The January 8th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Paradise Bakery & Café will open a location at 111 North 175th Street inside Nebraska Medicine’s Village Pointe campus near 175th & Burke Street. The bakery previously operated at Village Pointe Shopping Center before relocating to Nebraska Crossing in Gretna, where it reopened in January 2025.

Small Sliders, an Atlanta-based, quick-serve restaurant chain that specializes in small cheeseburgers, has signed a development agreement to open four locations in Omaha and Lincoln. The concept started in 2019 in Baton Rouge, La., and now has 46 locations in 12 states. The closest existing locations are in Kansas City, St. Louis and Wichita, Kan. Site selection work is currently underway in Nebraska. One of the restaurant’s owners is former NFL quarterback Drew Brees.

Cedar Creek Coffee & Art will open its doors in the next few weeks at 20603 Elkhorn Drive in Olde Towne Elkhorn. The business is a specialty coffee shop/art gallery with a full stage that will host live music, art lectures, poetry, trivia and coffee education sessions. Cedar Creek Coffee & Art will be a multi-roaster concept carrying coffee from more than 12 roasters from around the country sourcing beans from around the globe.

Hyper Energy Bar, a small coffee and infused-energy drink chain from Urbandale, IA, recently opened its first Omaha-area location at 3561 North 181st Street near 180th & West Maple Road. The drive-thru beverage concept has other Omaha-area sites planned near 180th & Burke Street and 204th & Harrison Street, though those have not yet opened.

Wicked Caramel Apples, a La Vista-based caramel apple business, plans to open a brick-and-mortar shop at 104 South 5th Street in Plattsmouth. An opening date has not been announced. The business will continue operating at Home Decor and More in La Vista and at pop-up events until the new shop opens.

IMAGE Studios has opened at 7878 Main Street, Suite C, near 84th & Barmettler Drive in La Vista’s City Centre. The business offers luxury salon suites for independent beauty, health and wellness professionals.

Marvella Mercantile has opened a European-imported antiques and home goods shop at 467 County Road K in Yutan, about 15 minutes west of Omaha. The appointment-only storefront operates out of a century-old barn and features furniture and décor sourced directly from Europe, shipped in 40-foot containers. The business offers local delivery and nationwide shipping, with its next container expected in spring 2026.

Sand Point will close its restaurant at 655 North 114th Street near 114th & Dodge in Miracle Hills on January 17. The New England–style restaurant opened in October 2023 and is known for its lobster rolls and soups.

The Blackstone District is hosting the seventh annual Great Reuben Debate January 10th through 24th. The Reuben sandwich was invented in Omaha’s Blackstone Hotel in the 1920s. Each restaurant will have its own take on the Reuben. Participating locations include: Cheeseburgers, Crescent Moon, Cunningham’s, First Round, HomeGrown Omaha, Lazy Buffalo, Little India, Mula, Nite Owl, Rathskeller Bier Haus and the Orleans Room at The Cottonwood Hotel. Reuben fans can vote for their favorite HERE.

Roughly 8,200 retail stores in the United States shut their doors in 2025, about 12 percent more than 2024, according to CNN. You can blame the usual culprits: online shopping, slumping consumer sentiment and inflation.

Learn more about Anderson Convenience market at www.Anderson1952.com

Creighton Names Athletic Facility “The Bill” to Honor Philanthropist

Creighton University’s future athletic facility will be named “The Bill” in honor of the late Bill Scott, longtime donor and friend to the university.

The family of Bill and Ruth Scott has made the lead gift to build The Bill, a 50,000 sq. ft. athletics facility for Creighton’s 300-plus student-athletes. Construction of the $65 million building, formerly referred to as the Sports Performance Center, began in the summer of 2025, with an official groundbreaking in November. The facility is expected to be completed in 2027.

Located at 20th & Burt Street, The Bill will be immediately west of The Ruth (The Ruth Scott Training Center), the practice space for Creighton volleyball and women’s basketball. Opened in 2019, The Ruth was named in honor of Ruth Scott, Bill Scott’s wife of 73 years before his passing in 2024.

The Bill is part of “Fly Together,” a $300 million, donor-funded initiative to reshape Creighton’s 12-block athletic and recreational corridor with 11 new or upgraded facilities and outdoor spaces. The Bill will be the crown jewel of the University’s athletic village.

Through prior personal gifts and their family foundation, Bill and Ruth Scott contributed significantly to the entirety of Creighton’s east-campus athletic corridor — The McDermott Center, the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena, The Ruth and the Rasmussen Center (named after the Scotts’ close friend, former McCormick Endowed Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen).

“Our admiration for Bruce Rasmussen created a love for helping student-athletes,” said Ruth Scott. “It hasn’t been a custom to put our names on things, and when the volleyball team chose to name the practice facility ‘The Ruth,’ I felt awkward about it at first, but I grew to love it. When it became evident there would be another athletics building next to The Ruth, I knew that we had to support it and that it had to be named The Bill. I felt that, after 73 years of marriage, I still wanted to be close to Bill.”

A lifelong Nebraskan, Bill Scott started as one of Warren Buffett’s first two lieutenants, joining Buffett Partnership in 1959 and Berkshire Hathaway in 1970, where he remained until the early 1990s. Scott then started his second career — as a full-time philanthropist.

In September, the University announced the Fly Together initiative with the largest gift in Creighton’s history: $100 million from the Heider Family Foundation. In addition to the Heider Family Foundation and Ruth Scott, lead donors Don C. Scott, John Scott, Linda and Larry Pearson, and Rachel and CL Werner have supported Fly Together.

JE Dunn is constructing The Bill. The facility’s design is a collaboration between Holland Basham Architects and the Portland, Oregon-based marketing agency GLGR (Gallagher).

The Bill will feature approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of additional strength and conditioning space, an outdoor training area, a dining hall catering to the specific nutritional needs of student-athletes, areas for academic advising, sports medicine and psychology services and gathering spaces.

Currently, all of Creighton’s 300-plus student-athletes must schedule workouts around a single weight room, located in the McDermott Center. This results in many teams being forced to use the facility as early as 5 a.m. or late into the evening. Spacing issues have limited student-athletes’ access to sports medicine, psychology services and academic advising. And unlike many universities, Creighton Athletics doesn’t have a dedicated dining hall with nutritional services.

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The Civic Auditorium site is now tied up in litigation. White Lotus Group, under an affiliated LLC, Civic Corner, filed a complaint in Douglas County District Court against the City of Omaha. Civic Corner alleges that the city delayed approvals and failed to communicate with the developer leading to Civic Corner not being able to meet its own obligations under the development agreement.

In 2022, the parties entered into a development agreement that outlined possible buy-back terms the city could exercise if White Lotus failed to meet certain construction deadlines, including having at least 50 percent of infrastructure installed within 18 months of closing, or roughly in the fall of 2023. White Lotus did not meet the deadline, but has continued to make efforts to develop the property. According to The Reader, the city is considering taking legal action against the developer based failed contractual requirements.

The Annex Group, an Indianapolis-based affordable housing developer, plans to break ground January 15th on Central at Columbus Park, an affordable housing building at 1031South 21st Street. The $60 million project will have 156 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments units for households earning a range of income levels starting at 30 percent of the area median income. Amenities will include a parking garage, community room, computer room, fitness room, storm shelter and bike storage. The developer has three existing affordable projects in Lincoln, but Central at Columbus Park will be its first in Omaha.

The Farnam Street bridge over Interstate 480 is scheduled to be demolished this coming weekend weather permitting. To accommodate the demolition process, I-480 will be closed from Friday, January 8 at 9 p.m. through 6 a.m. on Monday, January 12. The bridge is being replaced partly because of its advanced page and also to accommodate the future streetcar.

Speaking of the streetcar, work started this week on the actual mainline tracks in two areas: Capitol District and Midtown Crossing. Before the steel rail goes in, crews must construct the foundational track structure. The first steel rail will be laid in March near 8th & Capitol Avenue and in April for a stretch of Farnam Street west of Turner Boulevard.

Skutt Catholic High School at 3131 South 156th Street plans to build an athletics building. According to City of Omaha documents, plans include an addition to existing buildings consisting of a 41,000 sq. ft. building with a 48-foot roof height. The athletics facility, named the “Skyhawk Performance Center,” will house an interior sports field and track, locker rooms and a weight room.

The Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children’s Nebraska officially opened to the public yesterday at 85th & West Dodge Road. The $114 million, 4-story, 107,250 sq. ft. building is “nationally distinctive and the first facility in the region to provide the full spectrum of mental health services to meet the growing needs of children and adolescents in Nebraska and beyond.”

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska plans to build a health clinic at their campus near 84th & Park Drive. The Tribe has operated from the former InfoGroup headquarters since 2018. The 11.25-acre campus includes the offices, tribal court, community space, transportation center, ceremonial sweat lodge and childcare facility. The previous 96,000 sq. ft. building that temporarily housed a health clinic facility has been razed to make way for the 42,000 sq. ft. health clinic. The current location of the Tribe’s Fred LeRoy Health and Wellness Clinic is at 2602 J Street in South Omaha. The Tribe will relocate the existing clinic after construction.

The City of Omaha plans to relocate its Oma-Gro facility inside city limits. The current facility is located at 15705 Harlan Lewis Road in Bellevue. According to a rezoning application, the City plans to repurpose the old Al Vey’s Youth Sports Complex at 6404 South 60th Street into the new location for an Oma-Gro compost facility and a future site of salt and equipment storage for the Public Works Department’s street maintenance division.

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Simplifi Automated Environments will move its Omaha office to 4509 South 143rd Street in the Southwestern Plaza development. Interior build-out is underway with opening expected in a couple months. Owned by Doug Dushan and Derrick Potts, Simplifi AE started nine years ago in Kansas City. The company expanded to Omaha less than two years ago and has already become the largest custom residential AV company by revenue in the Omaha market.

Equity Bancshares, Inc., the Wichita, Kansas-based holding company of Equity Bank, has completed its merger with Frontier Holdings, LLC, the parent company of Frontier Bank, in Omaha effective January 1. With the merger, Equity entered Nebraska, adding seven locations in the state. Frontier offices have reopened as Equity Bank. Equity now has approximately $7.9 billion in proforma consolidated assets and operates in six states.

Platte + Pine Construction and Remodel has launched in Omaha with a focus on helping homeowners plan and build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), secondary, smaller houses on the same property as a primary residence. Demand for ADUs has been growing in Omaha. Founded by Nick Knihnisky, the company guides its clients through local ADU zoning and design considerations and is now scheduling free consultations for property owners considering ADUs in 2026. Platte + Pine also offers kitchen, bathroom and basement remodels.

Roll-N-Sweetz will have a new home on the ground floor of MLK Square, an apartment complex on the North 30th Street corridor. The local rolled ice cream shop was opened by then-17-year-old, a’Ron Burns, in 2022 and had a stint in 2024 in the Inner Rail Food Hall in Aksarben. According to a building permit application, the ice cream shop will take up 541 sq. ft. of ground floor space. MLK Square is a mixed-income apartment building that will have 44 units ranging from one to three bedrooms.

Pinnacle Bank will hold a grand opening ribbon-cutting on February 5 at 122 West Cedardale Road in Papillion’s Tower District near 84th & Highway 370. The new branch will replace the bank’s existing location at 1200 Golden Gate Drive near the Sarpy County Courthouse.

Becker’s Hospital Review has once again included Nebraska Medicine – Nebraska Medical Center on its list of “100 Great Hospitals in America” for 2025. It was the only hospital in Nebraska to be recognized. Becker’s recognizes hospitals for “delivering excellent clinical care, prioritizing patient safety and driving innovation through research, education and continuous improvement.”

For the fourth time in the past six months, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, moved below growth neutral. The, which index ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral, fell to 47.6, its lowest reading for 2025, and down from 49.5 in November. The regional manufacturing sector shed jobs for the ninth straight month.

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The Nebraska Medicine board announced a new “informational website” aimed at reducing public support for the proposed deal, while the University of Nebraska Medical Center has updated its website with information about the deal framed with its perspective. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will consider the deal in a special meeting on January 9.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands is recognizing National Mentoring Month this January by raising awareness of the critical role mentors play in the lives of young people. Through simple, consistent activities, such as sharing a meal, going for a walk or trying something different together, mentors can make a powerful, life-changing impact.

This annual campaign encourages adults across the Omaha metro to step forward and volunteer, as more than 100 local youth are currently waiting to be matched with a caring, dependable mentor, and the need has never been more urgent.

The 2026 ICAN Women’s Leadership Conference is set for April 22 at CHI Health Center. At the 33rd event, leaders of all levels will opt In and explore the power of optimism intelligence — the intentional cultivation of human potential rooted in knowledge, hope, purpose and positive energy. The conference, which annually convenes nearly 3,000 attendees from more than 300 local, regional, national and international organizations, is open to people of all genders and identities. Early-bird pricing for in-person registrants is available until February 4. In-person registration closes on April 7.

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Questions Worth Asking Yourself Before Buying a Home in 2026

By Jill Anderson

In 2026, buying a home isn’t just a financial milestone, it’s a statement about how you want to live. With markets in flux, work more flexible than ever, and priorities continuing to shift, the most important part of the process may be the questions you ask yourself before you ever tour a house.

1. Am I buying out of intention—or pressure?
Are you motivated by a genuine desire for ownership, stability or space? Or are you responding to outside noise—social expectations, fear of missing out or the idea that you’re “supposed” to buy by now? Clarity here can prevent long-term regret.

2. What does “home” really mean to me at this stage of life?
Home can mean security, freedom, creativity or convenience—and that definition changes over time. Consider how you live now, not how you lived five years ago or how you imagine you should live.

3. How much flexibility do I want my future to have?
Homeownership can anchor you, but it can also limit mobility. Ask yourself how important flexibility is—for career moves, family changes or simply the option to try something new.

4. Am I prepared for responsibility, not just ownership?
Owning a home means being the decision-maker when things break, change or cost more than expected. Are you ready for the emotional and mental load that comes with being fully responsible for where you live?

5. What am I willing to trade—and what am I not?
Every purchase involves compromise. Space for location, condition for price, charm for convenience. Knowing your true non-negotiables helps you avoid settling in ways that quietly wear on you over time.

6. Who do I trust to guide me through this decision?
In a complex market, good advice matters. Beyond contracts and pricing, the right guidance should help you think clearly, ask better questions and make a decision you’ll feel good about years from now.

Buying a home in 2026 isn’t about timing the market perfectly; it’s about aligning a major investment with the life you want to build. The more honest you are with yourself now, the more meaningful the decision will be later. Do you have a real estate question? Let’s talk.

Grow Omaha Residential is developed and sponsored by Jill Anderson, President Residential Sales, NP Dodge Real Estate 402.255.5099 or jill.anderson@npdodge.com.

We’re not just real estate. We’re NP Dodge.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

The Omaha Supernovas were picked to finish second in the 2026 Major League Volleyball season in the league’s preseason poll released on Tuesday. Last season’s Outside Hitter of the Year Brooke Nuneviller and Libero of the Year Morgan Hentz were selected to the Preseason All-League team. Omaha will open its season tonight, January 8, at home against the San Diego Mojo at 7 p.m. Tonight’s match will be broadcast on Nebraska Public Media and 660 AM KCRO.

LOVB Nebraska made its return to the court on Wednesday, traveling to Austin, Texas, for the 2025 LOVB Finals Championship rematch against LOVB Austin. While both Kimberly Drewniok and Emily Thater posted career-best marks in kills with 26 and 16 respectively, Nebraska dropped the season-opener in five sets. LOVB Nebraska opens its home season this Sunday, January 11, hosting Houston at 3 p.m. at Baxter Arena. Sunday’s match can be streamed live with a subscription to ESPN+.

Omaha Hockey was swept by No. 17 Cornell in a road series over the weekend, 6-4 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday. The Mavericks now sit at 7-13 overall and 3-7 in NCHC play and reenter the home stretch of league play this weekend, where they will host (RV) St. Cloud State for a weekend series. Puck drop on Friday is 7 p.m. and the first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a Jake Guentzel bobblehead.

Creighton women’s basketball will host its annual Pink Out against No. 1 UConn on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the CHI Health Center, and tickets are still available. The Bluejays will raise money to fight cancer for the American Cancer Society and Hope Lodge. Before Sunday’s matchup, though, Creighton heads to Marquette tonight at 7 p.m. with an opportunity to improve to 4-3 in Big East Conference play. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on TruTV.

Creighton men’s basketball split two Big East matchups the past week to improve to 10-6 on the season and 4-1 in conference play. On Sunday, Creighton surrendered a 16-point second-half lead to lose a heartbreaker to Seton Hall, who took the final 56-54 lead with 1.3 seconds left in the game.

Wednesday, the Bluejays rounded out the road trip at Villanova, who entered the game 12-2 overall and 3-0 in the conference. An unlikely culprit, the Creighton bench, scored 27 points collectively to help secure the 76-72 victory in Philadelphia.

Creighton returns home on Saturday at 1 p.m. to host St. John’s for a powder blue and white stripe out. Information on what color to wear by section can be found on Creighton men’s basketball social media.

Upcoming Games

• Omaha Supernovas vs. San Diego | Tonight, Jan. 8 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha men’s basketball vs. North Dakota | Tonight, Jan. 8 | 7 p.m.
• Creighton women’s basketball at Marquette | Tonight, Jan. 8 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha women’s basketball at North Dakota | Tonight, Jan. 8 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey vs. (RV) St. Cloud State | Friday, Jan. 9 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Lancers vs. Cedar Rapids | Friday, Jan. 9 | 7:05 p.m.
• Creighton men’s basketball vs. St. John’s | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 1 p.m.
• Omaha men’s basketball vs. North Dakota State | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 1 p.m.
• Omaha women’s basketball at North Dakota State | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 1 p.m.
• Omaha Supernovas at Columbus Fury | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha Lancers at Waterloo | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 6:35 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey vs. (RV) St. Cloud State | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 7 p.m.
• Creighton women’s basketball vs. #1 Connecticut | Sunday, Jan. 11 | 1 p.m.
• LOVB Nebraska vs. LOVB Houston | Sunday, Jan. 11 | 3 p.m.
• Creighton men’s basketball vs. Georgetown | Tuesday, Jan. 13 | 8 p.m.

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The Grading of Dodge, Douglas & Farnam Streets

By Patrick Wyman

Omaha’s early growth was hindered by the large, steep hills just west of downtown along Farnam, Douglas, and Dodge Streets. The problem was so severe that it made it difficult for streetcars—and later automobiles—to reach the top of the hill at 24th Street. While Omaha had expanded both north and south in its early years, expanding west required solving this challenge.

Beginning in the 1880s and continuing for nearly 40 years, city leaders embarked on a series of ambitious projects to do just that. Rather than cutting through the hills, they decided to lower the streets. The focus was primarily on three thoroughfares: Farnam, Dodge, and Douglas. Farnam Street was lowered 45 feet at 17th Street, with the dirt used to raise the grade between 20th and 24th streets. Douglas Street was lowered from 16th to 20th streets, and Dodge Street from 17th to 22nd streets.

Construction crews worked day and night on the project, making it difficult for nearby residents to get any sleep. Those residents sued the contractors for disturbing the peace and petitioned a judge to limit working hours. The judge ruled that work could not begin earlier than 6:45 a.m. and had to end by 9 p.m., but the restriction didn’t last long. Soon, two shifts were working from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to complete the project as quickly as possible.

As you can imagine, a large number of homes and businesses were affected—some chose to close, while others relocated. Those that stood in the way of progress by refusing to sell had their buildings condemned and demolished. Of the structures that remained, most were jacked up while the land beneath them was cut away and then lowered to the new street level.

Rather than lowering St. Mary Magdalene Church at 19th & Dodge Street, the congregation opted instead to expand by building downward nearly 20 feet to meet the new street level. Once completed, the original main floor became a balcony overlooking the new main floor below. The original entrance, meanwhile, was converted into a fire escape. Across the street, El Beudor (present day Hotel Indigo) was significantly reconfigured, with its original entry filled in with windows and a new entrance created beneath it. One block west, Central High School benefited from its hilltop location overlooking downtown. When the grade was cut by five feet, the school opted to create a gradual slope down to the new street level.

When the grading was finally completed in 1920, the intersection of 20th & Dodge Street sat 36 feet lower than it had been in 1880. It took another six months to complete the street paving and install sidewalks.

The project required a specialized railway, bridges, diggers and mules—not to mention traffic officers and attorneys. Much of the 350,000 cubic yards of dirt that was removed was reused to fill ponds and an old creek bed along Dodge, Davenport, and Chicago streets. This reuse greatly improved public health in an area once known as the “Diphtheria District.”

It remains one of the most complex projects the city has ever undertaken. The total cost to lower the streets exceeded $4 million, split between the city and private business owners. It is estimated that the project ultimately saved the city more than ten times that amount by enabling westward expansion

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Omaha Performing Arts presents Shucked, at the Orpheum Theater January 13 through the 18 at 7:30 p.m. This Tony Award-winning musical comedy is about a young woman’s journey from her small, corn-dependent town to find help when their crop fails. This celebrated pun-filled experience features a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy Award-winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray).

Holland Music Center has a couple of shows coming up this month:

Save Ferris on January 16 at 7:30 p.m. Formed in 1995, Save Ferris remains one of the seminal and most beloved bands from the third wave of ska. Led by frontwoman Monique Powell, the band boasts high-octane vocals and a powerful ska-pop-punk-rock sound. With a trail of radio hits, several tours, and appearances on a variety of television shows and movies, Save Ferris brings an explosive energy you won’t want to miss.

BATSU! On January 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m.; and January 31 at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Attendees enjoy a Japanese-inspired menu, designed to complement the bold, immersive spirit of the show as they watch four American comedy warriors face off in challenges as they battle for comedic glory and honor in the Japanese comedy style of batsu game. Those that lose the game are subjected to hilarious consequences such as paintballs, egg-smashing chicken, electric shocks and many more.

For tickets and more information, visit here.

The Omaha Community Playhouse is hosting auditions for the show Dial ‘M’ For Murder, on January 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and January 18 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Directed by Addie Barnhart, this production is a classic psychological thriller that delves into greed, betrayal, and the perfect crime gone wrong. When a former tennis star plots to have his wealthy wife murdered to secure her fortune, his meticulous plan unravels in unexpected ways, leading to a tense game of deception and survival. There are five characters to audition for, with callbacks happening on January 24.

Creighton University will host an Origami Workshop with Dr. Sharon Ishii-Jordan January 25 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Harper Center. Local Origami artist Ishii-Jordan will take participants through the traditional practice of this delicate Japanese art form, giving attendees a sense of beauty, history and culture. Open to all ages. Tickets are not required for entry. For more information, visit their website here.

Film Streams will launch “Relaxed Screenings” at both the Ruth Sokolof Theater and the Dundee Theater. Film Streams now offers select movie screenings that incorporate inclusive accommodations including brighter lighting, lowered volume levels, open caption subtitles on screen and a space to decompress in or near the auditorium.

During these showings, guests are welcome to get up, move around, stretch and vocalize. Sensory kits that include noise-cancelling headphones, fidget devices and sensory stress toys are available for check-out at the box office. This is a program designed to create an inclusive cinema experience for all audiences, especially those who may benefit from a more flexible and sensory-friendly environment.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Here’s something that might help salve a bruised ego resulting from hanging around people who seem smarter than you: There are different kinds of intelligence.

Just because a colleague is smarter than you in one area doesn’t mean he or she is better in another. Perhaps you struggle with creativity and idea-generation but have superior analytical skills. Team up with the creative person and together you can accomplish more. You might not be as quick to pick up operational details as a certain person but maybe you are better at building relationships and navigating institutional politics.

When it comes to intelligence and talent, we all need to identify our top strengths and biggest weaknesses. You can maximize your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses by joining forces with people whose abilities complement your own.

A 2023 YouGov poll found that 39 percent of respondents identified as either completely or more introverted, while 31 percent said they were an equal mix. Only 22 percent identified as more extroverted, according to The Hustle. The Myers-Briggs Co. found that 57 percent of the US population prefers introversion.

Goals Versus Resolutions – The older you are, the less likely you are to make New Year’s Resolutions. Perhaps with age comes the wisdom to know that goal setting is far more important than making resolutions. Sixty-six percent of 18- to 29-year-olds set a resolution, but only 28 percent of those 65 and older set one, according to FlowingData.

SALES

As a sales professional, you have a personal brand, a reputation that must be carefully maintained and zealously promoted. Effective personal branding makes prospecting easier.

Sales pros must overcome two significant challenges: economic conditions and commoditization. In an era of commoditization, customers have more choices than they know what to do with. Clients often assume all providers are competent, so they end up making their choices based on a professional’s personal brand.

When someone is ready for the services you provide, your name and face need to be the first to come to mind. Here are some steps to build up your personal brand recognition:

1. See yourself as an entity, not just a person. Just like a business, individual sales pros need a plan to build name recognition
2. Determine who is in your personal target audience and adjust your messaging accordingly
3. Live actively and network everyday – Be “everywhere”
4. Foster relationships with influencers
5. Be a writer, speaker or commentator within your area of expertise
6. Create and execute a personal social media strategy. Your social media activity should further your personal brand and never damage it

You have sole ownership of your personal brand, but it comes with a burden. You bear the responsibility for building that brand, shaping it and promoting it to your personal target audience. Establishing a well-known personal brand is essential in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace.

WISDOM

“Instruction does much, but encouragement, everything.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, playwright and novelist

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Did you know the five biggest employers in Sarpy County are, in order, Offutt Air Force Base, Werner Enterprises, Bellevue Public Schools, Amazon and Papillion-La Vista Schools?

Did you know the Omaha Downtown Improvement District doubled the security presence in the Old Market in 2025?

Did you know that Charles Schwab Field replaced its old scoreboard and added a second one? They also upgraded the video ribbon panels. All of these enhancements will be on display at the 2026 College World Series.

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Farnam Winter Pop-Up happening January 9th – 11th: Discover a handpicked medley of 15 locally owned shops at Omaha’s newest urban holiday destination! Shop handmade goods, artisan foods, boutique finds, curated gifts and more. Open weekends through January 11 at the corner of 33rd & Farnam Street. Join in for the last pop up!

CreativeMornings Omaha – Jan Gathering featuring Barbara Egr happening January 9th: Creativity Called—It Says You Belong Here. Coffee, breakfast, local art and a spark of inspiration await. CreativeMornings Omaha is your monthly jolt of creative connection—caffeine optional; inspiration guaranteed. Designers, developers, dancers, doodlers and the creatively curious are all welcome. If you’re human and curious, there’s a seat for you.

Time Travel Half-Marathon (and 5k/10k) happening January 10th: Grab your friends and family, because you are not going to want to miss this one! This race is the perfect chance to challenge yourself, enjoy creative swag and be part of an encouraging, affordable and inclusive community. Whether you’re chasing a PR or just showing up for the fun, this is the race for you! Get your tickets now!

DIY Marketing Plan 2026 Kickoff Class: Be the Hero of Your Own Marketing Strategy happening January 14th: Join in for a two-hour, interactive workshop to work through our DIY Marketing Plan Workbook and walk away with a custom 10-week strategy that’s simple, practical and ready to implement. With the expert guidance of Little Guy Branding, you’ll tackle marketing goals, audience personas and more—turning confusion into clarity!

This section is sponsored by Eagle Mortgage, a locally owned, full-service mortgage company helping you with Conventional, VA, FHA and USDA loans in both Nebraska and Iowa. Learn how Eagle Mortgage helps people afford the home of their dreams by clicking HERE!

NP Dodge Real Estate has welcomed new residential sales associates including Anita Rockenbach, Craig Timm, Donna Blum and Porscha Phelps.

Lily Haven, a Nebraska nonprofit which provides services to girls ages 14–18 who have survived human trafficking, has added John Von Dollen as a new board member. Von Dollen is the director of advancement at Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey & School, where he oversees fundraising, donor development, communications, and major events.

Marty Hug, executive chairman of Agemark, is a recipient of McKnight’s 2026 Pinnacle Awards. He was one of 32 long-term care professionals honored by an independent national panel. Agemark has corporate offices in Omaha and Orinda, Calif., and owns 28 senior living properties under 12 brands across six states.

The Greater Omaha Chamber is a catalyst and connector, advocating for businesses small and large. Learn, share and grow with more than 12,000 professionals from 3,000 member businesses across Greater Omaha. Click HERE to see our latest events.

Back in the day, the Omaha World Herald held a yearly stock market prediction contest. They queried six or eight local brokers, asking what they thought the market would do in the coming year. It is with no humility that I can report that for six straight years I was in the top three, and for two years in a row, I was the top dog. How did I do it? LUCK! Every once in a while, a blind squirrel finds an acorn!

So, what do I see for the market in 2026? My best guess is that the same old jibber jabber we experienced in 2025 will continue into 2026. At the top of the list is the mind-numbing obsession with AI. My perception of AI is it’s just the current technology on steroids. We have had self-propelled vacuums for years and a bunch of nerds stuck the vacuum technology into a car and out popped a self-propelled cab. Now the race is on to see who can make the biggest and fastest chip, and to see how we keep ahead of the Chinese.

I also expect the Wall Street pundits and their media stooges to continue to follow Trump down the rabbit hole where the Fed is omnipotent. This is not my first trip around the block, and my humble opinion is that to believe that the Fed has any power at all is right up there with belief in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. If the Fed is as powerful as some believe, we wouldn’t have had double-digit inflation in the first place. If they can’t prevent it, how can they cure it? I also expect Trump to continue his campaign to find a Fed Chair who will kiss his patootie.

Another carryover into 2026 will be the shiny bobbles flowing out of Wall Street marketing department designed to transfer funds from investors coffers to theirs. A perfect example of this is the Bitcoins ETF produced by State Street. The numb nuts at Harvard’s Foundation got sucked in and dumped half a billion dollars into to it as it peaked in the early spring and then watched it drop 50 percent in three months. OUCH!

2026 will see the continued absorption of independent financial advisors into larger one-trick conglomerates. With this comes the continued explosion of impersonal, one-size-fits all robo accounts. Nothing wrong with this as long as you remember investor Jack Bogle’s admonition that “Fees Matter!”

And finally, one thing that definitely will not change is the need for 401(k) participants to manage their 401(k) now or flip burgers later. Last year, those 401(k) participants who remained steadfastly true to the virgin indexes outperformed the pros. They also know that the path to investment success requires them to forget the needle and to buy the haystack.

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Quantum Fiber in Omaha, Nebraska, is super-fast, reliable internet. We did away with data caps, bundles, and pricing gimmicks because you don’t want them. Instead, you get game-changing customer service, transparent pricing, and a powerful app for freedom, simplicity, and control over your internet. Quantum Fiber is what internet service looks like when it’s built for the world of you.

The Grow Omaha radio show broadcasts live every Saturday morning at 9:00, but now you can watch videos of each episode instead of just listening.

Grow Omaha’s brand-new website features video footage shot inside the radio studio during each week’s show!

Videos include News of the Week, Lightning Round, guest interviews, and “Grow Omaha Uncut,” a behind-the-scenes look at what happens during commercial breaks.

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