about Uniti Med, visit unitimed.com or contact Chris at (402) 364-0901 / chris.sund@unitimed.com.
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DoSpacePresents6thAnnualMakeOmahaeventonOctober8
uniti Med Hosts Open House to Celebrate Explosive Growth and New Office
Chief Operating Officer Chris Sund is grateful for the support from the Omaha community as the medical staffing agency experiences explosive growth and development. To support the growing staff and operations, Uniti decided to moved to a new office space, which was formerly occupied by LinkedIn and can hold six times more employees than the previous office.
Do Space is a technology library providing free access to the latest software, devices, and ultra-fast internet to the Omaha community. The one-of-a-kind concept creates a digital workshop and an innovation playground filled with new opportunities to learn, grow, explore, and create through programs and events. To learn more, contact Do Space at (402) 819-4022 / hello@ dospace.org or visit dospace.org.
Locally-owned Uniti Med hosted an open house on August 23 to celebrate their new office at 1000 N 90th St., STE 400, with a ribbon cutting in partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber.
Make Omaha is set to take place at Do Space on Saturday, October 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Do Space is located at 7205 Dodge St. Make Omaha is a free, family-friendly, technology showcase celebrating local tech-driven makers and inventors who are using state-of-the-art tools in their work. Through Make Omaha, Do Space supports the creative and novel exploration of technology by powering a free platform to make, exhibit, and present the work of the future. This is Make Omaha’s 6th year of creating a positive impact among the STEM community in and around Omaha. Make Omaha is powered by Do Space in partnership with Metro Community College.
FotoFunSpot is excited to introduce Fonetastic, a high-tech audio guest book service. Fonetastic includes a retro style telephone that creates a fun, nostalgic guest experience. Instead of signing a physical book, guests leave their best wishes as they would on a real voicemail, congratulating the newlyweds, sharing their favorite memory, or leaving some sweet marriage advice. The wedding couple records a personal greeting to welcome and thank their guests for being a part of their special day. After the reception, the guest messages are paired with a photo of the newlyweds and turned into a video suitable for sharing on social media platforms. Fonetastic is also great for birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, and much more. “Fonetastic is the perfect way for grandpa to reminisce about the day their granddaughter was born; mom and dad will love being able to say how proud they are of their kids and how wonderful it is to have a new family member; and, of course, friends will love sharing those childhood memories with their bestie’s new spouse,” said Mitch Miller, owner of FotoFunSpot in Omaha. FotoFunSpot is a premier photographic experience and event interaction provider. In addition to Fonetastic, the business offers a variety of different photo booth options, including a Mirror Booth, OMAHA360booth, and Roaming Photo Booth. To view other event enhancers FotoFunSpot has available, visit fotofunspot.com.
For Back to School, Alpaca has paired up with local foundations to launch Alpaca for All, a program that will match parent contributions dollar for dollar to provide supply packs of more than $50,000 worth of supplies for 700 teachers in 20 local schools, focusing on schools in underserved communities.
The Empowerment Network has announced plans for its 10th Annual African-American Leadership Conference and Revive Black Business Expo on September 30 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the CHI Health Center Omaha. Earvin “Magic” Johnson is returning to Omaha as the keynote speaker. This world-class event features some of the nation’s top strategists and thought-leaders and attracts more than 700 participants.
To register or get more information for the Empowerment Network’s African-American Leadership Conference, go online to AALCOmaha.com. Deadline to reserve your spot is September 23. Direct additional questions to Vicki Quaites-Ferris at (402) 502-5153. To learn more about other events and initiatives put on by The Empowerment Network, visit empoweromaha.com.
Meridian Clinical Research, a leading consumercontractCliffnetwork,investigativemulti-specialtyresearchsitehasacquiredNorthConsultants,aleaderintestingservicesforproductmanufacturers
When Omaha Public Schools teachers returned to school on August 8, many of them returned to buildings experiencing staff shortages, increased costs of supplies, and continued teacher burnout. A local startup, Alpaca, has a simple solution for Omaha Public Schools experiencing staff shortages, increased costs of supplies, and continued teacher burnout: a subscription “pack” of needed supplies and appreciation, delivered to teachers every month to help ease the burden on teachers.
“At Alpaca, our goal is to elevate all educators. With Alpaca for All, every parent dollar helps teachers at your own school, as well as teachers at schools that might need a little more support.
When parents, businesses, and community organizations come together, big things can happen for teachers,” remarks Karen Borchert, Alpaca’s founder and CEO.
FotoFunSpot introduces new Audio Guest Book Service, Fonetastic
Meridian partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to research new drugs, medical devices, and diagnostics that could improve human health and wellbeing. With this acquisition, Meridian will expand its consumer product and personal care product research capabilities with the addition of North Cliff’s two sites.
MeridianAcquires north Cliff Consultants, expandsConsumerProductTestingServices
and retailers. Meridian now has 35 investigative research sites nationwide. Since opening in Omaha in 1999, Meridian has enrolled more than 85,000 patients in 3,400 clinical trials.
Nicole Osborn, founder and CEO of Meridian, said the acquisition will leverage North Cliff’s exceptional consumer research experience to serve companies that rely on robust clinical testing and consumer sentiment data to bring their products to market.
September 2022 Strictly Business 13#PrintProudDigitalSmart BuSineSS newS
The conference will focus on career advancement, leadership development, DEI, wealth building, entrepreneurship, community building, and more! The conference will also include breakout sessions, roundtable networking, EmpowerTalks, awards ceremony, reception, and lunch. The Revive Black Business Expo showcases exhibitors offering a wide array of products and services.
LocalStartupAlpacaCreates waytoSupport
Teachers in underserved Schools
Founded in 2022, Alpaca is an Omaha-based subscription service that makes it easy to support teachers. By offering parents a simple and straightforward way to make a difference in their communities, Alpaca elevates all teachers through monthly care packages of supplies and teacher appreciation, designed by teachers. Alpaca’s team works to support teacher satisfaction and well-being, giving them the supplies they need and the appreciation they deserve. To learn more, visit alpacapacks.com.
empowerment network’s African-American LeadershipConferenceSetforSeptember30
North Cliff, which has been in business for more than 35 years, has two sites within the Greater Cincinnati area. The company is well-known for designing and conducting studies to gather meaningful and accurate data and consumer feedback. North Cliff has long provided clinical and sensory testing services to pharmaceutical and medical device developers, as well as contract services for developers, manufacturers, and retailers of consumer products, foods, fragrances, and other household goods.
If you’re interested in joining a clinical trial at Meridian Clinical Research or want to sign up to learn about upcoming studies, visit mcrmed.com/find-study.
14 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through broadband applications and services.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in July in conjunction with the Greater Omaha Chamber to celebrate the grand opening of Pedego Electric Bikes West Omaha. The all-day event, dubbed the Pedego Palooza, offered a group Pedego ride at Zorinksy Lake, music, food, drinks, and lots of swag awarded to attendees. You can’t buy the right bike without the right buying experience, and Pedego offers a buying experience like no other. Schedule a test ride with them and they’ll get you on the bike that’s right for you. Your test ride isn’t just around the parking lot; Pedego lets you ride for several miles to give you the true Pedego electric bike experience.
“Our educators are so influential in the development of our children, we have to make investments into the classrooms,” stated Rob Trebilcock, senior manager public affairs. “As evidence in our Education Heroes program earlier this year and now our education grants, Cox and our employees are fully committed to supporting our teachers. What’s unique about this program is that it’s fully funded and decided by Cox employees.”
As a way to support our educators and the important work they are doing in the classroom, Cox Communications is inviting educators to apply for a Cox Charities Education grant during the month of September. Grants can be used for schoolbased projects that enhance the teaching and learning experience.
Locally-owned Pedego Electric Bikes West Omaha is the region’s foremost electric bike experts. They put their hearts into helping you find the perfect electric bike and get the most out of it for many years to come. They also offer bike rentals to elevate your experience at Zorinksy Lake or on the West Omaha trails.
Pedego is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. They’re located at 14440 F St. STE 109 and can be contacted at (402) 905-1401 / info@pedegowestomaha.com. Learn more by visiting pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/omaha.
It’s what makes UNICO one of Lincoln’s Best Places to Work.
unicogroup.com/careers
You can apply for a Cox Charities Education grant from September 1 to October 1. Grants are open to Pre-K through 12th grade public and private schools within Cox Communications Omaha metro service areas. To learn more and apply, visit www.coxcharitiescentral.org.
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Climb hills with ease and feel the fun you remember from childhood!
Cox Charities education Grant Application Open for educators during September
Pedego Palooza, Ribbon Cutting Held to Celebrate Opening of Pedego electric Bikes
The largest private telecom company in America, they proudly serve 6 million homes and businesses across 18 states. They’re dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities, and the characteristics that make each one unique. Learn more at cox.com.
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As women and attorneys, McGill Law understands the unique aspects of divorce women face. Their passion is guiding women through the legal process, which allows them to get the best possible outcome, ultimately growing and thriving in their new lives. How is that possible and what does that mean? Divorce can be one of the most challenging times in a woman's life, but it's also a huge opportunity to set the stage for a better future with things like effective co-parenting, financial independence, and much more. The simple fact is McGill Law cares about women, and they understand the emotion, stress, and complexity of what you are experiencing. Call now for a consultation, so McGill Law can use their experience and energy to guide your case. With a dedicated legal team and extensive insight into the complex issues and emotions women have when involved in family law and other cases, the firm represents clients in the following matters:
“I highly recommend Jodie McGill and McGill Law! Jodie was wonderful to work with. She is a compassionate and highly skilled lawyer. She took the time to make me feel comfortable and explain every step of the collaborative divorce process. She is a champion in her field!
Strictly Business 15#PrintProudDigitalSmart
• LGBTQ+ • Mediation • Modifications • Paternity • Adoptions • Child Support • Collaborative Law • Custody • Dissolution
Divorce is never easy, but the process could not have gone more smoothly with Jodie as my representation. She works closely with everyone involved and I always felt like she had my best interest as her priority.”
Contact Info
The firm is focused on respectful, empowered divorces and adoptions. Every client is treated with dignity and respect and is guaranteed effective representation. McGill Law’s expertise and integrity have earned them a reputation as one of Nebraska's premier legal firms. Their consistent track record of uncompromising ethics instills confidence and trust. McGill Law uses cutting edge technology that allows them to respond quickly and give you the most relevant information and perspectives. They’re dedicated to achieving the best outcome for every woman they serve. (402)
Why Women?
cGill Law understands the challenges women face in divorce. They help women who are going through the most difficult and important times in their lives. Jodie Haferbier McGill founded McGill Law in 2011 to serve women in a much bigger way than only focusing on their legal issues. McGill Law’s focus is on their client’s families and their future. With McGill Law guiding you through your family law matter, you will have a compassionate, caring, experienced attorney taking you through the legal process with the goal of achieving a peaceful result for you and your family.
Info@McGillLawyers.comMcGillLawyers.com548-5418
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Usually, a trip to the zoo in the morning, followed by Dave & Busters or Top Golf in the afternoon and, if we can, we’ll take in a Storm Chasers game. What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn. I spend as much time with my family as I can because I know the time with them is fleeting. So, if I’m spending time away from them, I want to make sure it is quality time! I choose people who get me, appreciate my time, and who I enjoy being with. We don’t have to have all the same ideals but I choose those who I feel are going to help me grow into the best person I can be. I hope that I do the same for them. If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? - Time travel. My grandma never got to meet my children and my dad passed away a few years ago. I really wish that they would have had time/more time with my children because my childhood with my grandparents was so amazing.
How did you get started in the business? - I was a part of Center Sphere as a member and always loved the model of finding your people to help you grow. I started out helping out with a few things part time and when I was approached to come on full time, it was a no brainer!
Which talent would you most like to have? - I wish I could sing well!
What is your favorite movie? - The Other Guys. What is your favorite t V show? - The Office and Friends . I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched these shows! What is your favorite local restaurant? - Even though I don’t make it there as much as I’d like, I really like Saddle Creek Breakfast Club. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - jen@centersphere.com; www.centersphere.com.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - After being a part of the organization for six years, I had the opportunity to represent the Omaha Women’s Council of REALTORS ®, both locally and nationally, in 2021 as our Network president. I am terrified of public speaking, but month after month I pulled it off with the help of a fantastic board. tell us a little about your family. - My husband and I have been married for nine years and we have two children, Larsen (8) and Camila (5). We also have a 12-year-old Siberian Husky named Tulo. We are a huge baseball family and are often in KC cheering on the Royals when we can’t make it to Denver to root for our number one team, the Rockies.
16 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart Jen Monjaras C ENTER S PHERE Jen COMING SOON! We’re excited to open our newest 177THlocationOmahaat&MAPLE! This full-service location will feature: Retail LearnBusinessMortgageCommercialbankinglendinglendingBankingSolutionsmoreat westgate.bank member FDIC Meet Jen Monjaras, the director of network support at Center Sphere. tell us a little about your business. - Center Sphere connects people to help them grow their businesses. We know that relationships are at the core of success and Center Sphere gives you a platform to spend time with other professionals who have similar goals as you and can help you succeed, both professionally and personally.
How did you get started in the business? - I have been working in the fitness industry since I graduated from the University of Kearney in 2013. I have always been heavily involved in athletics and that carried over into becoming a cage fighter for seven years. Being in this line of athletics, my body took a beating nutritionally and physically, making learning how to recover quickly and effectively one of my main goals. I’ve always been fascinated by nutrition and working on how to become as healthy as possible, so much so that I am in the process of becoming a certified nutritionist.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - The marketing side of the business—stepping out of my comfort zone and really making the most of Omaha’s growing market. We have a great product and the right driving factors behind our business, so learning how to present that in front of people is a transition for me. Coming from a background that is not marketing means I get to learn a whole new world and dynamic of presenting products and information to everyone differently. tell us a little about your family. - Augusta and I just celebrated our one-year anniversary this past July, and we have a son named Lawson Lee. My wife works for Milliman as a business development manager, and she is also in her eighth year as a softball coach at Millard West High School. Lawson is 19 months old and full of energy. He is becoming his own little independent person more and more every day. He spends everyday with me at the store and is the best helper I could ask for.
What is your favorite tV show? - We watch The Office almost every day at our house; my son loves to dance to the theme song. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (531) 446-4758; anybodyomaha@gmail.com; Instagram (@ anybodyomaha); anybodysupplements.com.
September 2022 Strictly Business 17#PrintProudDigitalSmart Matt Matt Schartz A NYBODY SUPPLEMENTS
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I like to spend quality time with my family or go golfing with some friends. What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I am very passionate about the Special Olympics. I coached in the Special Olympics for four years while in college and then another three years when I was a special education teacher. I plan to continue to coach and be involved heavily in the community.
OMAHA Meet Matt Schartz, part owner of Anybody Supplements Omaha.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - When my son was born it made me look at my life and motivated me to better myself. I want to be a great role model to him. Having him is what started the conversation with my wife of opening a store—we wanted to spend more time together as a family and start something that would help build a future for him.
Three words our clients love to see. 402-817-3929 • ARSOLUTIONSINC.COM Isn’t it time you start seeing them? CALL TODAY. Invest in local commercial real estate as a passive limited partner! Semi annual distributions Minimum investments range from $25,000-100,000 Anticipated stabilized returns in excess of 9% Investing Opportunities With McGregor Interests Join the investor group reviewingwww.mcgregorint.comatandgetstartedinvestments! Investments are available for accredited investors only, defined as a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income in excess of $200,000 kaystockdesign www.kaystockdesign.com(402)499@gmail.com9415 INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO
tell us a little about your business. - Anybody Supplements Omaha is owned and operated by my wife Augusta and me. We are a small, family-owned business that specializes in nutrition and supplements. Our business is part of a three-store franchise. We opened in July of this year at Rockbrook Village in Omaha. Our goal and passion is to work with anyone and everyone to help them achieve the best and healthiest versions of themselves. We have some of the top-ranked supplements in the market to meet everyone’s individual needs.
18 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
What is your favorite movie? - Mrs. Doubtfire. What is your favorite local restaurant? - Romeo’s is a crowd favorite!
How did you get started in the business? - My sister was the president of a title and closing company. She hired me to come in and learn the industry and then wanted me to do marketing and relationship building for the company. After several years in title and closing, I was approached by a credit union to come to work directly for them and build an in-house closing program and do marketing and relationship building for them. My career ended up advancing and I was moved to VP Real Estate Lending.
Sue Mohr ENTRIS F EDERAL C REDIT U NION Sue
If I want a fine dining experience, I have to choose 801 Chophouse. If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Oprah Winfrey. I have always admired how she overcame such adversity in her life. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?(402) 758-6039; smohr@centrisfcu.org. www.centrisfcu.org.
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If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Genuine. What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I am passionate about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. My youngest sister was diagnosed with Leukemia at a young age. She beat the odds and has been in remission for 20 years. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with Non-Hodkins Lymphoma. After a courageous battle, he passed away at an early age of 60. Recently, another one of my siblings has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Being in the real estate industry is always a challenge. This has to do with ever-changing market trends, currently a lack of inventory, and varying interest rates. Also, in certain trends I have experienced a lack of infrastructure for developers to move forward to add inventory to the market. tell us a little about your family. - I married my high school sweetheart, and we have been married for almost 40 years. We have two grown daughters and two son-in-laws who put up with them, along with two amazing grandsons who keep us laughing and on our toes. What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - When we moved to Chattanooga, TN for a job opportunity for my husband. I had to leave a company I really loved, but this change eventually led me back to Omaha and another rewarding career path. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I like to do long weekend trips. This could include a drive to KC to see the Royals play or hopping on a plane and heading to wherever Southwest has a great flight deal for a couple of days. Our “kids” going with us is a bonus.
Meet Sue Mohr, assistant vice president of mortgage production at Centris Federal Credit Union. ell us a little about your business. - I am part of the mortgage department at Centris. We provide mortgage lending solutions, from the first-time homebuyer to the established purchaser buying a milliondollar home. The credit union philosophy is a bit different than those of other lending institutions. Because of this, we often can think outside the box to create programs and promotions to help our members in any kind of market while still adhering to Fannie Mae Guidelines. There are many advantages to using a credit union not only for your mortgage, but for your full-service banking. I encourage all people buying or refinancing to check with Centris before you make your final decision and lock a loan.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?Starting the Omaha office from scratch. I never realized the amount of energy and work it is to grow an office. I had a huge support system from the KC office and it was still challenging. tell us a little about your family. - I’ve been married for 22 years to my wife Lori and we have two daughters, Claire and Kate. Both are active in sports and other activities and it is particularly challenging as Claire attends Millard West and Katie attends Central. Divide and conquer is the name of the game!
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Teddy Roosevelt. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 408-3010; rbesancon@burnsmcd.com; www.burnsmcd.com.
September 2022 Strictly Business 19#PrintProudDigitalSmart Rick Rick Besancon BURNS & M C D ONNELL
Meet Rick Besancon, the professional civil engineer and office manager at Burns & McDonnell.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Watching my kids’ sporting events. Who inspires you? - My wife. She left her job in Kansas City to move to Omaha when I opened the office. She had to start from scratch again here, and she has gone from being the only clinical dietician to being the head of nutrition with 18 or so people reporting to her. All that while doing the heavy lifting with our kids. She is pretty amazing. If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Hard-working. Which talent would you most like to have? - Play the violin. If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Professional baseball. What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Keep Omaha Beautiful and Habitat for Humanity. My father always volunteered with Habitat. I admire the work this organization does to offer strength, stability, and self-reliance for families in need of decent and affordable housing.
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tell us a little about your business. - Burns & McDonnell is a full-service engineering consulting firm based in Kansas City with offices all over the nation. I opened our Omaha office in 2010 to support the CSO project work in Omaha as well as environmental and energy work. I focus on water resources, stormwater, and ecosystem restoration projects around the country.
How did you get started in the business? - I graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla and was hired by Burns & McDonnell in the civil hydraulics department of our Infrastructure Division. I have now been here over 26 years.
What is your favorite movie? - Tommy Boy. What is your favorite tV show? - Letterkenny. What is your favorite local restaurant? - The Drover.
Meet Serena Null, regional sales and operations manager at Anant Operations. tell us a little about your business.Anant’s main functions are real estate development, operations management, and construction in the hospitality sector. We have multiple hotel properties that provide services for the corporate daily traveler, companies, organizations, and social groups.
Anant also has four properties in Lincoln, one in Crete, and one in McCook, NE. I assist guests with daily travel, group blocks, and event space needs. I can help you with determining details and finding you the right property based on those needs.
How did you get started in the business? - I started at the front desk of a hotel in February 2001. I was in that position for approximately seven months and then moved around in different positions throughout the sales office.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? - My biggest achievement as been the growth I have had in the hospitality industry. It has helped me to grow as a person, both professionally and personally. tell us a little about your family. - My husband and I have been together for 19 years. We have a wonderful son who is a freshman in high school.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Spending time with family and friends, either swimming, camping, or having game nights.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I won a karaoke contest when I was 21. Who inspires you? - My family. They encourage me and push me to a better person than I was yesterday.
20 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - Becoming a mother. My son has taught me so many things.
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The stunning properties we have in Omaha include EVEN Hotel Omaha Downtown - Old Market, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Omaha Downtown - Old Market, Holiday Inn Omaha Downtown - Waterpark, and we recently reopened Aloft Omaha West.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Knowledge is learning something new every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day. If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Kindhearted. If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I love what I do! If I was in another profession, it would be teaching. I like to educate and help children grow into young adults. What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?Adopt a Family, Nebraska Humane Society, Open Door Mission, and MICAH House. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 707-2395; omaha@anantops.com; anant.life.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - As most people would probably say, especially those who work in or around the hospitality and tourism industry, Covid was extremely challenging to navigate. We did our best to stay the course while implementing the necessary health and safety measures for the sake of our team and the guests we serve at our properties.
Serena Null A NANT O PERATIONS Se R ena
How did you get started in the business? - I worked as an installer at ShelfGenie for for three years before purchasing the business in 2013. I now train and certify all our installers in the U.S. and Canada.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - About 25 years ago when I was a young, naive, and arrogant kid, I had a boss who told me, “This ship isn’t going to sink if you’re not on it.” Basically saying, I’m replaceable, and he was right. It humbled me and reminded me the importance of knowing my place for the benefit of everyone else on board. It’s something that has stuck with me through today.
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - I’m really good with animals.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - I’ve been reading a book series on the history of Omaha, which has been really interesting.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? - This might be a bit of a loophole, but I would choose time travel so that I could go to the future at a time where fly suits are invented. Then I could fly anywhere I go in time.
What is your favorite movie? - I like all the Indiana Jones movies. What is your favorite tV show? - I watch a lot of MeTV because I enjoy the classics, such as M*A*S*H, Hogan’s Heroes, and Green Acres. What is your favorite local restaurant? - Lina’s Mexican Restaurant has amazing super nachos. I probably put one of their children through college with how much I’ve eaten there. If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 659-4676; nstarkey@shelfgenie.com; www.shelfgenie. com/omaha.
September 2022 Strictly Business 21#PrintProudDigitalSmart n ick Nick Starkey S HELF G ENIE OF O MAHA
tell us a little about your business. - At ShelfGenie, we provide a lot more than just better shelves—we’re delivering a product that makes life easier for people. It might feel like a small improvement to a kitchen, pantry, bathroom, or other areas of the home, but the difference it makes is pretty significant. People who have implemented ShelfGenie’s solutions are sometimes doubling the storage space they thought they were limited to. Our pullout shelves retrofit existing or new cabinets. We also design custom closets and storage solutions that can be done in any area of the home. ShelfGenie allows you better access to your cabinets and closets.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - I’ve had different businesses before ShelfGenie. Being a business owner always comes with its challenges. ShelfGenie is definitely the best company I’ve ever been a part of—we have the best products on the market and our people are the nicest and most professional in the industry. tell us a little about your family. - I’m originally from Schuyler, NE. I have a daughter who just started her first year of college. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Mowing, gardening, fishing, hunting, or I like to go back to what was my grandfolks’ farm in Schuyler to help with planting, bailing hay, and operating the combine. Who inspires you? - My office kind of looks like a bad Applebee’s with how many photos I have on the wall of influential people from history— past presidents and other historical figures who made a difference.
Meet Nick Starkey, co-owner, designer, and installer for ShelfGenie.
Q: What do you think makes you different from other venues similar to yours?
Q: What is your business philosophy or mission statement?
at The Wedding Barn
Q: What do you see happening with The Wedding Barn in the next five years?
Q: What has been the biggest turning point for The Wedding Barn?
A: Creating unforgettable memories and making each couple’s day as easy and special as possible!
A: Getting to where we are today – where the construction is finished and The Wedding Barn is ready to host memorable weddings and unforgettable events.
A: We see it grabbing more interest with people looking for more intimate, unique venues like ours. Some of the attractive qualities we offer include our country location, where it’s more private and peaceful, but with the benefit of paved roads all the way to the venue; as well as the conservative price range and convenient package options.
22 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart 1 (402) 413-0064 1050 N 6th road Palmyra, N e 68418 Kelly@weddi N gbar N 402.com Create Unforgettable Memories
T
he Wedding Barn is a brand new event venue offering a beautiful and intimate location for wedding ceremonies and receptions, rehearsal dinners, showers, business or personal gatherings, and other events. Once used as a farm barn that held livestock and equipment, Owner Kelly Jensen and Event Coordinator Tammy Helzer are proud to have repurposed the quaint barn into a gorgeous venue that offers the country atmosphere and serene, quiet setting that so many local dwellers desire.
To emphasize their mission statement of “creating unforgettable memories”, The Wedding Barn offers packages that include limousine service, on-site photography, DJ service, and two-day rental. They’re now taking reservations for the 2023 wedding season beginning April 1 through August 31. We talked to Owner Kelly Jensen about the journey to getting The Wedding Barn ready for it’s big day –
GHTPOTLSCLienTi
A: We cater to the more intimate, smaller-scale wedding. We aim to make it more affordable for the budget-minded couple.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to further develop the Foundation in alignment with the recent strategic initiatives adopted by our Board of Directors,” said Diane. “I’ve been dedicated to the mission of the Foundation for over 15 years, and look forward to continuing our work in the Sarpy and Cass County communities in the years ahead. Our donors have allowed the Foundation to continually increase the benefits MCF can provide in our communities, and our MCF staff has been exceptional in implementing and helping to fulfill our donors’ goals.” Midlands Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that manages and distributes funds for charitable purposes. The mission of the Foundation is to be a catalyst for lasting impact in Sarpy and Cass counties and to give opportunities to organizations and individuals so that they can pursue their charitable goals.
Tonee’s leadership has left the organization well positioned for the future, and the MCF Board of Directors unanimously selected Diane Knicky as the new executive director for the Foundation. Diane has served as the director of operations and public relations for over 15 years with MCF, and her leadership within MCF has been a key to the Foundation’s growth in recent years.
Tonee Gay Diane Knicky
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LI-COR, a leading developer of environmental and biotech products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Gould as its new chief financial officer.
“I have been blessed to meet and work with so many wonderful people, the MCF Board of Directors and staff, our generous donors, community leaders, and countless nonprofits we have supported through the years. I am proud of what the MCF team has accomplished, and though my employment life will change, my commitment to MCF will remain,” said Tonee. Tonee’s ongoing commitment to MCF is evidenced by her desire to join the Foundation’s Advisory and Fund-Raising Committees.
Mr. Gould will join Scott Weekley, chief operations officer; Kristin Feese, VP and general manager, environmental; and Bambi Reynolds, VP and general manager, biotechnology on LI-COR’s leadership team.
Mr. Gould is an experienced financial executive with more than 30 years of diverse experience leading accounting, finance, and other management functions across multiple industries and ownership structures. Prior to joining LI-COR, Mr. Gould led the accounting, finance, human resources, and information technology functions at ANR Holdings, LLC, a contract manufacturer serving the beauty and personal care industry. During his time at ANR, he led multiple acquisition transactions and integration activities that substantially expanded the company’s geographic footprint and service capabilities. He also previously led the finance function at CSG, a global software and services provider.
Li-COR Appoints Jim Gould as Chief Financial Officer
After 17 years leading the Midlands Community Foundation (MCF) through a period of significant growth and development, the organization’s Board of Directors has announced the retirement of Tonee Gay as executive director. She will be joining her husband Tim Gay at Catalyst Public Affairs, Inc., a governmental and advocacy firm.
Mr. Gould holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Professional Accountancy from UNL.
Tonee came to MCF in 1997 as a volunteer on the Foundation’s Reflection Ball Committee. She became executive director in May 2005. In 2009, Tonee was instrumental in moving MCF from a private foundation to a public charity. Since that time, she has helped the Foundation grow to $14 million in total assets with 160 charitable funds established. In addition, she is credited with developing the Foundation’s annual matching charitable program and, in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, she created MCF’s Coronavirus Response Fund to help lessen the pandemic’s impact on the numerous nonprofits that provide support to Sarpy and Cass counties. Tonee was the driving force in getting MCF’s donor and accounting software upgraded and, just this last year, led the MCF Board of Directors and staff through a comprehensive strategic planning seminar to position the Foundation for continued growth. None of this would have been possible without Tonee’s leadership, dedication, and work ethic.
Experience unlimited tastings of wine, craft beer, hard cider, and spirits from all over Nebraska
September 2022 Strictly Business 23#PrintProudDigitalSmart PeRSOnneL newS
LI-COR Biosciences is a leading innovator in the development of high-quality instrument systems used for plant research, gas analysis, drug discovery, protein research, and small animal imaging. The company’s instruments, analysis software, and reagents are used in more than 100 countries, including the International Space Station, for studies ranging from global climate change to cancer research.
CEO of LI-COR Tom Reslewic said, “We’re very excited to have Jim on board. His depth of experience, knowledge, and management capabilities will complement our team of seasoned executives.”
Sip Nebraska Oct 7-8 @ Haymarket Park
LI-COR employs more than 300 employees at its headquarters in Lincoln and subsidiaries in Bad Homburg, Germany and Cambridge, United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.licor.com.
Back in the Fall!
MCF currently has 160 charitable funds under its umbrella including nine affiliate funds. For more information about MCF, visit MidlandsCommunity.org.
MCF Announces Retirement of executive Director Tonee Gay, Diane Knicky to Take Over
24 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
American Heart Association Hires Kelly Morris as Development Director
Mark is a great fit for our culture of being committed to the success of our customers.
“Home ownership is one of the most important financial assets most people will have in their lifetime. We welcome Mr. McGregor and his expertise in the mortgage industry, and his proven ability in building quality relationships with customers,” reported Barry Lockard, bank president.
Kelly has spent the past 20 years in the sales and marketing profession, but her persuasion skills really began as a Girl Scout. Her mother Teresa coached the little Brownie to ask, “How many cookies do you want?” instead of “Do you want any cookies?” Thus, a salesperson was created.
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Cornhusker Bank is pleased to announce Mark McGregor has been added to the Cornhusker Bank Team and will serve as a vice president- mortgage loan officer from the Omaha location at 11102 Blondo St.
We are very excited to bring his talents and knowledge to our team as we expand our presence in the Omaha market.”
American Heart Association is pleased to announce that Kelly Morris is the newest addition to their team as development director! In this role, Kelly will be spearheading the Greater Omaha Heart & Stroke Walk.
According to Mike Barrett, VP, mortgage lending, “Mark has had a long career in the mortgage industry spanning back to 1993 and has been a trusted partner with Cornhusker Bank for the past 15 years.
American Heart Association believes every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life. As champions for health equity, the American Heart Association will advance cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality. To achieve this, they work by driving equitable health impact in our communities. For more information, visit www.heart.org.
Kelly has worked in various industries throughout her career, including advertising sales (both online and print), trade shows, financial services, senior healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. Her previous role was with The Collective for Hope (Grief’s Journey, HEALing Embrace, and Ted E. Bear Hollow) as their director of philanthropy and marketing. The move to the American Heart Association is a culmination of an expanded education and skill set as well as the opportunity to make a greater impact.
Mark noted, “I feel it is important to take the time to be sure each consumer understands the process and options so they can make an educated decision on what is best for them.”
Cornhusker Bank remains locally owned, demonstrating Nebraska values, stability, soundness, and a commitment to the community and its residents. For more information, visit www.CornhuskerBank.com.
Mark graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He has been a member of the FBI Citizen’s Academy since 2008. Along with his wife, he enjoys golfing and hiking.
Cornhusker Bank welcomes Mark McGregor
Farris Engineering is an industry leader in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering with additional expertise in fire protection engineering, lighting design, building commissioning services, technology systems design, and life safety systems engineering.
Todd Mekelburg Joins nebraska Community Foundation as Director of Gift Planning
Nebraska Community Foundation unleashes abundant local assets, inspires charitable giving, and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.
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Mekelburg has a long connection with Nebraska. His great grandparents met and married at Union College in 1893, then farmed in the Lincoln and Amherst communities before eventually settling in northeast Colorado. Todd grew up in the farming community of Yuma, CO where his family raised cattle, wheat, and corn. Todd’s connection with Nebraska continued when he attended high school near Shelton, NE and then completed a degree in business administration and accounting at Union College in Lincoln.
JDRF is excited to announce the 2022 JDRF One Walk Event Chairs, Jan and Rod Doerr, Union Pacific. In addition, JDRF gratefully acknowledges Union Pacific as 2022 JDRF One Walk
Presenting Sponsor. The JDRF One Walk will be held on Sunday, October 2 at Mahoney State Park in Ashland, NE and aims to raise more than $750,000 to help fund critically needed type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.
Farris engineering welcomes Median nessaief as Mechanical engineer
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Median is currently an engineer-in-training and will be working on the design of mechanical systems for buildings under the general guidance of one of Farris’ senior mechanical engineers. He is excited to gain valuable work experience and use that to become registered as a professional engineer. Median spends his off-hours restoring cars and enjoys spending time with family by going to the gym, training, and exercising.
September 2022 Strictly Business 25#PrintProudDigitalSmart PeRSOnneL newS
Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) welcomes Todd Mekelburg to its talented team of professionals committed to building stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska.
To learn more, visit www.farris-usa.com.
For the past 10 years, Todd has been the director of planned giving at Loma Linda University Health in southern California where he has helped families realize their charitable gift planning goals.
“Our decision in joining JDRF and chairing this year’s walk is directly associated with the incredible work JDRF is performing by funding the development of truly amazing therapeutics, technology, and scientificbased cures,” said Jan and Rod Doerr. “We are convinced our son Brady will see a day where T1D is history. Through our community efforts and JDRF’s deliberate focus on accelerating promising scientific developments, diabetes will soon be out matched. The cause is real, and the path forward is clear. Only with your help will we conquer T1D.”
The JDRF One Walk, organized by JDRF Nebraska-Iowa Chapter, brings together supporters from Omaha, Lincoln, Council Bluffs, and surrounding areas, including teams representing local businesses and families who share JDRF’s vision to create a world without T1D. For more information and to register for the 2022 JDRF One Walk, visit walk.jdrf.org. JDRF’s mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. For more information, please visit jdrf.org/nebraskaiowa.
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JDRF Announces event Chairs, Presenting Sponsor for the JDRF One walk®
Mekelburg joins NCF as director of gift planning, a role in which he will help individuals and families implement charitable gift plans for the benefit of NCF and its affiliated funds. Alongside fellow NCF staff, Mekelburg will lead the board of directors in developing and executing strategies to accomplish planned giving goals and cultivation of major gifts to advance the mission of NCF.
Farris Engineering is excited to announce that Median Nessaief has joined their team as a mechanical engineer. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Technology in Baghdad, Iraq. Following graduation, Median worked for a general trading and contracting company where he worked closely with civil engineers at various Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund projects – from construction and rehabilitation of roads to the reconstruction and maintenance of a telecommunication building project. In 2004, Median began working for the United States Army Engineering Corps. As a liaison between the reconstruction team and local authorities, he supervised a crew of 150 local laborers on various construction projects including elementary schools, middle schools, a city council building, soccer field, and various playgrounds.
Day joined WoodmenLife in 2008 as a mortgage loan and real estate analyst. In 2011, he was promoted to senior mortgage loan/real estate analyst, and later in 2011 transitioned to the role of securities analyst. He was promoted to senior securities analyst in 2012, portfolio manager in 2013, and then director, securities in 2016.
The Woodbine, IA native has had an interest in electrical theory since a young age, which inspired Randy to obtain his electrical certification by the time he graduated high school as well as graduate with honors in high voltage in 2011. In 2020, Randy obtained his Nebraska Master Electrician license, and since then, he has been able to obtain the master’s license from five additional states. His goal is to have at least 15 more licenses within the next two years. In his free time, Randy likes to work in his garage, building items for his wife’s flowers or building unique wood projects with his wife. They enjoy spending time in the outdoors together, either going for hikes, swimming, or hunting.
Randy’s previous experience includes being the corporate labor manager at Sachs Electric and working as the electrical superintendent on many projects throughout the United States; mission critical, heavy industrial (combined cycle-ethanol), chemical, and food processing were some of the facilities he worked in during this time.
WoodmenLife has appointed Jacob Day as vice president and chief investment officer. In his new role, Day leads the activities of WoodmenLife’s investment division team. He is also responsible for the management of WoodmenLife’s $10.5 billion of invested assets and is charged with managing the risk of the asset side of the balance sheet and achieving the best risk-adjusted rate of return while ensuring asset selection matches WoodmenLife’s liabilities.
woodmenLife Announces Jacob Day as Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
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Burns & McDonnell welcomes Randy wendt as Field Operations Manager
Burns & McDonnell is excited to announce Randy Wendt has joined their team as field operations manager. In this position, Randy will provide guidance and support for electrical supervision to Burns & McDonnell team members and make sure targets are achieved on projects.
Day is a 2005 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He earned his Series 7 and 66 securities licenses in 2006, the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) in 2012, and his Master of Science in Economics from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in May 2016. In his spare time, Day enjoys golfing, music, and spending time with his family. He and his wife, Kelly, have two children, daughter, Elliette, and son, Coen.
WoodmenLife was founded in 1890 as a not-for-profit. The organization gives back to its members across the country who join together in a shared commitment to family, community, and country. To learn more about the organization, visit newsroom.WoodmenLife.org.
Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 10,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, and more to design and build critical infrastructure. Learn more at burnsmcd.com.
26 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
UNICO Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Dan Mickells to senior vice president and Liz Chramosta to director of strategic initiative. With their promotions, Dan and Liz will serve on UNICO’s Leadership Team, which provides operational and department oversight and ensures company initiatives and goals are executed.
September 2022 Strictly Business 27#PrintProudDigitalSmart
Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) recently welcomed four new members to its board of directors. The new members are Armando Allende Blanco, Dr. Dawn Gary, Rudy Partida, and Debbie Schrampfer.
In his new position, Dan will serve as a sales leader and lead the development and growth of a group of advisors. In addition, he will continue serving in his role as risk consultant to his clients. Dan has over 20 years of insurance experience working for a large national insurance company, and joined UNICO Group in 2016. Dan’s previous experience managing a team and extensive insurance experience provides him with a unique perspective for leading and managing UNICO’s advisor team.
In addition to the new members, NMC board members are Chad Angelmyer, Ronald Banse, Teri Bruening, Loretta Carroll, John Ewing, Ed Finan, Ruth Freed, Dr. Lee Handke, Nick Henderson, Kurt Kline, Kenny McMorris, Greg Opseth, Ann Polich, Sue Rohlfs, and Bob Turner.
“Dan and Liz’s expertise and hard work make them ideal to lead UNICO’s future development. Our team looks to these individuals for guidance and with this promotion, we are reinforcing the importance of their expertise and leadership in our organization” said Tom Champoux, UNICO Group president.
Debbie Schrampfer Armando Allende Blanco
Accelerated Diagnostic & Automotive is a family owned, automotive repair facility located in Bennington. Their owners, Matt and Gabby Wagg, have made it a mission to give back to the community and provide an unparalleled, professional, and trusted experience in auto repair. As a professional industry educator, Matt promises to build a trusting, valued relationship with their clients and wants to provide you the confidence in owning a vehicle outside of warranty. They service all makes and models including Domestic, Asian, and select European vehicles. For more information, visit acceleratedautoservice.com or call (402) 315-2996.
Four Omaha Leaders Join nebraska Methodist College Board
Dr. Dawn Gary Rudy Partida
The NMC board is responsible for overall governance of the College, review of existing offerings, and long-term planning. Members of the board approve budgets, hiring of the president, major capital expenditure, and new program offerings. They represent the College within the community and facilitate fundraising for endowments and special projects within the College.
Jake Ostlund Hits One-Year Mark at Accelerated Diagnostic & Automotive
Accelerated Diagnostic & Automotive is pleased to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Jake Ostlund, their director of operations. Jake has contributed a tremendous amount to help grow the business, and he has done a fantastic job building relationships with customers. The Papillion native always puts in the time needed to get the work done, no matter how challenging.
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“It’s a great honor to have each of these individuals joining the board,” NMC President and CEO Dr. Deb Carlson said. “They bring knowledge about medical health changes and needs; what’s happening in Omaha Public Schools; and diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Currently a pediatrician with Children’s Physicians at the Embassy Park location, Dr. Gary has been a pediatrician in Omaha since 1993. In addition, she volunteers teaching medical students, and pediatric and family medicine residents. Prior to becoming a physician, Dr. Gary was a nurse and worked in the NICU. Partida has over 15 years in the banking and financial field, working at State Farm for the last eight years. He is one of 11 State Farm agents in the country to own and operate three agencies. Partida is active in the south Omaha community. Schrampfer spent more than 20 years in corporate communications, leading branding and creative services, internal communications, and Union Pacific’s museum. Currently serving as Union Pacific’s chief diversity officer and assistant vice president of workforce resources, she also sits on the board of A Time To Heal and was past president of Union Pacific’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group.
In her new position, Liz will manage the company’s strategic planning ventures, various high-level initiatives, and will continue supporting the marketing team with event planning and copy writing. Liz joined UNICO Group in 2016, with previous experience in retail banking and marketing. She grew up in Lincoln and received her bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and communication.
uniCO Group Announces expanding Leadership Team and Plans for Future Growth
UNICO Group is a client-focused insurance broker headquartered in Lincoln. Their consultative and relational approach develops customized solutions for clients all around the nation. For more information, visit unicogroup.com.
Allende Blanco has worked as a teacher at Omaha Public Schools since 2014. He is a Cuban political refugee with experience as a church pastor and a mechanical engineer. As a pastor, Allende Blanco worked with international medical students and fundraised for counseling and literacy for minority groups.
The Omaha-based Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing and Allied Health - The Josie Harper Campus is a premier private health professionals institution that teaches The Meaning of Care through its certificate, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs, both on campus and online. Learn more at methodistcollege.edu.
Dan Mickells Liz Chramosta
Wear Yellow Nebraska has opened registration for their 4th annual EastWest Groveler Race that they will host on Saturday, October 8. Using the Platte River as their divide, you will be able to register to join the East team or the West team depending on which side of the river you live. Proceeds will go to support the Wear Yellow Cab Ride Program, providing transportation to and from treatment for Nebraska cancer survivors. The race will begin at 10 a.m. at the OxBow Trail Parking Lot, 1241 Silver St. The course will be about 40 miles long and the route will be released the week of the race. For registration, be sure to enter which bike shop you want to represent—this is key for the winning team! It will cost $35 per racer and you must register by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5. Day-of registration is $40. Register and learn more about the event at bikereg. com/east-west-groveler-gravel-race.
This summer, campers enjoyed a plethora of indoor and outdoor activities at summer camps in Minnesota, Maine, and Washington.
Each camp is scheduled at a well-equipped site, chosen especially for the standard of excellence and geographical location. Committed staff and counselors are trained to meet the needs of legally blind campers who are between the ages of 9 and 65.
Prosper Academy students will live in dorm-style housing at St. John Paul II Newman Center and follow a typical college schedule at Metropolitan Community College – South Campus and other community spaces including: formal classes, social immersions, volunteerism, internships, and employment.
Christian Record Services Celebrates 55 Years of Camp in 2022
The Presenting Sponsor and Honorary Chairs of the event are Gregg and Ashley Young with Gregg Young Automotive Group. Other key sponsors include Fusion Medical Staffing, Cocktail Sponsor and OneSource, High Roller Casino Sponsor. Registration is now open and sponsorships and individual tickets are available at www.myangelsamongus.org.
To learn more about Prosper Academy, visit autismaction. org/prosperity/academy and fill out the inquiry form. There are ongoing events for interested community members. Any Prosper Academy program questions should be directed to prosperacademy@autismaction.org.
Angels Among us Presents An evening Among Angels: Casino night October 14
Christian Record Services, Inc. is an international ministry to people who are blind. The nonprofit was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Lincoln. To learn more, visit www.ChristianRecord.org.
wear Yellow nebraska to Host 4th Annual east-west Groveler Race on October 8
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Autism Action Partnership has served the Nebraska autism community for over a decade by providing support to families, advancing inclusion throughout our community, and creating pathways to individual prosperity. Learn more and connect with them at www.AutismAction.org.
AAP Announces independent Living Program for Autistic Young Adults in Fall 2022
AAP has licensed an evidence-based curriculum, Learn4Independence®, which is used in similar transition programs across the country. Curriculum covers topics such as: work, finances, relationships, nutrition, health, identity, community, transportation, independent living, communication, and social skills.
Angels Among Us’ annual gala An Evening Among Angels: Casino Night is quickly approaching on Friday, October 14. This event is critical to raise funds to be able to meet the growing need of the local pediatric cancer community. An Evening Among Angels will include various activities beginning at 5:30 p.m. including cocktail hour, a large silent auction, casino games, food stations, a live auction, and a short program, all to impact the pediatric cancer families Angels Among Us serves.
Autism Action Partnership (AAP) is pleased to announce their collaboration with higher education institutions and campus life to ensure the success of Prosper Academy, a two-year post-secondary educational program designed to promote independent living, self-sufficiency, and social skills for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); as well as the individualized goal attainment for each student enrolled. Prosper Academy is accepting applications for its inaugural cohort, which begins in fall of 2022.
This summer, Christian Record Services, Inc. celebrated its 55th year of providing summer camp experiences for children and adults who are blind or experiencing vision loss. Since beginning in 1967, over 50,000 campers have experienced camps through National Camps for Blind Children, a program of Christian Record Services.
An additional camp will be hosted in Florida in September. Activities included horseback riding, archery, water skiing, crafts, cooking, and even a zip line over the lake.
One of the campers this summer, when asked what he would tell someone who hadn’t been to camp, said, “I dare you! You need to come to camp. If you try it, you’ll love it.”
Wear Yellow Nebraska is a nonprofit organization with a clear focus on niche initiatives offering cancer survivors support in ways that have not been addressed. They care deeply about every individual’s special circumstances. For more information, go to www.wearyellownebraska.org or contact them at contactus@ wearyellownebraska.org / (402) 965-1699.
Do you know someone who is blind? Would they be interested in attending camp next summer? For more information on how to make this happen, please visit www.blindcamp.org.
Angels Among Us is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide financial and emotional support to any family whose child is battling pediatric cancer and is living in or being treated in the state of Nebraska. For more information about ways to make an impact and get involved in Angels Among Us’ mission, please contact Aly Theilen at alyssa@myangelsamongus.org or visit www.myangelsamongus.org.
Register for the 16th annual Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands, hosted by the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) and D.A. Davidson, by October 1 for reduced rates. The Summit will take place on Thursday, November 10 at Embassy Suites in La Vista, 12520 Westport Pkwy.
Event Chairs are Jordan Peterson, Lyndsay Ruma, Sarah Dukich, and Yolanda Delgado. Honorary Chair is Nancy Edick. Individual event tickets start at $80 and table sponsorships start at $1,500. For additional information or to purchase event tickets or sponsorships, please visit childsaving.org or contact Julie Oberlies, development coordinator, at joberlies@childsaving.org or (402) 504-3634.
To learn more about Kids Can Community Center, visit www.KidsCan.org.
The luncheon will feature inspirational speaker and author Genevieve Piturro. Piturro was a successful television marketing executive in New York City for twenty years when a little girl’s question changed the course of her life forever—and she jumped off the corporate ladder. She began delivering pajamas and books to children in shelters and in 2001 founded Pajama Program, a nonprofit which has been recognized nationwide for both its success and Genevieve’s story.
Reduced Rates Available for NAM’s Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands on november 10
The 16th annual Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands will connect approximately 300 nonprofit executives, employees, board members, and volunteers from Nebraska and Iowa. The conference theme is Moments to Movements. This conference will explore how nonprofit leaders can take moments of individual and collective energy and momentum and turn them into long-lasting movements. Some of the topics that will be explored include navigating social change, giving trends, staffing strategies, agile approaches to strategic planning, leadership in a data-driven culture, creating equitable partnerships, and more.
A keynote presentation will be delivered by Sean Thomas-Breitfeld and Frances Kunreuther of the Building Movement Project. They will share their updated report, Trading Glass Ceilings for Glass Cliffs, which focuses on the experiences and challenges of nonprofit leaders of color who have attained the top positions in their organizations. To learn more and register, please visit namsummit.swoogo. Nonprofitcom/2022/begin.Association
Heartland equine Therapeutic Riding Academy Hosts Friends of HeTRA Open House
of the Midlands is a state association that represents more than 750 nonprofit organizations in Nebraska and southwest Iowa. To learn more contact Abby at abby@nonprofitam. org or visit nonprofitam.org.
Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) invites you to join them at the HETRA Barn on Friday, September 23 for their Friends of HETRA Open House! This in-person event is HETRA’s way to thank all of the current Friends of HETRA and showcase the impact they are making to their different programs, as well as provide a tour of their Barn located at 10130 222nd St. in Gretna. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. RSVP is required; deadline to RSVP is Friday, September 16. Whether it’s a donation to one of HETRA’s many specialized programs or supporting the HETRA Equine Partners, Friends of HETRA are a vital part of their mission. A monthly donation from a Friend of HETRA helps to build a sustainable community of individuals willing and able to keep HETRA affordable to all of our participants. To learn more about becoming a Friend of HETRA, visit classy.org/campaign/friends-of-hetra/c171133.
Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy’s mission is to improve the quality of life, both physically and emotionally, of adults and children of all ability levels through equine-assisted activities. Together, they’re changing lives one stride at a time. To learn more or RSVP to this event, contact Kalynn Sortino at (402) 359-8830 / hetra@hetra.org or visit hetra.org.
Child Saving institute Guild to Host PurseOnalities Fundraising event november 3
To learn more about Child Saving Institute and the programs and services offered, please visit www.childsaving.org or follow CSI on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. united wayof theMidlandsAwards$220,000
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GranttoKidsCanCommunityCenter
The Child Saving Institute (CSI) Guild will host its 15th annual PurseOnalities fundraising event on Thursday, November 3 at 11 a.m. at the Hilton Downtown Omaha. Funds raised during the event will positively impact children and families who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma. This year’s “Share Your Story” themed event features a silent auction of extraordinary purse packages and the opportunity to shop on-site from some of Omaha’s most popular boutiques, with a portion of their event proceeds being donated back to CSI.
Kids Can operates two core programs to support student academic success: Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Out-Of-School (OOS). The ECE program is comprised of toddler, preschool, and Pre-K classrooms open every weekday from 6 am. to 6 p.m. Kids Can prepares children (ages 18-months to 5-years-old) for kindergarten. Their new center will age down to infant care for children as young as six weeks old.
Kids Can currently has nine sites offering OOS programs for children ages 5 to 13 years old. The center site at 4860 Q St. offers the widest variety of programs including mentoring, before-school programs, after-school programs, full-day programs when school is closed for conferences/in-service days, and an uninterrupted 12-week summer program. Kids Can also operates seven school-based sites at Mandela, Miller Park, Wakonda, Minne Lusa, Conestoga Magnet, Gilder, and Benson West Elementary Schools, and one additional summer park program.
Kids Can Community Center is pleased to announce it was awarded a $220,000 grant from United Way of the Midlands for fiscal year 2022-23. Thanks to the generosity of the United Way donors, Kids Can children and families in Douglas and Sarpy Counties will continue to receive comprehensive early childhood care and out of school programming. This grant funding will ensure Kids Can continues to grow its services, capacity, and team as they complete their new community center currently under construction.
NESC wants to remind you that you are not alone. If you or someone you know is in crisis and has thoughts of harming themself, please know resources are available 24/7/365. No matter what problems you’re dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, or if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the LifeLine. People call to talk about a lot of things; substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, loneliness, and more. Life is hard and it’s even harder when we try to navigate it alone. Connect with a training crisis counselor. Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org.
Go Red for Women is encouraging all of us to take back control of physical health and mental well-being. The majority of cardiac and stroke events can be prevented, so there’s no better time than now to take Traditionallyaction.attended by more than 750 individuals from Omaha’s business, medical, and social communities, the event begins with a health expo and silent auction. The night continues with an inspiring survivor story, showing the significance of the American Heart Association’s dedication to education, research, and prevention.
Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. There are many factors that contribute to suicide. The goal of suicide prevention is to reduce factors that increase risk and increase factors that promote resilience.
Leading the charge include Go Red for Women Chair, Melissa Marvin, and Circle of Red Chair, Karen Linder. The event is sponsored locally by Methodist and nationally by CVS Health.
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Project Harmony is excited to announce that they are celebrating their 25th anniversary with The Light Within Gala, set for Saturday, October 15, at the Holland Performing Arts Center. The gala will be held from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Honorary Chair for the event is Henry Davis. In 1996, Project Harmony opened its doors to provide support to children who needed it most. Today, those children are adults whose lived experience helps them to shine a light on child abuse and neglect, breaking cycles of trauma and evolving to become the healthiest and happiest versions of themselves.
ProjectHarmonytoCelebrate25thAnniversarywithTheLightwithinGalaOctober15
For more information about American Heart Association, visit heart.org.
Join Project Harmony at The Light Within gala on October 15 for a dinner and a concert featuring child musical prodigies as they celebrate the impactful and lifesaving work of Project Harmony over the past 25 years and honor Henry Davis for his generosity, leadership, and longtime support of the agency. Visit projectharmony.com/events/gala for more event details including the featured talent, young child musical prodigies, to register, or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
RiSe Academy Announces events in Omaha for September
RISE Academy’s mission is to break generational cycles of incarceration with tough love, withness, entrepreneurial mindset, grit, and rebuilding. Learn more at seeurise.org.
In honor of September being suicide prevention awareness month, the Nebraska Safety Council (NESC) would like to raise awareness of available resources for those who are or know someone looking for help.
neSC Shares info on Available Resources for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
American Heart Association invites you to register for the Go Red for Women ® Expo on Thursday, October 28. The event will be held from 4:30-8 p.m. at Embassy Suites-La CardiovascularVista. diseases, including heart disease and stroke, remain the number one killer of women and, in fact, heart disease deaths rose significantly last year. COVID-19 and all the complexities of it remain top of mind. People are experiencing lower physical and emotional wellness, but that doesn’t need to be the end of the story. It’s time to reclaim your rhythm.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. For sponsorship information, please contact Lindsey Vande Hoef, lindsey.vandehoef@heart.org.
American Heart Association’s Go Red for women expo Set for October 28
Project Harmony’s 25th milestone represents a quarter-century of protecting children, collaborating with professionals, and engaging the community in its mission to end child abuse and neglect. The robust support Project Harmony provides to its clients and their families continues to grow and make a difference for countless lives.
To learn more about Project Harmony, visit www.ProjectHarmony.com.
The Mission of the Nebraska Safety Council is to provide education and leadership to empower Nebraskans to live safe and healthy. To learn more or to sign up for a membership today, visit nesafetycouncil.org, call (402) 483-2511, or email nesc@nesafetycouncil.org.
RISE Academy has announced their September events taking place in Omaha over the course of the month. The RISE & SHINE event will occur every Friday of the month starting September 2 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at The Bike Union and Coffee, 1818 Dodge St. This is a casual open-table gathering where staff loves to meet new people, catch up with volunteers, answer questions, and recap events. There is no RSVP needed. Please contact Chantal Randall at crandall@seeusrise.org for more information. Additionally, there will be a Women’s Wellness Coffee Hour on Saturday, September 24 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Stir Coffee Bar, 16950 Wright Plaza, STE 137. This is a support-based coffee hour for women impacted by incarceration. This coffee hour is open to all women with their own personal lived experience or women that have a spouse or loved one incarcerated. Please contact Alana Alexander at aalexander@seeusrise.org or (402) 619-7680 for more information.
After a short but moving testimonial about how recovery is possible for everyone, supporters will join hands across the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge in hopes to span the entire bridge. The event will also include a DJ, coffee and cookies, resources, and a swag bag. To learn more about this event, contact Heather Kirk at heather@santamonicahouse.org / (402) 558-7088.
Stephen Center invites the community to participate in the Help Hope Hoodies Clothing Drive by gathering gently used sweatshirts, sweatpants, hoodies, and leggings in all sizes. Donations of needed items such as coffee, over-the-counter medication, and warm blankets are also in demand at this time. A full list of needed items can be found on the Stephen Center website at stephencenter.org. Items will be distributed to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. “Families and individuals in crisis often don’t have the means to purchase appropriate clothing when the weather changes,” Executive Director Michael Wehling said. “Thanks to the generosity of the community, Stephen Center makes sure everyone is warm, comfortable, and safe no matter the season.”
Center serves the homeless, addicted, and those in poverty. In 2021, Stephen Center provided services to 1,197 men, women, and children and offered over 210,000 meals to people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and poverty. Learn more at stephencenter.org.
MICAH House relies on volunteers, like those of STAR Society, to support their mission. Each year, over 850 individuals call MICAH House “home” while they experience the crisis of homelessness. The employees and program partners of MICAH House work hard to provide as much normalcy for their families and women as possible. STAR Society is growing! If you are interested in taking a deeper dive in supporting MICAH House’s clients, consider making a commitment of time by joining STAR Society. More information can be found on the MICAH House’s website under the “Volunteer” tab and “STAR Society” tab. You can also contact Ashley Flater, associate director at aflater@themicahhouse.org / (712) 323-4416 Ext. 2105.
Stephen Center Fall Clothing Drive Provides Help, Hope, and Hoodies
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Clothing and other needed items can be dropped off at Stephen Center’s Donation Dock, located on the south side of the building at 2723 Q St. in Omaha. The dock is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Items for the Help Hope Hoodies Drive can also be purchased and shipped directly from Amazon by using Stephen Center’s AmazonSmile WishList at Locatedstephencenter.org/donation-center.inSouthOmaha,Stephen
MiCAH House invites Community to Join STAR Society Volunteer Group
Founded in 1986, MICAH House is a transitional homeless shelter that serves families and women in the Omaha-Metro area and Southwest Iowa. For more information, visit www.themicahhouse.org.
MICAH House invites the community to learn more about their specialized volunteer group called STAR Society. Members of STAR Society help support MICAH House’s efforts in fundraising, gathering in-kind donations, and planning events. They often organize and lead fun activities for families and women; this includes birthday parties, baking or painting fun, or water day.
Founded in 1972, Santa Monica House has partnered with over 3,000 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 an intermediate residential program, halfway house program with a stepdown level of care to a ¾ way house and a 10-unit apartment building for women and children. Learn more at www.santamonicahouse.org.
Santa Monica House to Take Part in Hands Across the Bridge for Recovery September 10
In honor of National Recovery Month, Santa Monica House invites you to join them on the Iowa side of the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge on Saturday, September 10 for Hands Across the Bridge for Recovery. Hands Across the Bridge for Recovery is an annual event held by Prevention Means Progress in which supporters come together to reach a goal of 1,000 hands to send an important message: prevention works, treatment is effective, and people do recover! Hands Across the Bridge will start at 10 a.m.
Pantry numbers Rise at Heartland Hope Mission, in-Kind Donations needed
The Epilepsy Foundation invites groups, organizations, workplaces, and more to take advantage of their full catalog of free and engaging, ondemand courses to support individuals living with epilepsy. Did you know that one in 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime? That’s why it’s important to get your team Seizure First Aid certified. In addition, the catalog offers information about Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Epilepsy. The catalog also offers successful strategies for navigating the workplace as a person with epilepsy or as an employer. Find your career path, including job search advice, resources, and training for various stages of your work life.
With the current inflation rate at 9.1%, the pantry numbers at Heartland Hope Mission have increased by 45% since last year. Many families who are struggling to make ends meet need food assistance as well as supportive services. This includes rent, utility assistance, and diapers for their young children. Heartland Hope Mission wants to make sure those coming to the food pantry receive the services they need to prevent homelessness and guide them on a pathway towards self-sufficiency. They need your help to feed the increased need in our community. You can help by donating food, hygiene items, baby diapers in sizes four through six, or by giving a monetary donation. You can donate online or drop off in-kind donations at their South O or West O locations during donation drop-off hours, which can be found at HeartlandHopeMission.org. Heartland Hope Mission operates one of the largest food pantries in the state, but they are More Than a Pantry since they help families work toward self-sufficiency. They primarily serve working poor families and those facing a crisis by providing a week’s supply of food, as well as clothing, diapers, job resources, and community referrals. Like and follow Heartland Hope Mission on Facebook or follow them on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay up to date on all the important work they are doing in the community. Learn more at heartlandhopemission.org.
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Event Chairs are Jonathan and Ashley Wegner, along with Nick Wegner and Krystal Vuong Wegner. Tickets and sponsorships are available for purchase. Individual tickets are $75. Children’s tickets are $15. All ticket options can be purchased at www.immigrantlc.org/foodtruck.
Immigrant Legal Center (ILC) is hosting the 8th annual Food Truck World Tour to raise critical funding to support free immigration legal services for low-income families in Nebraska and southwest Iowa on Sunday, September 25. From 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Stinson Park, join ILC for delicious food, music, and entertainment to support their work in empowering immigrants to live with confidence and free from fear! Stinson Park is located in Aksarben Village at 2285 S 67th St. in Omaha.
As Nebraska’s largest nonprofit legal immigration services provider, Immigrant Legal Center serves an irreplaceable role in the communities they serve. ILC’s work helps the community reach its full potential and makes our cities stronger and healthier by empowering immigrants to obtain access to education, healthcare, and work opportunities that allow them to live and work with confidence and free from fear. To learn more, visit www.immigrantlc.org.
Outlook Enrichment is a nonprofit that provides resources and support to those with vision loss so they can remain independent. Like other nonprofits, Enrichment relies on the generosity of donors to meet the needs of the people the organization serves. They need your support to continue assisting people in our community living with vision loss through their adaptive-technology training and culture, recreation, and peer-support programs. To learn more about the organization, visit outlooken.org.
epilepsy Foundation Offers Free, On-Demand Courses Covering epilepsy and Seizures
Businesses can pick an existing sponsor package or customize a sponsorship for any budget at outlooken.org or by calling Nina Rongisch at (531) 365-5342. Tickets can be purchased at outlooken.org/vbs.
Outlook Enrichment encourages businesses to positively impact the lives of people with vision loss by sponsoring Vision Beyond Sight, a fundraising event on Saturday, September 10, at SumTur Amphitheater. Break out your outdoor gear and join Outlook Enrichment for a night of blues, booze, and BBQ for the blind!
Vision Beyond Sight will give you many opportunities to meet supporters and program participants. Attendees will enjoy an evening of music and can experience some of Outlook Enrichment’s fun-filled recreational activities through the lens of program participants. Feast on barbecue from a local food truck star while dancing the night away to blues band Dustin Arbuckle & The Damnations. All event proceeds support Outlook Enrichment’s programs.
Outlook enrichment Seeks Sponsors for Vision Beyond Sight event on September 10
Food Truck world Tour to Raise Funds for immigrant Legal Center September 25
The catalog is updated regularly. Whether you yourself experience seizures, you support a loved one, or a colleague lives with epilepsy, you can benefit from one-stop shop access to the Epilepsy Learning Portal at learn.epilepsy.com.
Guests of the event will sample food from the following food trucks: El Arepón, Chaima African Cuisine, Maria Bonita, Pim’s Thai, Via Farina, Maven Drink Truck, and more. Entertainment will include Mary Snead’s Fine Art/Caricature; balloon art; and performances from Jing Mo Tong Lion Dance, Mariachi Rey Azteca, and Omaha Pipes and Drums.
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national voluntary health agency dedicated solely to the welfare of the nearly 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families, is committed to leading the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and accelerate therapies that stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. The Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted, and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure. Learn more by contacting the Foundation at (402) 715-9396 / nebraska@efa. org or by visiting epilepsy.com.
• Your personal history may put you at increased risk? Whether you or a family member have been touched by cancer or you’re simply interested in reducing your risk, Methodist Jennie Edmundson is dedicated to helping you understand and prevent disease through genetic counseling and testing. Visit mygenehistory.com/jennieed or scan the QR code and answer a few questions about your family cancer history. Please contact the Hereditary Cancer Risk Program at (712) 396-4117 with questions or to schedule an appointment.
Town and Country Humane Society is a nonprofit, no time limit shelter serving eastern Nebraska and beyond. They are dedicated to providing a safe and caring living facility for pets in need until a loving home can be found, as well as helpful information for those wishing to re-home or adopt an animal. For more information, visit townandcountryhumanesociety.org, call (402) 339-5355 or email tchspapillion@gmail.com.
• Genetic mutations can be passed down from the mother’s or father’s side of the family?
This year’s dance instructors/performers (many returning from past years) are: Carolyn Ashton, Arts for All Inc.; Leigh Chaves, JCC Dance Department; Jared Dominguez, Vintage Ballroom; Kaleb Duncan, Independent; Kat Fackler, Independent; Natasha Jade, Miss Natasha Jade Dance & Fitness Training; Kellen Nilles, Vintage Ballroom; Derek Pasqualetto, Vintage Ballroom; Rebekah Pasqualetto, Vintage Ballroom; Lucas Vargas, Vintage Ballroom; David Vieceli, David Vieceli Instruction.
YeS Announces impressive Lineup for Dance for a Chance Fundraiser October 13
Youth Emergency Services (YES) is proud to announce the dancer/ instructor lineups for its 13th Annual Dance for a Chance fundraiser Thursday, October 13, at the Omaha Design Center. This year’s event – Disco Nights – features a mix of community and business leaders who will raise money leading up to the night of the event and then compete against one another for two coveted Mirror Ball trophies – one for best dance performance (decided by judges) and one for most funds (votes) raised.
“We’re really excited about this year’s group of dancers and instructors,” said Barb Farho, YES Director of Development. “Each year, we welcome an amazing group to dance and fundraise for YES, and this year, we have 11 amazing community leaders to help raise awareness and money – and dance – to help youth experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness in our community. It’s going to be a great Disco-themed party!”
Town & Country Human Society and Entremanure are excited to announce their 5th annual golf fundraiser, Mulligans for Mutts, on Sunday, September 11. The event will take place at Tara Hills Golf Club at 1410 Western Hills Dr. with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The cost to participate in the four-person scramble is $100 per person or $400 per team. Entry comes with 18 holes of golf with a cart, a meal after the round, a goodie bag, entry into four different hole-in-one contests, and the chance to win pin prizes. Proceeds will go to help the Town & Country Humane Society. Two tiers of sponsorships are available. Tier 1 will cost $600 and includes team entry for the scramble, option to put company swag in the goodie bag, and a 18x24 hole sponsor banner at a tee box. Tier 2 will cost $200 and includes a 18x24 hole sponsor banner at a tee box and the option to put company swag in the goodie bag. Register at entremanure.net/golf-tournament-sign-up.
Local comedian/entertainer and UNO communications professor Cameron Logsdon will once again serve as this year’s emcee. Former KMTV 3NewsNow Morning Blend teammates Mary Nelson, Mike DiGiacomo, and Kayla Thomas will sit on the judges’ panel.
• Up to 15% of all breast cancer is caused by an inherited gene mutation?
Similar to Dancing with the Stars, Dance for a Chance pairs up dancers with instructors, who then work together to create a dance, pick accompanying music, and practice over the summer before competing in October. At the same time, the dancers are working within their personal and professional networks – largely via social media – to raise awareness and money for Youth Emergency Services.
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Lindsay Corporation returns as this year’s Presenting Sponsor, as does Medical Solutions as the YES Champion Sponsor. Media sponsors are Midlands Business Journal and metroMagazine as print sponsors, KMTV 3 News Now as the TV sponsor, and iHeart Radio as the radio sponsor.
Learn more about the dancers, instructors, and how you can help support Dance for a Chance and Youth Emergency Services at www.yesomaha. org as well as on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. People can buy tickets and vote for their favorite dancers at www.yesomaha.org.
Town & Country Humane Society Announce Mulligans for Mutts Golf Fundraiser
Methodist Jennie edmundson now Offers a Hereditary Cancer Risk Program
With this year’s theme being Disco Nights, dancers and instructors will wear costumes from the Disco era and incorporate dance elements from that period in their performances. Attendees are invited to dress in 1970s/Disco attire as well.
Please contact YES Director of Development Barb Farho at bfarho@ yesomaha.org to learn more about available sponsorships or donating to the silent auction.
Youth Emergency Services is the only nonprofit in Omaha with the sole mission to help youth experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness. Last year, YES provided support and services to more than 750 youth in the Omaha metro area. Learn more about YES at www.yesomaha.org.
Dancers this year are: Paul Baltes, Nebraska Medicine; Chrissy Cameron, Nebraska Realty; Kara Cavel, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Angela Peters, Realty ONE Group; Jenny Powell, Creighton University; Sandy Spady, Entrepreneur, Women With Voices Founder; Sonya Markle, Medical Solutions; Dan Cronin, Fiserv; Kelly Staup, Lindsay Corporation; Carmen Tapio, North End Teleservices, LLC; Chris Tooker, Certified Financial Planner.
Methodist Jennie Edmundson rolled out a new Hereditary Cancer Risk Program this summer to offer high-risk assessment and genetic screening. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancerrelated deaths among women. There is power in knowing your risk. Hereditary cancer testing offers a personalized breast cancer risk assessment that can help determine the best medical management strategy, individualized to you. Did you know:
SHARE Iowa will offer a hyper-local response to directly benefit Iowans, parallel to that of SHARE Omaha, through financial giving, in-kind donations, and volunteerism within their unique communities and neighborhoods.
The 70-minute production of The SpongeBob Musical will have performances Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 5:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. through September 18. On Saturday, September 10, American Sign Language interpretation and audio description services will be available at 2 p.m. and a sensory-friendly performance will be presented at 5:30 pm. The show is appropriate for families of all ages. For tickets or to learn more about The Rose Theater, go online to www.rosetheater.org.
The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow. The show’s musical score features original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry of Aerosmith; Sara Bareilles; Jonathan Coulton; Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros; The Flaming Lips; Lady A; Cyndi Lauper; John Legend; Panic! At the Disco; Plain White T’s; They Might Be Giants; and T.I.; and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny, and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau.
The SpongeBob Musical Opens The Rose Theater’s 2022-23 Season
The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is thrilled to announce SHARE Iowa – a new initiative to support nonprofit organizations throughout western Iowa and to yield good in our communities. With the support of the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, Iowa West Foundation, Google, the Iowa Council of Foundations, and SHARE Good, the Community Foundation for Western Iowa will expand the Iowa footprint for increased engagement and nonprofit capacity-building to nine counties in western Iowa: Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby.
Community Foundation for western iowa to Launch Share iowa
Open Door Mission to Host Celebration Carnival September 18
Open Door Mission is a gospel rescue mission that meets the needs of individuals and families while inspiring HOPE for lasting change. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 917 safe shelter beds to homeless men, women and children, serves over 4,747 nutritious meals and provides preventative measures to more than 1,000 people living in poverty. To learn more, visit www.opendoormission.org.
The Rose Theater’s 2022-23 season opened August 26 with the cartoon-turned-musical smash, The SpongeBob Musical, which finds the irreverently square sponge on an adventure to save the world. The show will run through September 18 at Omaha’s Rose Theater.
Open Door Mission invites you to join them for their Celebration Carnival on Sunday, September 18. The event will take place on the Open Door Mission campus from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. This is a fun, free event to show appreciation for Open Door Mission’s donors and volunteers to thank them for all they have done to make an impact in the lives of the hungry and homeless. Everyone is welcome! Enjoy barbecue by Chef Ken and friends, carnival games, face painting, balloon animals, dunk tank, bounce houses, live music by Prairie Gators, a scavenger hunt, and door prizes. Come for a great time with your family and learn more about how you can get involved at Open Door Mission. Tours of the campus will also be happening during the event. To learn more about the event, contact Kristen Dineen at (402) 8291538 / kdineen@opendoormission.org
Rejuvenating women to Host 8th Annual Restored wings Gala September 8
Rejuvenating Women is pleased to announce they will be holding their 8th Annual Restored Wings Gala on Thursday, September 8 at Embassy Suites and Conference Center at 12520 Westport Pkwy. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The 2022 Restored Wings Gala honorary chairs are Karen and Troy Gibler. The keynote speaker is Jessa Dillow Crisp. Jessa is a survivor of familial trafficking who has risen above adversity. She will share her inspiring story of how she found hope, healing, and love. To learn more about Jessa, visit www.jessacrisp.com. The evening includes dinner and a robust and popular silent auction fundraiser. Rejuvenating Women thanks premier sponsors City Ventures and Rocket Carwash for their generous support of this year’s gala event. Tickets can be purchased online at one.bidpal.net/restoredwingsgala2022/ ticketing. Sponsorships are still available. If you or your business would like to support Rejuvenating Women, please call (531) 213-2663 or email gala@rejuvenatingwomen.org to obtain detailed information on how your donation is recognized and will impact the lives of the survivors served in the Restored Wings home and program. Rejuvenating Women is a nonprofit organization committed to providing hope and restoration for victims and survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. They provide a trauma-informed short and long-term housing recovery program, designed to restore physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Learn more by visiting www.rejuvenatingwomen.com or by contacting them at (531) 213-2663 / info@rejuvenatingwomen.org.
SHARE Iowa and SHARE Omaha will work closely together on larger, community-wide campaigns, like Giving Tuesday 712 and 402, to make a bigger impact and maintain the connection that western Iowa has as an important part of the greater metropolitan area. In preparation of the launch of SHARE Iowa, the Community Foundation has hired Catrina Trabal as the new community partnerships manager, and in her role, Catrina will work with nonprofits and the community to amplify a culture of giving in western Iowa. A SHARE Iowa launch party is scheduled for September 13 at Iowa Western Community College, and nonprofit trainings/orientations will begin soon. Both SHARE Iowa and SHARE Omaha are thrilled about this opportunity to impact even more nonprofits. For additional information and details, please contact Catrina at ctrabal@givewesterniowa.org. To learn more about the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, visit www.givewesterniowa.org.
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The stakes are higher than ever in this dynamic stage musical, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world!
Emsculpt NEO
Harmony Med Spa takes exceptional pride in providing premier medical spa service to the omaha community. harmony embarks with you on your journey to your best self; their services are a support and their staff is your assistant on the journey. owners heidi o’connell, aprn, and tamara doehner, Md wanted to create a med spa to support a wide array of needs through a variety of services, while also being inviting to both those who are new to and experienced with med spas.
September 2022 Strictly Business 35#PrintProudDigitalSmart SPOTLCLienTiGHTBe Your Best Self at 6750 Mercy r oad, Suite 4 har M ony M ed S pa.net (402) 915-6659
Between work, family, and other major aspects of your life, it may not be feasible for you to get all of your nutritional needs met every single day. Supplementation is an easy and efficient way to get the nourishment you need to thrive. nutritional iVs at harmony Med Spa help you to feel your best with a delivery of nutrients directly into your system.
“Nurturing yourself is not selfish - it's essential to your survival and well-being."
Renée Peterson Trudeau
Hormone Replacement a hormone deficiency can cause a host of problems for both men and women, including physical, emotional, and sexual issues. hormone replacement therapy uses a variety of different methods to help restore your hormones to optimal levels. When taken with the correct dosage, patients can benefit from increased mental, physical, and emotional health and wellness. Skin Services Skin services include injectables, such as Botox and filler; and aesthetics, such as microneedling, facials, chemical peels, and waxing. Laser skin rejuvenation is also available to completely transform your skin.
Working hard in the gym should come with payoff, but sometimes it is hard to achieve results in a targeted area for fat reduction and muscle tone. this is where emsculpt neo steps in. emsculpt neo is an advanced fat reduction and muscle building treatment. it combines high intensity electromagnetic therapy with radiofrequency thermal energy to create muscle contractions and trigger lipolysis. this works the muscle tissue at an astounding rate, equivalent to 20,000 contractions, while permanently damaging fat cells. emsculpt neo is Fda-cleared to treat five different areas of the body: buttocks, abdomen, arms, calves, and thighs. Emsella as you age or go through life events, your pelvic floor muscles can weaken. this can affect your body’s control over certain functions, primarily your ability to urinate. Many women suffer from this as an effect of pregnancy or childbirth, where the pelvic floor is damaged, weakened, or both. this results in it feeling difficult to “hold it” and causing unexpected leakage. While there are very quick fixes like pads and liners, or invasive surgical solutions, many people prefer something effective and non-invasive, like emsella®. emsella is an Fda-cleared, advanced treatment for urinary incontinence. this procedure uses the power of high-intensity Focused electromagnetic (hiFeM) energy to trigger muscle contractions in the pelvic floor, strengthening them for the long term.
IV Hydration Therapy
Becoming and staying Nebraska Disability Determination’s top provider over the last 14 years. What do you like about doing business in Omaha?
Omaha is a great place to own a small business. It’s a city that cares about helping their small business community flourish – from all the help the Chamber provides to the people that live here that support us. What kind of community organizations/groups is your business involved with? We give back to the community by donating to multiple local organizations including the Omaha Food Bank and our local Joslyn Castle neighborhood.
To provide outstanding customer service, ease of scheduling, and quick turn-around times; we pride ourselves on exceeding industry standards in all we do.
What is one goal for your business that you have yet to accomplish? We’ve excelled in our disability evaluation services – we’re now growing our employer services. We hope to be just as successful in this new venture. 558-1440 | tsullivan@MidtownMedicalGroup.comMidtownMedicalGroup.com
idtown Medical Group is a local small business established in 2008. Over the last 14 years, they have grown their team of licensed medical providers and psychologists as they’ve expanded their disability evaluation services across two states and 10 locations, becoming Nebraska’s top provider. They are now taking all that expertise, experience, and outstanding customer service to help companies with their pre-employment needs by offering physicals, screenings, and drug testing among other services. Midtown Medical Group wants to help local companies identify qualified candidates and minimize their risk. Owner Trisha Sullivan sat down with us for a Q&A session to learn more about her and the company.
For sure COVID. It has hit us small businesses pretty hard. We’re still being affected by it. Hopefully by next year things will start to turn around.
What is your business philosophy or mission statement?
What has been your most important achievement as a business?
Trish a sullivaN
Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A (402)
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owNer
What is one of the biggest challenges your company has faced?
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Midtown Medical Group isn’t just a job for us, it’s our way of contributing to the betterment of the community where we live and work.
GHTSPOTLCLienTi provider for 14 Years
Nebraska’s Top Medical
Taking Reservations For Thursday Pool Installs
Nothing runs Like a Deere!
For commercial mowing, one of the hottest trends in mowers is the John Deere QuikTrak Stand-on Mower, which AKRS offers. These stand-behind mowers serve up advanced nick wessel AKRS equipment
“AKRS Equipment offers a Ready to Mow Service in the Omaha and Lincoln communities, where we will come to your home or business and perform routine maintenance on-site and ensure that your equipment always performs well,” said Turf and Commercial Equipment Sales Professional Nick Wessel . “For larger repairs, we offer pickup and delivery to one of our AKRS locations.”
September 2022 Strictly Business 37#PrintProudDigitalSmart If you’ve been thinking about a fiberglass pool, your weekend begins with Thursday!StrawberrySprings.com 402.770.7946Contact us today for details pricing/consultationson Strawberry Springs Pool and Spa
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The unbeatable heat of summer makes yard work a task few want to take on. As the weather cools down, taking care of your outdoor spaces can start becoming a creative, rewarding experience rather than a grueling chore. Many Omaha businesses are getting geared up to transform your outdoor areas into spaces that you can see yourself spending time in. Whether it is adding an outdoor fireplace or getting a jumpstart on your garden, the possibilities for this new season are endless!
The very heart of a live landscape is the establishment of a healthy lawn. No matter how much you invest in fancy plants and trees, they always look their best when they are adjacent to green, lush grounds. Regardless of the size of your yard or your landscaping project, AKrS equipment can provide an extensive array of John Deere equipment you need to get the job done right. AKRS offers John Deere turf, compact utility tractors, and compact construction equipment, plus a host of attachments to accomplish any yard or acreage project. When it comes to choosing a mower or keeping up with lawn maintenance, AKRS is in your corner. The John Deere equipment they sell offers the lowest cost of ownership in the industry, and their mowers have, over the years, proven to operate longer with fewer repairs and maintain their value better than any other product on the market. AKRS even has a service available to keep your equipment in top working order.
Creating your dream outdoor space has never been easier. With the help of these Omaha businesses, your lawn, garden, or patio will be ready for anything – and it’ll look pretty great, too! These experts are here to help you get all things outdoors under way. It’s never too early to get started!
“Customers can stop in at their convenience and learn what equipment best fits their needs,” Nick said. “The earlier they pay us a visit, the sooner we can get them up and running with the guidance and equipment they need to maintain the best lawn in the neighborhood. Come see us and take a test drive on any John Deere product. After all, Nothing Runs Like a Deere!”
pool prep
It may still be warm, but before long, temperatures will steadily decrease and pool season will come to an end. Before that happens, make sure your pool is ready to close for winter by contacting Strawberry Springs pool and Spa to help you ensure that your pool is properly maintained and protected for the winter. Their winter pool closing service includes a thorough vacuuming and removal of debris, water balancing, draining water to an appropriate level, winterizing the plumbing system and equipment, using environmentally safe anti-freeze, installation and inspection of the winter cover, and more.
In six months when you’re ready to take the winter cover off, be sure to contact Strawberry Springs to help you open your pool and prepare for the spring. They also offer other services, including weekly maintenance, weekly chemical maintenance, jetted bathtub repair, hot tub moving, in-ground pool construction, and more, so that you can be a happy swimmer all year long!
Holiday Lighting and more Deluxe Landscape Design offers a wide range of services for lawn care and landscaping, including seeding, sod, fertilization, aeration, mowing, trimming, mulching, retaining walls, and even holiday lighting! Their highly trained crew is made up of experienced, motivated, and talented individuals who all keep Deluxe Landscape’s motto of “Quality is Always Important!” at the forefront of their work. The company was started in 2002 by Owner Chris Ansell when he was 17. “No job is too small or too large, and we will get the job done right the very first time,” said Chris. “Our team prides ourselves on providing outstanding service in a timely manner, and giving you a finished product to be proud of.”
Light up the Night Call today to schedule your holiday lighting appointment and get a free estimate Quality is Always important! deluxelandscapedesign.com 402-225-6600 15% OFF LightS with early purchase by Oct 1, 2022 Chris Ansell Deluxe Landscape Design
maneuverability and speed to allow you to mow more and feel less fatigued at the end of the day. On the residential side, the John Deere line of Lawn Tractors provides mowing with a variety of attachments to make landscaping chores simple and easy.
If you want to take advantage of holiday lighting services, now is the time to do it! Deluxe Landscape Design is an authorized distributor of Brite Ideas Decorating and Holidynamics, allowing them to wholesale LED Christmas lights at a reduced price. They’re offering a great discount if you take advantage of their services now: receive 15% off material cost if you sign up for holiday lighting before October 1, or 10% off if you sign up before November 1. “We use only the highest quality LED lighting to ensure that you are receiving the best service,” said Chris. “In addition to distribution, we also provide installation, removal, and storage of your holiday lights, plus we offer hundreds of different decorating options. We can help both residential and commercial clients with their holiday lighting. I encourage you to take advantage of this service much sooner than later, and to call our office at (402) 225-6600 to learn more about all of our amazing options!”
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As we prepare to enter into the season of fall, you or a loved one may also be preparing to enter into the next season of life. For some, this may include retirement living, and for others, they may be looking at assisted living or in-home care options. Wherever you or your loved one are at in the aging journey, Omaha has many wonderful resources available to help the seniors in our community continue to live comfortably and joyfully.
“It is our goal to connect the right caregiver to the right client so that they enjoy their time together as companions,” said Kayla. “Our caregivers participate in one-on-one activities with their clients. Activities and outings include trips to the zoo and movie theater, shopping at the mall, book clubs, and volunteering opportunities.”
The staff at True North isn’t afraid to have those hard conversations about physical and mental decline or end of life. They know that education and planning will set clients and their families up for success. Another benefit that True North offers their clients is the recommendations to holistic providers in the community from their owner, a Master Reiki Practitioner. This offers a full mind-body-spirit approach to aging and wellness. “True North was started in an effort to raise the standard of care in non-medical caregiving,” shared Kayla. “I worked in hospice for two and a half years and saw a huge need
for quality caregivers 13106 W. Dodge Rd. Omaha, NE 68154 (402) seethetrainer.com493-4747 • Refers in-homescreenedinterviewed,andqualifiedcaregivers • Provides quality care at affordable rates • Places betweencaregivers1to24hours per day, 7 days per week • Flexible hours that can change as your needs change • No up front deposit or fees to begin services 1530 S. 70th St., Suite 202 Lincoln, NE 402-488-377168506 11640 Arbor St., Suite 103 Omaha, NE 402-398-184868144 CCAHomeCare.com Office@CCAHomeCare.com Kayla nelson True north Home Care
The United States needs roughly one million more caregivers before the Baby Boomer generation is in need of caregiving. The demand for homecare is higher than ever, and most companies are struggling to keep up with the demand. Kayla Nelson, RN, chief executive officer said that you should not wait to get on the books with a homecare company. Start small – even if it’s just a few days a week. It takes time to build rapport between a caregiver and client, and that shouldn’t be rushed.
Staying Safe at Home true North Home Care offers non-medical personal assistant services to seniors in the Omaha Metro and surrounding areas. Services include everything from chores and errands to companion care, and hands-on assistance with Activities of Daily Living (bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, etc.). Their specialty is hospice caregiving and assisting families through the natural declines in health and functions that many seniors face.
Learn how Immanuel is different. Schedule a visit today at Immanuel.com
Affiliated with the Nebraska Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Serving the Omaha Area Signature Communities: Lakeside & Pacific Springs Arboretum Village, Immanuel Village, Trinity Village that were getting the training they needed to be successful. That’s why my clients don’t just get a caregiver – they have access to my expertise. We make it our mission to connect clients to the resources and services they need to be safe and happy.”
“In the Omaha and Council Bluffs markets, we serve seniors at our 11 communities on six campuses,” shared Connie Chisholm, director of communications. “We provide senior living options for 55+, independent and assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing and long-term care in our communities. Immanuel offers vibrant life enrichment and wellness programs; this includes happy hour socials, special interest clubs, movie nights, volunteering events, trips to art galleries, personalized exercise programs, uplifting group fitness classes, and health and wellness education. There are always opportunities to make new friends and find new passions!”
The entire design and build process takes four to six weeks, with most installations taking less than a day. The shelves have a lifetime warranty, which means that they truly are a one-time purchase. raising the bar for 135 Years
22_91_7
40 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
also no need to outsource installation, as we provide the installation service once your shelves are built.”
“Our pullout shelves give you better access, better organization, and usually more storage space,” said Jay Durmaskin , franchise owner. “Installing pullouts means you no longer have to get down on your hands and knees to find items in the back of your cabinets or on the lower shelves.
Not only do the shelves provide peace of mind, but they can also be a useful tool for those finding themselves needing more storage in a smaller home. Whether you’re downsizing your home or moving into a retirement community, pullout shelves maximize the amount of storage you can safely access.
On the topic of personal home care, it is also important to keep your home up-to-date with products that can help you live a safer, risk-reduced life. ShelfGenie provides custom pullout shelves that fit new or existing cabinets and pantries. These shelves can be installed anywhere in your home including the kitchen, pantry, closets, and bathrooms.
At Immanuel, they take great pride in their almost 135 years of service to seniors and their families. As a not-for-profit senior living, care, and service provider, they make business decisions based on the best interests of their residents and not the bottom line. Immanuel continually raises the bar. From property renovations and expansions, robust life enrichment and wellness programming to exceptional dining venues and recognized healthcare services, Immanuel cultivates programs and services to meet the wants and needs of those they serve rather than shareholders.
Immanuel encourages families to get a head start on researching senior living options for their aging loved one – don’t wait for a JayShelfGenieDurmaskin Connie Chisholm immanuel
“The installation process starts with a free design consultation with no obligation,” said Jay. “Once a purchase has been made, a company-certified installer will conduct a field measurement to make sure every shelf is fit perfectly to your cabinet size. All of our pullouts are custom-built for the cabinets in your home. There is
Here for you. Not for profit.
As a not-for-profit senior living provider, we’re driven by a higher purpose to do things right. We serve seniors with compassion and respect and devote resources to bettering our communities.
This reduces fall risks and helps when you have problems with your knees, back, hips, or shoulders. In some cases, installing pullouts could be a tax deductible medical expense and might even qualify as a reimbursable expense from your long term care insurance.”
“We give our residents restaurant-quality dining with multiple options for every meal, three times a day,” Don shared. “We also offer hospitality services, such as regular housekeeping, scheduled transportation for social events, exciting social programs, and more.”
Day-to-day life at Prairie Meadows is uniquely fit for each resident’s interests. Don Woods, senior regional marketing director, mentioned a specific resident that took an opportunity to engage in her favorite activities with other residents.
On top of fun activities to keep you or your loved ones busy, Prairie Meadows prides themselves in quality amenities that create a safe, at-home atmosphere for their residents. The community features spacious living quarters, spa services, spiritual services, and five-star cuisine.
Monika Gall Brookestone Meadows Don woods Prairie
“One of our residents, Marilyn, used to teach water aerobics for several years when she was younger and now she shares her passion for exercising with others,” Don said. “This is one of many examples of the activities we offer at our community. Other activities include family movie nights, birthday parties, Veteran’s ceremonies, and holiday celebrations.”
September 2022 Strictly Business 41#PrintProudDigitalSmart 402.391.2790 | PrairieMeadowsSeniorLiving.com 13208 Meredith Ave Omaha, NE 68164 Designed for Comfort, Care, and Quality of Life. Specialized Memory Care | SPARK! Programming 24/7 Specialized Nursing Care Omaha Best 100 – Memory Care - 2x Caring.com – Best Senior Care Award A Place for Mom – Best Senior Care Award Omaha’s Choice Award – Best for Memory Care WINNER TRUE NORTH Caring is ourCommittedNurse-Owned.toCare. True North Home Care 10831 Old Mill Road Suite 402-981-8593200H TrueNorthHomeCare.com NEWACCEPTINGCLIENTS With Either Private Pay or Medicaid Waiver
major health event to force the decision. They have even created an easy-to-use downloadable Comparison Guide (immanuel.com/ love-whats-next) to help weigh the options; social and lifelong learning opportunities, robust wellness programs, dining options, and level of spiritual enrichment are all elements of a successful retirement living experience.
“Being part of a vibrant community of peers is proven to help protect against illnesses like heart disease and dementia. It’s also a lot of fun!” said Connie. “Our communities are architecturally designed to encourage social life. At Immanuel, you will find gathering spots, open-air patios, restaurants, and comfortable common areas that foster connections between residents. Come visit one of our communities today to see what it’s all about!” road to recovery brookestone meadows offers short-term rehab and long-term skilled care. Designed specifically for resident-centered care, the short-term rehabilitation facility provides an extensive range of rehabilitative services and 24-hour skilled nursing care. The goal is to return home or to a residential care environment. For long-term skilled care, there are options for medical care, nursing and rehabilitation care, and personal care. The Vetter Senior Living facility has five households for long-term care and three for rehabilitation. “We provide a variety of activities from group exercise to community outings,” said m onika Gall , the life enrichment coordinator. “We also strive to closely work with organizations such as Dreamweavers and Live Well, Go Fishing., to enhance our resident’s stay with us. Our community is constantly upholding our mission of Dignity in Life through various activities and making others Monikasmile.”also mentioned that Brookestone has taken part in the Music and Memory program. The program is designed to help individuals with a wide range of cognitive and physical conditions engage with their surroundings through personalized playlists. It is a non-pharmaceutical, therapeutic method that can increase a person’s spirit, decrease pain, and brighten their moods. Brookestone Home Health is an option for those who want to continue their progress after their stay. They provide the assistance needed to recover from injury, illness, or any medical care that you or your loved ones need to remain as independent as possible. “Holding the same mission, vision, and values, our Home Health Care is dedicated to providing you the health care assistance that suits your lifestyle all while allowing you to remain in the comfort of your own home.”
Custom Care at Home Living at home can help you or your loved one feel more independent, but sometimes it is important to get a little extra help. CCA Home Care provides clients with the best possible care using a nurse registry. The nurse registry screens CNAs, CMAs, and nurses, and matches them with the right clients based on the client’s needs. Services can include assistance with bathing, dressing, walking, meal preparation, medication reminders, Alzheimer’s/Dementia care, hospice support, light housekeeping, and many
Alzheimer’sMeadowsCareCenterKyleJohnsonCCAHomeCare
memory Care with Flair Finding specialized care for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia-related illness is an incredibly intricate and personal process. prairie meadows Alzheimer’s Special Care Center offers freestanding memory care and assisted living services with a team specially trained in memory care. Prairie Meadows also utilizes the SPARK program. SPARK was inspired by the teachings and research of Maria Montessori and Dr. Cameron Camp and provides meaningful and life-enhancing experiences for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The program engages their residents with proven rehabilitative strategies that strive to heighten interaction, optimize cognitive skills, as well as promote a sense of purpose and accomplishment. SPARK uses tailor-fit assessment tools to evaluate each resident’s capabilities and strengths, so the program can best meet their specific needs.
42 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart Join our vibrant senior living community in one of Omaha’s most desired locations where adults needing a little extra support can move into new assisted living or memory care apartments. Exceptional dining, wellness programs, engaging social events and round-the-clock nursing care mean your family member can be happy, healthy and secure — all while being close to you. To learn more or schedule a tour, call 402-588-5170 today.Grand Opening Pricing ends Oct 1! Independent • Assisted • Memory CareNOW OPEN! Assisted Living & Memory Care OVATION HEARTWOOD PRESERVE 470 Maxwell Plaza | Omaha, NE 68154 402-588-5170 | OvationHeartwoodPreserve.com Theyoulifestylewant. The support you need.
Kristie egan , owner of See The Trainer, also talked more about the different home health products they provide: “If you are a caregiver of someone with memory loss, it may help both you and your loved Desiree Rossi Key Home Care Kristie egan See the Trainer
See The Trainer offers a full line of in-stock bracing, home health, and rehabilitation products. Whether your pain results from a chronic condition or an acute injury, they are dedicated to improving your quality of life. For those wanting to pursue an active lifestyle, See The Trainer can help protect your body from re-injuring a past injury with their sports medicine products, or provide exercise products like exercise balls and foam rollers if you prefer to workout at home.
Another great option for at-home care is Key Home Care. Key Home Care provides personal caregivers, bedside sitters, respite care, hospice care, and companionship. Personal care providers offer a wide variety of services like mobility assistance and medication reminders. Key Home Care’s compassionate bedsitters can offer companionship and reassurance, whether sitting at the bedside in the hospital setting or helping your family member adjust to the new setting of a nursing home or assisted living. Their services are available all day, every“Keyday.prides itself on being available 24/7 for seniors living in their homes needing care,” said Community Liaison Desiree rossi. “The main objective for Key is to provide quality care and put every effort into making sure seniors get to stay in their own home for as long as possible. It is a very hands-on company that will never leave a senior without care.”
“We are the largest Home Care Registry in Nebraska, and our model is different than any other home care provider available to clients. All of our caregivers are licensed CNAs and work as independent contractors for their clients,” Kyle explained. “Before any caregiver is allowed to work with a client, they are run through all background checks, criminal history reports, work authorization in the United States, become CPR certified, carry their own professional liability insurance, and are bonded through our CCAcompany.”HomeCare’s services are hourly and are available at any time of the day. Whether you or your loved one just needs a checkin or help all day, scheduling care is entirely in your control. Rest assured that there will always be an affordable, quality option for care with CCA Home Care.
The home care service is women-owned with over 30 years of experience. If you or your loved one is not quite ready to commit to full-time care, Key Home Care’s respite services are a great first step. Respite services help families of patients take time away from caring for their loved ones without feeling guilty or worrying about their wellbeing. Respite services are designed for short-term care, whether it be a few hours or a few days.
Terry White Karen Nelson Joe Risko DeAna Sha er Charlie Grimes Steve Schmidt
Anne Burnett Andy Wilson Matt McKeever
Strengthen Your body and mind Taking care of your body is something that is important at every stage of life. As you get older, exercise becomes harder for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, exercising several times weekly can help those who are combating memory-loss related diseases. Along with strengthening your mind, exercise also garners good heart health and many other positive benefits. See the trainer is an orthopedic, sports medicine facility dedicated to keeping a diverse population functioning through a variety of bracing and support products.
September 2022 Strictly Business 43#PrintProudDigitalSmart Burnettwilsonlaw.com | 402-226-6138 We are excited to let you know that Carlson & Burnett is changing its name to: We are all conveniently located in our existing o ce at 17525 Arbor Street, Omaha, NE 68130
DavidT.W.AdamThompsonWintzHuntington Burnett Wilson Law, LLP.
Our new name reflects some changes in personnel, but we continue to o er the same high level of service as we have since the firm was founded in 2008. As before, the firm will be focused on estate planning, elder law, probate and trust administration, family law, business planning and personal injury. We have a team of twelve attorneys with expertise in each of these areas.
Serving Omaha/Council Bluffs and Surrounding Rural Areas Where Compassion is Key Individual Caregivers - Free In-Home Keyhomecare.us402-982-9254Consultations more. Kyle Johnson, president of CCA Home Care, emphasized the quality and safety of this program in a recent conversation.
Anne Burnett Burnett wilson Law, LLP
“Because we help families in so many ways all the time, we are familiar with the range of services available in our communities and can provide useful information about where to find them.”
Find the right fit for you and your family, and get a little help along the way. These businesses are here to provide you with the tools to garner a healthy lifestyle, and live comfortably wherever you end up. Feel confident and secure in your senior living journey when you work with these reputable Omaha organizations!
The assisted living community has the same independence factor as the independent living community, with a little bit of help along the way. Residents of the assisted living community are given help with activities for daily living in their own private apartment. Ovation Heartwood Preserve helps residents decide the level of care they want, and creates a friendly environment for residents to socialize with neighbors and connect with staff.
“Situations like these can be incredibly stressful,” says founding partner, Anne burnett “We do our best to help relieve that stress by joining the care team.”
For most families, planning a loved one’s move into a senior living facility includes a careful analysis of their finances. The average cost of assisted living in Nebraska is $4,188 and for nursing homes, the average cost is $7,194 a month. Many families lack the ability to “private pay” out of their own resources to cover these exorbitant costs. This is where the attorneys at b urnett Wilson Law, LL p can help. The lawyers on their Elder Law team have expertise in long-term care planning, including the use of trusts, Medicaid, and Veterans Benefits. They can help seniors through many difficult situations, such as being injured in a fall, that make it necessary for them to move from their home to a facility, sometimes with only a few days’ notice.
reachers,
“We think we bring added value to our clients,” added Burnett.
The independent living community gives its residents peace of mind knowing that they are able to live freely on their own, but also knowing that help can be there right away if they need it.
tasks.”
Ovation takes a modern, progressive approach to senior living.
in
The high-end luxury apartments have elegant fixtures and upscale upgrades. The homes are maintenance-free and include aroundthe-clock security.
44 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart + Schedule your FREE design consultation today! 402-810-7254 | or visit us at shelfgenie.com 50% INSTALLATIONOFF* 20%MATERIALSOFF* *Limit one offer per household. EXP. 10/31/22 YOUR DREAM HOME WITHOUT THE RENOVATION 12 PAYMENTSINTERESTNONO *On Approved Credit* MONTH *Limit one offer per household. Must purchase 5+ Classic/Designer Shelves. EXP 10/31/22. Independently owned and operated franchise. © 2022 ShelfGenie SPV LLC. All rights Reserved.
Located in Heartwood Preserve, Ovation is surrounded by large urban neighborhoods of family homes, shopping, and opportunities to engage in the history and culture of Omaha.
planning for the Future
Memory care at Ovation is headed by experts that are specially trained in Alzheimer’s and dementia care and foster a nurturing relationship with each new resident and their families. Memory support plans are unique to each resident and helps keep them on a consistent schedule with engaging activities in a stimulating environment.
aids,
one to have products that can assist with daily routines. We carry helpful items such as shower chairs, sock canes, dressing sticks, and toilet safety seats to help you feel comfortable your day-to-day brand New Living Community With a recent grand opening on June 7, Ovation Heartwood preserve is ready to provide a new senior living community to the West Omaha area. Ovation’s care ranges from an independent living community to assisted living and memory care.
September 2022 Strictly Business 45#PrintProudDigitalSmart If you know of a local, woman-owned business, tell Strictly Business about them! In the October 2022 issue of Strictly Business, we will run our bi-annual “Women-Owned Businesses” feature to highlight the businesses in Omaha that are proudly owned and run by women. To participate or nominate, contact: (402) 466-3330 | Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com OCTISSUE2022 Strictly Business is direct mailed to over 15,000 businesses in Omaha every month! With a 2–4 month shelf life and a pass-along readership, it’s estimated that 1 copy of the magazine reaches at least 5 people. Editorial features are published on our website as well. We are proud to have a strong online presence Calling all Women-Owned Businesses! FEATURE INCLUDES: Photo of 150-wordbusinessowner(s),logo&write-up/quote “The world needs strong women. Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will.” – Amy Tenney
46 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
Community organizations contribute to the fabric of our economy by bringing industry leaders together, offering education and resources to their members, and partnering with other local entities to implement positive change in our area.
With a busy career and social life, we can’t get involved with all the organizations we might be interested in. You have to think about your objectives in terms of how your service helps fulfill your own personal and professional development goals, your own or your employer’s desire to bring in and keep business, and the kind of impact you want to make.
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the following organizations if you are looking for ways to grow your business or professional network, make a difference in the community, and gain valuable experience outside of the work place. Don’t be afraid to reach out and get involved!
There are so many dedicated, passionate groups of likeminded individuals who are all committed to making a difference in their professional, cultural, and social communities.
Twice a year, in March and September, Strictly Business puts together a Joining Organizations feature. This “glorified index” is a way to highlight many of the amazing professional organizations available to individuals who are striving to stay active within the business community and/or their industry network. We want to make sure that these organizations have a chance to get their name out there and share their current efforts, membership benefits, partnership opportunities, etc. Strictly Business is directly mailed to over 15,000 businesses in Omaha every month and we share all our content online, so we feel that we have a responsibility to provide our readers with relevant information about what’s happening in and around Omaha.
There are a lot of talented and reputable professionals in Omaha—so how do you stand out? The answer is getting involved. Find an organization or association that matches your interests and passions. Your commitment to your industry and/or community will shine through and set you apart.
There are so many dedicated, passionate groups of like-minded individuals who are all committed to making a difference in their professional, cultural, and social communities. Joining these groups often results in forming new relationships that, in turn, lead to personal and professional growth and success. In terms of making connections in the community, professional organizations and local trade associations provide an environment rich with potential. By tapping into a network like this, in your industry or otherwise, you have access to a wealth of knowledge, referrals, helpful tips, potential job opportunities, a built-in support system, and so much more. Here at Strictly Business, we stand behind the hard-working organizations that continuously better Omaha and its occupants. We do this by offering discounted rates to these organizations so they can highlight their upcoming events and meetings, accomplishments, awards, members, staff, and opportunities for involvement. There are organizations and associations representative of nearly every profession, industry, or special interest group, and many have national, regional, state, and/or local chapters who would love to have you as a member.
Joining these groups often results in forming new relationships that, in turn, lead to personal and growthprofessionalandsuccess.
The Empowerment Network is recognized as a backbone organization supporting the key functions of its collective impact partners. The Network excels in the capturing of data; capacitybuilding; leadership development; advocacy; civic engagement; and fundraising to support specific initiatives identified by the community. The Network model, recognized regionally and nationally, relies on each person and organization doing their part. Visit empoweromaha.com or call (402) 502-5153 to learn more.
• Referral Program—We are eager to continue growing our membership and referral groups at an exponential rate. This is why we have added a referral program where you get a free membership for three referrals in a year.
The Metro Omaha Builders Association (MOBA) 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 is an organization of individuals and firms involved in residential and light commercial building and development and related industries. The organization is also known for the Omaha Home Show, Remodel Omaha & Outdoor Living Tour, Spring and Fall Parade of Homes, and Street of Dreams. Experience the benefits of MOBA, join now! For more information, visit www.moba.com.
“We won’t let up. We won’t let you down—because your work is too important to do it alone.” Join 3,000 other businesses and be part of the movement toward greater: OmahaChamber.org/Belong | memberservices@ OmahaChamber.org | (402) 346-5000.
• Networking and Exposure—“It’s not what you know but who you know.” Make all those important contacts through Networking Lunches, “Bagels & Business” Meetings, Business After Hours, Ribbon Cuttings, and referral groups.
For Omaha to prosper, we need to build a connected community that supports business growth, employment, and quality of life. As a Chamber member, you aren’t just building your business, you’re investing in the future of our city. To connect with other professionals; to grow your presence in the community; to develop your skills and experience; to ignite change and serve as a catalyst for economic growth. These are just some of the reasons to invest yourself and your business into the Greater Omaha Chamber (OmahaChamber.org/Belong).
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Nebraska / South Dakota supports the commercial construction industry through apprenticeship and safety training, advocacy, and workforce development. In addition, they offer opportunities for networking, and their Excellence in Construction Awards allow them to showcase members’ project successes. The organization helps their members and their members’ employees with the opportunity to succeed, by winning work, and delivering that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. ABC strives to be the leading voice for free enterprise and the merit shop philosophy of construction in Nebraska. They offer apprenticeship training through the NCCER Curriculum, continuing education, and leadership courses, not only to members, but also to anyone wishing to enter the construction industry for a bountiful career. For information about ABC Nebraska / South Dakota, contact Anne Klute at (402) 477-4451 or annek@abcnesd.org. Please visit the website at abcnesd.org to learn more. The Millard Business Association (MBA) was established in 2003 and comprises more than 200 area businesses members. The MBA provides the catalyst for our members to grow and prosper through a variety of events, opportunities, services, and programs.
Joining this thriving organization is a great way to GROW Your Business. Members do not need to reside in Millard. The basic requirement is doing business or wanting to do business in the Millard area. Membership is only $130 per year; there is a $65 associate’s rate for member businesses that want to add a representative. Benefits include:
• Community Connections—Get involved and learn more about the nonprofits in the community.
• Educational Opportunities—Stay competitive, be productive! MBA’s monthly “Lunch and Learns” offer expert advice for today’s economy. Apply for membership at www.MillardBusinessAssociation.org. For more information, contact the MBA Admin at (402) 707-2827 or email info@ millardbusinessassociation.org.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been assisting U.S. consumers and businesses since 1912. It is a private, nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Nearly 400,000 BBB Accredited Businesses support BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust, and their dues and contributions allow BBB to offer its information and services to consumers at no charge. BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, over 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting the marketplace. People today are overwhelmed with choices—and often unsure about where to find verified, unbiased information. There are more than 32 million businesses in North America alone, and hundreds of thousands of sites around the world where people shop online. Also, thousands of free and subscription websites offer a range of information, including: reviews, reports, directories, listings, and gripe sites. BBB is the resource where you can find trusted, verified information. Go to BBB.org/nebraska, call (800) 649-6814 and follow on social media (@BBBOmaha).
“Let’s succeed together.”
September 2022 Strictly Business 47#PrintProudDigitalSmart The withinculturescitizensOmahaAfricanandECONOMICtowithNetworkEmpowermentworkstogetherresidentsandleadersTRANSFORMtheconditionQUALITYOFLIFEofAmericans,Northresidents,andofallracesandlivinginpovertytheGreaterOmaha area.
– African Proverb
The endeavors of the organization are designed to accelerate the success of women in all aspects and at all levels. They create economic opportunities through their signature MOWBC programs.
Vision—NEF envisions a vibrant small business eco-system where every small and micro business has the opportunity to start, grow, and Mission—NEFprosper. supports underserved communities by providing micro and small businesses with access to training, technical assistance, and capital.
Join the Business Ethics Alliance on Thursday, October 13, 2022, for the EthicSpace Conference at the CHI Health Center. This year’s theme is Creating a Culture of Trust. EthicSpace is inspirational, educational, positive, and practical. To learn more about the Ethicspace Conference, visit Ethicspace.org. To learn more about the Business Ethics Alliance, go to businessethicsalliance.org.
Who We Serve—NEF serves a target market of traditionally disadvantaged small businesses, including those owned by people of color, low-income people, women, and veterans.
Among our services, we partner with professionals in the community to offer assistance for tax preparation/literacy documents to help businesses enter the formal economy by paying taxes. In addition, we have loan products to fill the gaps where businesses may not have access to capital. To learn how you or your business can become a part of this mission, visit nebbiz.org or call (402) 260-8355.
Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center (MOWBC) was formed in 2008. Their mission is to empower women to become economically self-sufficient by providing targeted education, workshops, job training, strong relationships, and resources that provide business, professional, and personal growth.
There is a multitude of benefits to becoming a member of the Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center, including: Entrepreneur Annual Award Grants of $500-$1,000; business-to-business discounts; access to referral resources, educational programs, and business opportunities; featured in monthly communications on the MOWBC website; discounts/advance notices to MOWBC events (seminars and conferences); business listing in MOWBC directory; company logo and story listed in the MOWBC Newsletter; business after hours networking; personal log-in and password to the MOWBC membership site; promotional code for discounted member events; and monthly commercial opportunities. To learn more, visit www. mowbcf.org or call (402) 763-0540.
The Nebraska Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA; neneca.com) is an association for Electrical Contracting firms and Associate Members dedicated to advancing best practices and policies for the success of the electrical industry. NECA members are leaders in sustainable construction practices, green energy systems, climate control, and communication networks. NECA meets the manpower needs of their industry with trained apprentices and journeymen through their partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW; ibew22.unionactive.com). IBEW Local 22, serving the electrical construction industry in Nebraska and Western Iowa, is one of 2,376 local electrical unions across the United States. They’ve been Omaha’s Electrical Construction Union since 1892. The local union is designed to provide assistance and a voice for the local electrical worker in all matters and issues that affect their lives, such as finding work, providing answers on health and financial benefits, or gaining access to new or additional training.
As a result of the NECA/IBEW partnership, Building Omaha was formed. Building Omaha provides a joint training program called The Electrical Training ALLIANCE. This training results in the best electrical workers the industry has to offer. Learn more about the training program at buildingomaha.org. “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
The event is held in the Aksarben area of Omaha.
The Business Ethics Alliance exists to provide solutions to companies of all sizes and for employees across all levels, from C-suite to entry-level, to conduct their businesses and professional lives with accountability, integrity, and moral courage. Your actions and decisions impact your employees, your coworkers, your community, your customers, your vendors…and more. So much to balance, so much at stake. Ethics matter because reputation counts. What you do each day impacts you and your organization’s reputation for years to come. You have a lot to consider. EthicSpace Conference will lay it all on the table for you with honest and real conversations.
48 Strictly Business September 2022 #PrintProudDigitalSmart
The Omaha Empowerment Breakfast is a down-to-earth, convenient way for small business owners and operators to network with each other and connect with larger businesses and agencies in the community. The Omaha Empowerment Breakfast is a nonmembership monthly networking event. We offer great speakers, great food, and endless connections! Held the first Friday of every month from 7 to 8:30 a.m.; come early and stay late for the best networking. This is a well-attended event. Register ahead of time to reserve your spot. People attending can showcase their business by being a three-minute speaker or being an event sponsor. We have a great lineup of nationally recognized speakers and local business professionals to educate and entertain.
Members of MOWBC are able to find mentorship, share their dreams, and embrace a unique kind of sisterhood.
To learn more about the Omaha Empowerment Breakfast, visit OmahaEmpowermentBreakfast.org or contact Michael McKee at (402) Launching201-3518.asmall or micro business takes courage. It also takes capital and the insights that come from expert training and mentoring. That’s where the Nebraska Enterprise Fund comes in. We are an ally dedicated to supporting you and your vision of success. As a statewide microenterprise intermediary and Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), NEF provides business development services and financing to micro and small businesses across Nebraska.
RESIDENTIAL · COMMERCIAL · INVESTING · LEASING Get An Instant Home Value Report In 3 Easy Steps FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR HOME IS REALLY WORTH Enter your Street Address SEE YOUR ESTIMATEWWW.PRG-NE.COM/HOME_VALUE 402-HOMES-4-U PRG-NE.COM SALES@PRG-NE.COM
Cleaning streams, planting trees and furthering environmental education create a greener city for everyone. We proudly support Keep Omaha Beautiful in its mission to foster a clean, sustainable environment. With roots in Nebraska, we prioritize quality infrastructure in this community. Investing in Omaha is a commitment worth keeping. Great cities deserve a great landscape.
