The June 5th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Coneflower Creamery has officially opened its third location at 2625 North Main Street in Olde Town Elkhorn. The nationally recognized “farm-to-cone” ice cream shop also operates in the Blackstone District and Millwork Commons.

Mercy Thai opened a second Omaha restaurant today at 7622 Dodge Street in the former La Guanaca space. The original location is at 4741 South 96th Street on the southeast corner of 96th & L Street. The locally owned Thai restaurant serves lunch and dinner six days a week. Mercy Thai is not affiliated with the Council Bluffs restaurant of the same name.

Curry in a Hurry, a quick-serve Indian restaurant, plans to reopen in the former Lutfi’s Fried Fish location at 2527 North 72nd Street. Renovations are underway inside the 1,072 sq. ft. building, and opening is expected to take place early this summer. In the meantime, Curry in a Hurry is serving customers from a food truck. The original Curry in a Hurry was at 8303 Maple Street and closed back in March.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has officially opened at 12251 McDermott Plaza in La Vista’s Southport East development near Hampton Inn and Amigos/Kings Classic. The fast-casual chain now has 13 metro locations across Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista and Elkhorn.

Godfather’s Pizza plans to build a restaurant in the Coventry neighborhood at 20462 R Street, southwest of 204th & Q Street. The 2,690 sq. ft. restaurant space will have interior improvements worth $600,000, according to the building permit.

WheatFields Express opened for business yesterday at 18902 Evans Street. That’s in an end-cap space on the south side of West Maple Road. This second location features a drive-thru lane and a self-serve, grab-and-go section. The store offers quiche, soups, sandwiches and bakery items. The original Wheatfield’s restaurant is in One Pacific Place near 103rd & Pacific Street.

Sprinkle Joy has opened at 9821 Giles Road in La Vista. The locally owned custard shop donates 5 percent of all sales to rotating charities each month. Sprinkle Joy shares its space with Elegant Edge Events catering company.

Summer Kitchen Café in Sterling Ridge is doubling in size. Renovation work is now under way in the retail bay immediately west of Summer Kitchen’s location at 1110 Sterling Ridge Drive. The west bay was previously home to Arc Bridal Boutique, which is now at Loveland Centre near 90th & Center Street. When the expanded space opens, the Summer Kitchen Café will occupy 4,000 sq. ft.

Jersey Mike’s Subs opened yesterday in Westwood Plaza at 12327 West Center Road in the former Tide Dry Cleaners location. Tide Dry Cleaners had previously moved next door. Jersey Mike’s has six previously existing Omaha-area locations.

Godega Market opened its second location late last week in Aksarben Village. The locally owned coffee shop and convenience market now occupies the former Zoup space on the ground floor of HDR’s global headquarters building at 1917 South 67th Street. Godega Market’s original location is at 423 South 11th Street in the Old Market.

D’Leon’s Taco Rico has opened a location at 11855 South 216th Street in Gretna, taking over the former Amigo’s space near 216th & Highway 6. The Lincoln-based, family-owned, Mexican restaurant was founded in 2002 and operates locations in Omaha, Lincoln, North Platte, Council Bluffs and Waterloo, Iowa.

Sherwin Williams is adding a paint store in the Elkhorn area at 606 North 210th Street. Located just south of the Union Bank and Trust Sports Complex, it will be Sherwin Williams’ 10th Omaha location.

Vera Mercer, owner of La Buvette Wine & Grocery in the Old Market, has closed Buvette Delicatessen, a related business next door. La Buvette is at 511 South 11th Street, while Buvette Delicatessen, formerly known as Mercer & Sons Deli, operated at 509 South 11th Street until it closed last week. The former deli space will become an extension of La Buvette, where most of the deli menu items will still be available. A majority of the deli employees will still work at La Buvette.

Get Real Sandwiches will permanently close June 8 at 3901 Farnam Street in the Blackstone District. The artisanal sandwich shop opened in March 2022 and is known for its locally sourced ingredients, breakfast items, soups, salads and cocktails.

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Burdock + Bitters at the Downtown Omaha Marriott is Where Flavor Checks In

Burdock + Bitters is nestled inside the first floor of the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District. At first glance, it looks like a polished hotel bar—warm lighting, sleek finishes, a well-stocked counter just past the front desk. It would be easy to assume that’s all it is. Look closer, better yet—step inside, and you’ll see classic brown-stained wood walls with metal accents, circular metal lighting, brick accents and seating that lines the perimeter. The décor blends smooth wood finishes, rustic tables and brilliant red high-back booths.

Rest assured, this place is more than just a hotel lounge. It’s an elevated dining experience that also offers pub food and excellent cocktails. One of the big reasons for this is sous chef Trevor Mack.

Mack was born and raised in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia and one of the fastest growing cities in southern Africa. Mack moved to the United States at 18 years of age to attend film school at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He needed to support himself and started plating desserts at The Cheesecake Factory. He’d later work for a kitchen in Kansas City, where a cook walked out mid-shift. Mack jumped in and started cooking.

“They needed someone to cook that night, and I said, ‘Let me give it a shot,’” Mack recalled. “Eventually, I ran the kitchen – and that’s when I realized I loved to cook.’”

Mack left filmmaking behind and leaned into the kitchen, where he discovered a different kind of storytelling – one told through ingredients, technique and flavor. He worked in various settings throughout the United States, both front and back of the house. He gained a strong foundation in Italian cuisine.

Mack joined the Omaha Marriott Downtown nearly three years ago, first in the banquet kitchen, then transferring to Burdock + Bitters when leadership roles became available. As the Burdock sous chef, he works alongside executive chef Kelly Bunkers and chef de cuisine Michael Angelo. Bunkers sets the vision and culinary tone. Angelo manages day-to-day kitchen operations and leads menu development. Mack helps them bring structure, discipline and mentorship to a tight-knit team of cooks.

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Latest Fortune 500 List Includes Four Omaha-Based Companies

Omaha continues to punch above its weight when it comes to corporate headquarters. The 2025 Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 lists have been released, and Omaha is the home to several of the nation’s biggest companies.

The Fortune 500, in its 71st year, ranks the biggest U.S. companies by revenue. In total, Fortune 500 companies represent two-thirds of U.S. GDP with $19.9 trillion in revenues, and they employ 31 million people worldwide. Last year, they combined to earn $1.87 trillion in profits, up 10 percent from last year—and a record in dollar terms.

Omaha hosts the headquarters of four companies in the Fortune 500 and an additional three in the Fortune 1000. That’s the same number of Fortune 500 companies as last year, but one less in the Fortune 1000 as Green Plains fell out of the rankings.

Here’s the list of Omaha’s Fortune 500 and 1000 companies with rankings and 2024 revenue totals:

#6 Berkshire Hathaway – $371.4 Billion
#177 Union Pacific Railroad – $24.3 Billion
#247 Kiewit – $16.8 Billion
#299 Mutual of Omaha – $14.6 Billion
#768 Valmont Industries, Inc. – $4.1 Billion
#879 First National of Nebraska – $3.2 Billion
#906 Werner Enterprises – $3.0 Billion

No other Nebraska city hosts a Fortune 500 or 1000 company headquarters.

The state of Iowa has two headquarters: #263 Principal Financial based in Des Moines and #297 Casey’s based in Ankeny

As far as Nebraska’s other border states are concerned, neither South Dakota nor Wyoming has a single Fortune 1000 company headquarters. Kansas has four. Missouri hosts 19, while Colorado has 24.

With four companies, Omaha has more Fortune 500 headquarters than many comparable cities. Here are some larger cities that have fewer Fortune 500 headquarters than Omaha (actual cities only, not metro areas): Austin, Detroit, Indianapolis, Memphis, Miami, San Diego, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Baltimore, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Portland and Sacramento.

What cities have the most Fortune 500 headquarters? Here are the top six:

New York – 43
Houston – 24
Chicago – 14
Atlanta – 13
Dallas – 9
San Francisco – 9

Here are the states with the most Fortune 500 headquarters:

California – 58
Texas – 54
New York – 53

Finally, here are the top 10 companies in the Fortune 500 with their 2024 revenue and headquarters city in parentheses:

1. Walmart (Bentonville, Ark.) $681 Billion
2. Amazon (Seattle) $638 Billion
3. UnitedHealth Group (Eden Prairie, Minn.) $400.3 Billion
4. Apple (Cupertino, Calif.) $391 Billion
5. CVS Health (Woonsocket, R.I.) $373 Billion
6. Berkshire Hathaway (Omaha) $371.4 Billion
7. Alphabet (Mountain View, Calif.) $350 Billion
8. Exxon Mobile (Spring, Texas) $350 Billion
9. McKesson (Irving, Texas) $309 Billion
10. Cencora (Conshohocken, Pa.) $294 Billion

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

The University of Nebraska at Omaha held a groundbreaking last week for a $17.1 million addition to its Biomechanics Research building. The principal benefactor is Ruth Scott and the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation. The 3-story addition will add 19,000 sq. ft. to the east end of the building and will include laboratory, instructional and office spaces when it opens in 2028. Additionally, it will be home to the Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics, which was established in 2024 with a grant from the National Institutes of Health. The Biomechanics Research Building was the first in the world dedicated to the field of study when it was built in 2013.

The southeast corner of Poppleton and Park avenues will be home to for-rent townhomes. We recently reported that developer, inCOMMON, had broken ground on an adjacent lot for a 51-unit apartment building. According to a TIF application, inCommon also plans to build a $3.3 million, seven-townhome building, using a $217,000 TIF loan. Each 2-story, 3-bedroom townhome will be 1,152 sq. ft. and cost between $1,600 to $1,800 to rent. Two of the units are reserved for households making at or below 80 percent of the area median income. The other five are reserved for households making at or below 120 percent. Construction will start this fall and be completed in late 2026.

Construction on The Frame has reached the second floor. The $44 million multifamily apartment building is rising west of the Ashton Building at 13th & Nicholas Street. Plans call for a 5-story, 146-unit building consisting of 55, 2-bedroom units and 94, 1-bedroom units. The ground floor will have a single 10,000 sq. ft. retail bay and 65 covered parking stalls. It’s one of several construction projects planned or underway in the Millwork Commons district, which is north of Charles Schwab Field.

The City of Omaha continues to work on its updated comprehensive plan, named “We Make Omaha.” After extensive public engagement, the city drafted several guiding principles, which address areas of safety, affordability, sustainability, connectivity and diversity. The plan will determine future land use policy, infill strategies and establish goals for future development over the next 20 years. The city plans to complete the plan by early 2027.

Clarkson College held a groundbreaking ceremony this week for a $10 million construction project that will include a new welcome center, a skywalk connecting two existing buildings and a large outdoor digital video board. The welcome center will move the college’s “front door” to the south. The outdoor, wrap-around, digital board will be installed in front of a 4-story scrim (screen) on the northwest corner of the 6-story main building. Completion is planned for next summer.

A developer has plans for five vacant lots at 28th & Charles Street in north Omaha. On the south side of the street, plans call for a two-unit, side-by-side townhouse building for rent. Each unit will be 2,000 sq. ft. and will rent for $2,200 per month. On the north lots, two 1,700 sq. ft., single family houses will be available to rent for $1,800 per month. Each residential unit will have 3-bedrooms. The developer is seeking $240,000 in Tax Increment Financing for the $1.6 million project.

Creighton University plans to remodel a satellite office at the Highlander Accelerator, a mixed-use building that offers business incubation and community development spaces. The remodel provides two new offices and a conference room and will be an extension of the university’s The Educational Opportunity Center, a federally funded program aimed at helping adults who are first-generation college students or low-income, access education, career resources and financial literacy.

The City of Omaha is improving two parks south of downtown Omaha. The City recently completed Carlentini Plaza at Dahlman Park in the Little Italy neighborhood. The plaza is named after Omaha’s sister city in Italy and commemorates Omaha’s own Little Italy neighborhood. Additionally, this week, the City Council approved a $255,000 contract with Dostals Construction Company to demolish and rebuild the park’s playground, basketball court and sand volleyball court. Lynch Park, near 20th & Center Street, is undergoing a $2.5 million renovation. Part of that project includes a skate park, which opened Memorial Day weekend.

The Omaha Streetcar Authority held a special meeting May 23 to approve a contract to purchase $205,461 in specialty rail. The rails will be used for transitions and bridge crossing along the route. The authority became aware of domestic supply chain issues, specifically, the last domestic mill that produces the rail will shut its doors within 30-45 days. The rail is usually a long-lead time item, but due to the imminent closure and the mill’s clearance of its remaining inventory, the authority will be able to procure the rail within an earlier timeframe and purchase it at an advantageous price. The authority also held its regularly scheduled meeting on May 12, where they heard reports of modest delays in the utility work, while the Harney Street replacement project remains on schedule for completion in 2025.

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Three of Omaha’s five Orangetheory Fitness locations have changed ownership. Jeff Lorenz, who has owned both of Lincoln’s Orangetheory locations for the past seven years, purchased three Omaha franchises from his family members this past April. The three locations are at 159 North 78th Street, 16909 Burke Street and 14450 Eagle Run Drive. Lorenz is offering former members and new members limited time grand re-opening rates. Based in Florida, Orangetheory Fitness has approximately 1,500 locations worldwide.

Platte River Orthodontics plans to open a practice at 11844 Standing Stone Drive, Suite 120, in Gretna, according to Will Schneidewind of NAI NP Dodge, who represents the building’s landlord. Opening is planned for October. The 2,454 sq. ft. space was previously occupied by Nexus Vision. The practice is owned by Dr. Chad Carter.

Moon Dance Yoga Co. recently opened at Countryside Village near 87th & Pacific Street. Locally owned by Mandee Peterson, the boutique space offers a variety of yoga styles—including Vinyasa, Kundalini, Strength, Yin and Nidra—as well as holistic Ayurvedic wellness services.

Werner Enterprises, Inc. has once again received recognition as a Top 3PL & Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics for the ninth year in a row. This annual award honors the leading third-party logistics and cold storage companies supporting the global refrigerated food and beverage supply chain.

Lutz, an Omaha-based business solutions firm, announced the redemption of ownership held by longtime leader Ron Nebbia. This transition, a routine part of the firm’s ownership governance, creates ownership opportunities for the firm’s next generation of leaders. Post-redemption, Ron will remain actively involved as a business consultant, continuing to serve clients and guide internal teams in a part-time capacity.

FNBO released its 2024 Impact Report, which highlights the Omaha-based bank’s commitment to the community. FNBO donated more than $7.6 million to nonprofit organizations dedicated to economic development and $38 million to support “community development investments.” FNBO employees completed 28,000 service hours last year.

The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, moved above the 50.0 growth neutral threshold for a fifth straight month. The index declined to 51.0 from April’s higher 53.3. Approximately, 34.8 percent of supply managers reported switching suppliers due to tariffs, both proposed and implemented.

Only 24 CEOs on the 2025 Fortune 500 list are founders or co-founders of the companies they lead. That amounts to just 4.8 percent of the index.

Gen Z has surpassed millennials as the most frequent restaurant-goers in the United States, according to a new Technomic report. Although they make up just 20 percent of the adult population, their strong digital habits and preference for creative beverage programs are driving the shift. Restaurants are encouraged to prioritize digital engagement and unique offerings to attract this group.

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Outlook Nebraska, a paper and cleaning products manufacturer and the largest employer of people who are blind in Nebraska and a seven-state region, has completed the largest initiative in the not-for-profit’s 25-year history. To help meet a rising demand for bathroom paper towels, Outlook has installed a Bretting Life Interfolder, a multi-million-dollar, high-speed, automatic machine that can produce 850 cases of multifold paper bathroom towels per eight-hour shift. By comparison, Outlook’s previous equipment produced 150 cases per shift. The new machine allows Outlook to ramp up production to provide more jobs for people who are blind or have low vision.

The Munroe-Meyer Guild is hosting its 56th Annual Garden Walk on June 8 to raise funds to support programming at the Munroe-Meyer Institute. Proceeds from previous Garden Walks have been used to fund projects such as job training programs for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and a partnership with a national organization that provides low-cost mobility devices to toddlers facing mobility challenges. Garden Walk attendees can visit with local artists and vendors, peruse classic car displays, and explore six stunning Omaha area gardens: Eagle Run, Sterling Ridge, Tri-Faith Garden & Orchard, Sterling Ridge Estates, West Rockbrook, Westchester and Loveland.

Police Athletics for Community Engagement, a nonprofit that supports local at-risk youth through sports, has appointed South Omaha native Julian Andrade as its new executive director.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

Servais joined the Creighton staff in 1998 as an assistant and was promoted to head coach in 2004. In his 22 seasons as Creighton baseball’s head coach, he became Creighton baseball’s all-time winningest coach at 721-420-1. The Bluejays have won six regular season conference championships, five conference tournaments and reached six NCAA regionals. He is the second winningest coach in the history of the University’s athletic department with 721 wins, only behind former softball head coach Brent Vigness who posted 804 wins in 28 seasons. Now, he awaits his induction into Creighton Athletics’ Hall of Fame.

Mark Kingston will succeed Ed Servais at Creighton. Kingston previously coached at South Carolina before being fired at the conclusion of the 2024 season. Kingston spent seven seasons with the Gamecocks and led the program to four NCAA Tournaments, reaching the super regionals twice (2018, 2023). Before South Carolina, Kingston was the head coach at South Florida (2015-2017) and Illinois State (2010-2014). He’s been to the NCAA Tournament with every program he has coached.

Bluejay closer Garrett Langrell is one of 13 relief pitchers to be named a finalist for the 2025 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year award. Langrell made 26 appearances with 13 saves, throwing 57 strikeouts over just 52.1 innings. Prior to his first start of the season last Sunday, he had finished his 25 outings without needing a reliever. The recipient of this year’s Stopper of the Year award will be announced on Friday, June 13 at the College World Series.

Two Omaha Storm Chasers made their Major League debuts this past week. Pitcher Andrew Hoffman threw the final two innings of the Royals’ series opener against Detroit last Friday, May 30, allowing two runs and striking out four batters. Hoffman has been with the Storm Chasers for the last three seasons and was the 342nd player in franchise history to make his MLB debut.

Jac Caglianone, made his long-awaited debut for the Royals on Tuesday after only 12 games with Omaha. Caglianone was Kansas City’s designated hitter in Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals and went 0-for-5 in his first Major League action. He is the sixth Storm Chasers player to be called up to Kansas City this season, surpassing last season’s total of four.

The third annual Big Sky-Summit Challenge matchups were officially announced on Wednesday by the conferences. Games will take place on Wednesday, December 3 and Saturday, December 6. The leagues will play for a combined trophy that takes both men’s and women’s results equally into consideration from 36 games. Omaha men’s basketball will host Northern Colorado on Dec. 3 before traveling to Portland State Dec. 6. Omaha women’s basketball heads to Idaho State on Dec. 3 before turning around to host Northern Colorado on Dec. 6 in Omaha.

The Storm Chasers are in action at home this week against the Iowa Cubs. Tuesday’s opener was postponed due to inclement weather and will be played as part of a doubleheader Friday night. Wednesday, the teams played another doubleheader, with game one being a makeup of a postponement from a March series. Omaha lost both games yesterday, 0-1 and 0-4. They are back in action tonight at 7:05 p.m. for $3 Thursday. Get tickets, Busch Light and select concessions for $3 each.

Union Omaha will play a match at Forward Madison FC Saturday at 7 p.m. The Owls, who sit in last place in USL League One, will look to get back in the win column for the first time since April 15. All USL League One matches are streamed live on ESPN+.

Upcoming Games
• Omaha Storm Chasers vs. Iowa | June 3 – June 8 | 7:05 p.m. tonight
• Union Omaha at Forward Madison FC | Saturday, June 7 | 7 p.m.

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Film Streams and the Builders District have also announced a new outdoor movie series scheduled every month for the next six months. These free public screenings will take place at Builders Green in the Builders District at 724 North 16th Street — three blocks northwest of Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater. First up is the 2012 classic from director Wes Anderson, “Moonrise Kingdom” on June 9 at 8:00 PM.

The Nebraska Arts Council and Fred Simon Gallery have announced the upcoming exhibition, “Marked for Unbelonging” by Lindsey Weber, which will run from June 26 to August 20. The artist introduces us to her work by saying, “Marked for Unbelonging and Feed explores the ways identity, memory and power are constructed through systems of symbolism—be they digital, ecological or agricultural.” The opening reception at Fred Simon Gallery (1004 Farnam Street) is June 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. Reception is free and open to the public.

KANEKO Gallery has two new exhibits opening June 6. Big Clay 2 continues the exploration of monumental ceramic art, featuring remarkable works from Ree and Jun Kaneko’s celebrated private collection. This exhibition showcases a fresh cohort of visionary artists, including Anton Rejinders, Goro Suzuki, Annabeth Rosen and Michael Sarich – creators who challenge conventional ceramic practices through bold scale, innovative techniques and conceptual depth.

Beyond the Finishing Point is a rare and intimate exhibition showcasing Jun Kaneko’s collaborative drawings with three-year-old Ana Citrin. This collection reveals what happens when mastery meets uninhibited expression. The series emerged from Kaneko’s fundamental artistic question – How do you know when a work is finished? – explored during his tenure as head of ceramics at Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Hot Shops Art Center, along with 75 artists and members of the community, gathered last week to celebrate something small in size but enormous in impact—the grand opening of the Hot Shops new elevator. Guests were treated to a molten glass ribbon cutting, a fiery and fitting tribute to Hot Shops’ roots in industry and art. The new elevator stands as a physical and symbolic reminder of Hot Shops’ identity: an art factory – empowering people to make art. And now, with improved accessibility, they’re making sure even more people can say, “You’re welcome here. You matter. You belong.”

Spaw Collective is a local, woman-owned dog grooming salon opening in 2025. We prioritize safety and comfort, offering traditional grooming services along with fun, safe coloring options. Our shop features a curated retail area with products from local artisans, supporting the community. Committed to quality and care, we aim to create a positive environment where pets feel loved and owners trust us with their furry babies. Spaw Collective is located at 5094 South 108th Street.

Did you know the Omaha metropolitan area’s population surpassed a million people in 2024? The official population estimate is currently 1,001,010 inhabitants.

Did you know the Omaha metro area has nearly 70,000 remote workers, representing 13.5 percent of our total workforce?

Did you know Offutt Air Force base was originally known as Fort Crook? The name changed in the late 1940s. The fort was named for General George Crook (1830-1890).

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Summer Market Series happening on June 6th: Join others for the Millwork Markets, Powered by Heirloom Fine Foods – a vibrant summer market series happening June through August at The Dock in Millwork Commons. Discover local homemade goods, fresh produce and other home-grown treasures!

Lunch & Learn: Build a Marketing Strategy You Actually Want to Follow happening on June 10th: Elevator’s next Lunch & Learn features Teresa Stastny, Founder of SLEEK’D Marketing, who’s helped dozens of small businesses create marketing plans they actually stick with. This isn’t your typical boring business seminar – expect engaging conversation, practical strategies, and valuable networking opportunities, all packed into a concise, power-hour format. Whether you’re launching, scaling or optimizing your business, you’ll walk away with fresh perspectives and concrete tools to tackle your challenges.

Papillion Days happening June 11th – 15th: Papillion Days is a time-honored tradition that takes place over Father’s Day weekend each June. Dating back to 1947, Papillion Days is the pinnacle summer celebration in town. The Foundation works hard to maintain the small-town feel of the event while also looking for innovative ways to enhance the public offerings. An open-air vendor fair, carnival, beer garden and one of the largest parades in Nebraska are just a few of the key components of this event!

Free Coworking Day happening on June 12th: Join Modus Coworking for a FREE coworking day on the second Thursday of each month from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. High speed wifi and office amenities are readily available. Unlimited Amateur coffee and Artemis tea are always ready to go as well! Whether you’re traveling through Omaha or have been needing a spot to make your workday more meaningful, come to Modus and get the experience you are missing!

Yoga in the Park recurring weekly on Sundays through July 27th: Yoga in the Park offers a weekly outdoor yoga session, sponsored by Methodist Health System and led by certified yoga instructors from Genesis Health Clubs. Yoga styles and instructors will vary from week-to-week. All skill levels welcome, including beginners!

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NP Dodge Real Estate has welcomed new residential sales associates including Jay Nemec and Kathryn Pesek.

Boys Town Pediatrics has welcomed Dr. Clara Brown, a board-certified pediatrician. She received a medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and completed her residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

Millard Lumber Inc.’s vice president of operations Chris Routhe has been named to LBM Journal’s 40 Under 40 list, a national honor recognizing the next generation of standout professionals in the lumber industry. LBM Journal is the leading media company covering the lumberyards and building materials industry.

Roger Dixon, president & CEO of Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority, will retire later this year after 25 years of service. MECA operates CHI Health Center Omaha, Charles Schwab Field and the RiverFront parks. MECA is conducting a nationwide search for Dixon’s replacement.

In Memoriam – Former University of Nebraska at Omaha chancellor John E. Christensen died last week at the age of 76. Dr. Christensen led the university from 2007 to 2017.

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.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

In March of this year, boomerang employees made up 35 percent of new hires, up from 31 percent a year earlier, according to ADP Research. Boomerang hires are former employees who return to their old jobs.

Impact of Remote Work – Office conversions and demolitions will exceed new office construction for the first time in 25 years, according to CNBC. In the 58 largest U.S. markets, 23.3 million sq. ft. of space is slated for demolition or conversion to other uses by the end of this year. In comparison, developers are projected to construct only 12.7 million sq. ft. of office space in those same markets.

According to “The Hustle,” 42 percent of Gen Zers are either already working in or pursuing blue-collar roles, including 37 percent of those with college degrees.

SALES

To win and retain clients, you need to challenge your prospect. Rather than pitching features and benefits or promising to improve their results, tell them what they need to change in order to be more successful. That’s what it means to be a trusted advisor.

Sales Stat – Nine out of 10 B2B buyers say online content has a moderate-to-major effect on purchasing decisions, according to HubSpot.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make while negotiating is “making too many concessions,” according to sales expert Kelley Robertson: “If the other person refuses to make a concession, you are simply negotiating against yourself.”

WISDOM

“Let others pride themselves about how many pages they have written; I’d rather boast about the ones I’ve read.” – Jorge Luis Borges

The opening refrain from my favorite country western song is, “On a warm summer’s eve, on a train bound to nowhere.” The train bound to nowhere part reminds me of Mr. Market’s current emotional state. He’s preoccupied with Trump’s tariff stuff and keeps flipping back and forth between ecstatic and morbid. And given his current schizophrenic mindset, he is bound for nowhere.

Now to the finance stuff. There are 90 million Americans with an active 401(k) plan. (Even if you’re not currently a member of this group, there’s a valuable lesson to be learned from the following). What makes this group unique is that every month, money is added to their account. Each pay period a portion of their salary is withheld, tax exempt, and added to their 401(k). A large number of generous and insightful employers also make a matching contribution to their employees’ deductions. In the majority of cases, 401(k) accounts are set up to automatically invest these incoming dollars into one of the funds on the plans’ mutual fund menu.

I am not now, nor will I ever be a stock market forecaster, but given the current state of the political and economic environment, Mr. Market’s dower emotional state shows no signs of an immediate turn-around. This is where the wisdom of the aforementioned country western song enters the picture. A few bars after the train thing comes the line, “You gotta know when to hold ‘em; know when to fold ‘em.”

One option all 401(k) participants have is to hit the pause button and have the automatic investment mechanism direct their monthly contribution into a money market fund in order to build a keg of dry powder that can be deployed when Mr. Market returns to a more optimistic mood.

The $64,000 question is when will Mr. Market return to a more optimistic mood? Answer; your guess is as good as mine. My best advice is to ignore the jibber jabber emanating from a pod of Wall Street analysts with too much time on their hands. Also beware of catching the “fear of missing out fever” and jumping back in when Mr. Market starts back on his meds. Earning dividends in a money market account while waiting for an all-clear signal is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

So, if you’re feeling stuck on “A train bound for nowhere,” it may be time to take Kenny Rogers’ advice and “fold ‘em.” Important caveat: Investing is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. A move of this type requires an investor who is willing to become engaged in their financial future and do a bit of homework.

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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