The October 30th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Red Door Woodfired Grill plans to take over the former Spirit World store in Aksarben Village. The 8,000 sq. ft., corner space is located at 6680 Center Street. Opening is planned for the second quarter of 2026. Red Door Woodfired Grill has six Kansas City locations and is known for its scratch-made food and signature smoky pecan, oak and hickory blend. The company also plans to open a restaurant in Gretna.

Blaha’s, a craft beer and cocktail bar concept, will open at 721 North 14th Street in the former Zipline Brewing space in North Downtown next to the Ruth Sokolof Theater. Described as an “upscale yet approachable taproom,” the bar will feature 12-to-14 rotating taps in a cozy, modern-industrial setting. Blaha’s will also offer a seasonal cocktail menu and a small curated wine list. The owner plans to open by the end of this year.

Grand Patisserie, a popular French bakery at 14451 West Center Road, plans to open an additional location in Aksarben Village by the end of this year. Grand Patisserie is taking the 2,800 sq. ft. space formerly occupied by Rexius Nutrition at 2283 South 67th Street. Rexius had previously moved around the corner to 6464 Center Street.

Hyper Energy Bar, a beverage chain based in Des Moines, Iowa, has a third planned location for the Omaha metro. According to a building permit, Hyper Energy Bar will open at 6735 South 205th Street on the northwest corner of 204th & Harrison Street near Children’s Nebraska – West Omaha. The other planned locations are at 180th & Burke Street near Village Pointe and 180th & West Maple Road.

Tussey’s Casual Grill, a local restaurant that opened in 2008, has changed ownership. Jennifer Zhang, president and CEO of Omaha-based JZW International Development, has taken ownership. JZW also owns Omaha Prime in the Old Market. Tussey’s is located at 9229 Mormon Bridge Plaza near 48th & McKinley Street.

Marigold Mercantile, a home goods store, will take over the former Book Nook space in Aksarben Village. Opening is planned for late this year. The 1,500 sq. ft. space is at 2115 South 67th Street next to Godfather’s Pizza.

AIM Fitness & Nutrition held a ribbon cutting today for its location at 11922 Standing Stone Drive in Gretna.

Hydes Slydes, an Omaha burger-and-fry concept that grew from a food truck into two brick-and-mortar stores, will be spotlighted on the YouTube show America’s Best Restaurants. The episode is expected to air in February and will feature the 16859 Q Street location. Hydes Slydes also operates inside The Grover Inn near 42nd & Grover.

Beacon Hills, a full-service restaurant in Aksarben Village, is under new ownership. After 24 years, founder Craig McVeigh has retired. The new owner is John Benton, who has many years’ experience in the Omaha dining scene. McVeigh’s daughter, Beth, will continue working at the restaurant at 6750 Mercy Road.

LUSH, the cosmetics store at 17305 Davnport Street in Village Pointe, has been temporarily closed since Monday. It will reopen this Saturday – November 1st.

Chubb Foods at 16th & Locust Street has been closed for about a year. The ownership plans to reopen next year, according to WOWT. Renovations are expected to begin within the next few months.

Edens Preserve, a local health and beauty shop focused on sustainability, has closed its store at 16902 Wright Plaza in the Shops of Legacy as of October 29. The shop offered low and zero-waste products and first opened in April 2024.

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

City Moves Forward on Tranquility Park

By Isaiah Ang

The Omaha City Council will be making a huge step toward moving the Tranquility Park Sports Complex forward.

During this week’s meeting, the council heard remarks regarding an ordinance to approve a contract with Kiewit Building Group, Inc. The more than $60 million contract encompasses the construction of 12 synthetic turn soccer fields, with $20 million going to a new interceptor sewer line to serve the area.

The initial build out will include grading for four additional fields, which would be finished in the future. If approved, Kiewit plans to start earthwork within the following 30 days and has a timeline to complete this phase by Summer 2027.

The city is seeking to start the construction as soon as possible to give the developer and investors of the surrounding area enough assurance to move forward on their part of the development.

According to the City Council, the developer has a hotel secured, but is waiting for the City to start before moving forward. The Council will vote on the ordinance next week.

This section is sponsored by NAI NP Dodge, the commercial real estate division of NP Dodge, Omaha’s largest full-service real estate company. Founded in 1855, NP Dodge is the longest running real estate firm in America.

Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Crews are demolishing a small industrial building in Millwork Commons to make way for a City of Omaha-owned, 600-stall parking garage. The block is bounded by 11th, 12th and Nicholas streets as well as Millwork Avenue. The city recently purchased the ground for $600,000. The $25 million garage is scheduled for completion about a year from now.

Construction has reached the fourth floor at the future Walter Apartments, a 5-level, 58-unit apartment building at 50th & Leavenworth Street. The site was the long-time home of a laundromat and dry cleaner. The Walter will have 44 indoor parking stalls on the first level, which is mostly subterranean. The building will have 46 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom market-rate apartment units.

Plans call for a wellness center will be built at 19303 South HWS Cleveland Boulevard in the Avenue One development. That’s near 192nd & West Dodge Expressway. According to a building permit, the 15,000 sq. ft., 2-story medical building, the business’ name is Aviva. We could not find additional information regarding this business, but will provide updates as information becomes available.

Raymond Partners, an Arizona-based real estate developer, has sold more than 20 percent of the 35 condo units planned for the first phase of its west Omaha condo project. The Residences at Heartwood Preserve will be a luxury condo development, consisting of three, 6-story buildings in the 500-acre Heartwood Preserve development southwest of 144th & West Dodge Road. The first building, phase one, is slated to open in the fall of 2028.

Marta Sonia Lodoño Mejía of Midwest Businesses & Projects, LLC, plans to build a six-unit townhome project on a vacant lot near 29th & Jackson Street. Site preparation is underway, and a groundbreaking ceremony took place last week. The $2.5 million project is receiving funds from the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant program as well as Tax Increment Financing from the City of Omaha. The rowhouse building will also feature a large outdoor mural.

Eide Bailly plans to move its local office from 180th & West Dodge Road to the First National Bank of Omaha Business Park. According to a building permit for renovation of existing space, Eide Bailly will relocate their office to 14010 FNB Parkway. Eide Bailly is a top 20 accounting firm with more than 3,500 employees and 50 offices throughout the United States.

When you picture a streetcar in your mind, you likely envision the overhead electrical wires suspended above the tracks, powering the vehicles. Unlike most streetcars, Omaha’s system will only have overhead wires on half the route. Find out why in Eric Miller’s latest transportation column HERE.

Grow Omaha Snippets are brought to you by Baird Holm LLP, the Exclusive Legal Partner of Grow Omaha. Baird Holm’s dedicated team of real estate lawyers has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate law, including purchases, sales, construction, zoning and land use, leasing, and dispute resolution. Click HERE for more information.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission last week suspended Hansen-Mueller Co.’s grain-dealer license after 38 farmers reported they had not been paid for grain totaling about $2 million, according to DTN. Omaha-based Hansen-Mueller handles trading, transportation and logistics for agricultural commodities. The company operates in 11 states. The DTN article says there are reports of similar nonpayment in Kansas, Texas and Louisiana.

Trinity Financial Group has purchased the American National Bank building at 7921 Dodge Street for $1.8 million. The bank plans to vacate the 4,856 sq. ft. building at the end of this year. At that time, the building’s exterior and interior will undergo extensive renovations with completion planned for July 1st. Trinity will relocate from its current office at 13520 California Street.

Lifestyle Suites plans to hold a ribbon cutting Monday, November 10th at 4 p.m. at 17728 Oakmont Drive in Gretna. Lifestyle Suites is a 2-story property, providing luxury suites for beauty, cosmetic and personal care professionals.

Panorama Wellness Production, formerly Eat-Fit-Go, is closing, according to The Auction Mill, which is liquidating all business assets from the company’s production facility. Panorama Wellness Production operated a 25,000 sq. ft. facility, making vacuum-sealed meals that were shipped nationwide. The auction will include restaurant and mass food production equipment as well as office equipment and furniture. Bidding will close in late November.

Dundee Bank held a groundbreaking ceremony earlier this week for its branch office under development at Regency Landing northeast of Interstate 80 & Pacific Street. The bank has existing offices in Dundee, Blackstone, Benson and Little Bohemia.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Competencies, Skills and Workforce Development Hub has released its inaugural “UNO Skills Report,” a comprehensive guide to the most in-demand skills in the Omaha area. Here are the top 10 needed skills for workers to possess based on labor market analysis, faculty input and feedback from an advisory board: 1. Coordinating; 2. Customer Service; 3. Data Analysis; 4. Decision-Making; 5. Interpersonal Relationships; 6. Microsoft Office; 7. Presentations; 8. Project Management; 9. Teamwork; 10. Written Communication.

Grow Omaha Business News is brought to you by Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner, Inc. (TD2). Since 1967, TD2 has partnered with municipalities, developers, architects and builders to shape the places where people live, work and connect. TD2 provides comprehensive services in civil, structural and geotechnical engineering as well as land surveying, materials testing and construction observation — all with a focus on client service and community impact. Discover how TD2 is engineering Omaha’s future HERE.

Giving Tuesday falls on December 2 this year, but the Omaha Community Foundation and SHARE Omaha are working together to encourage donors to give earlier. If people give between Nov ember 1 and December 2 through either organization, their donation will count toward the city and global Giving Tuesday totals.

Last week, Lauritzen Gardens announced it is opening its first satellite garden in the Old Market, on the corner of 13th & Leavenworth Street. Called Polina Gardens, the free-to-visit park is being designed by Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf in collaboration with the landscape design firm Field Operations. Lauritzen Gardens staff will manage and maintain the space when it opens in late April of 2026.

The Latino Center of the Midlands is undergoing a $10 million renovation and expansion. The project was kickstarted by a $2.8 million award from the State of Nebraska’s North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program, and is scheduled to be completed in early 2027. Once finished, the center will go from 17,000 to 29,000 sq. ft. The Latino center expansion was part of a bundle of South Omaha projects submitted in an application led by nonprofit Canopy South.

Omaha Street Soccer is looking to revitalize the Schenzel Community Center field at 2220 North 20th Street and improve access to play at Sherman School and Community Center near 16th & Storz Expressway. In order to do this, the North Omaha nonprofit organization is looking to raise $7,500.

A new documentary called “Blue Baby” offers a candid look into Boys Town and the work being done there. The film takes audiences into one of the homes at Boys Town, and follows eight boys through their highest highs and lowest lows. “Blue Baby” is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.

Siena Francis House’s small cottage community housing project was nationally recognized last week, earning the Charles L. Edison award in Excellence in Tax Credit Housing. The 50 single-occupant homes provide a unique housing opportunity for individuals experiencing homelessness.

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What’s in Store for the Housing Market?

By Jill Anderson

With holidays quickly approaching, and time spent with family and friends increases, generally a main conversation piece is the housing market. Specifically, what are your plans? Are you thinking of selling, buying, renovating and staying in place or renting?

While each situation is different, it’s our goal to provide you with information so you can make an educated decision. For the month of September, the Omaha housing market stats were:

• New listings: 1,952 (up 14.5 percent YTD from 2024 existing/resale houses)
• Pending sides: 1,003
• Average days on market: 25
• Average sales price: $377,223
• Months of supply of inventory: 2.7

So, what can you expect for the remaining weeks of 2025? At the end of September Inflation still remained elevated at 2.9 percent (Fed Target rate is 2 percent). Unemployment is holding steady, and nationally, job growth is stalling out. The Fed faces another rate-setting decision in a few weeks with expectations of a rate cut. This could signal a stronger housing market starting in January but expect the next couple of months to remain status quo.

If you are thinking of selling in 2026, now is a great time to begin your planning “fix-ups” and get armed with market information. Give me a call to get the process started.

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

Omaha Athletics inducted five members into its 50th Hall of Fame class on Saturday, Oct. 25. The honorees of the landmark class included Diane Ninemire (softball), Abayomi (Taiwo) Onatolu (football), Rose Shires (volleyball head coach), Sami Spenner Richardson (track and field) and Dhafir (Roy) Washington (wrestling).

Omaha Hockey welcomed No. 13 UMass to Baxter Arena for a series over the weekend. On Friday, Omaha’s comeback effort was stopped by a Minutemen goal with 58.2 seconds left to give UMass a 5-4 victory. On Saturday, the Mavericks left no doubt, dominating UMass 5-2 for their second win over a ranked opponent this season. This weekend, Omaha will travel to Colorado Springs in search of two more ranked wins against No. 15 Colorado College. The weekend series will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, and conclude with a 7 p.m. puck drop on Saturday.

Aidan de La Gorgendiere was named the NCHC Defenseman of the Week following his performance against UMass over the weekend. The junior defenseman tallied one goal, three assists and three blocks over the weekend series, and set a career-high with three points in Saturday’s win over the Minutemen.

Three Omaha Supernovas shined in Week 3 of the Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship over the weekend in Madison, Wis. Regan Cooper, Brooke Nuneviller and Morgan Hentz were behind Team Cooper’s undefeated week, and each entered the league’s top five heading into the final weekend. Cooper sits in second place with 2,203 points, behind league-leading Jordan Thompson who has 2,880 points. Morgan Hentz is fourth in league standings with 1,928 points and Brooke Nuneviller is right on her heels with 1,857 points thanks to her league-leading 838 Week 3 points.

Week 4 remains at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Play begins Thursday, Oct. 30, with matches at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and wraps up with matches on Saturday, Nov. 1 (4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) and Sunday, Nov. 2 (3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.).

Omaha women’s soccer clinched a berth to the Summit League Tournament with a 2-1 victory over Kansas City on Sunday afternoon. The game-winner came from freshman Addie LaRock in the 83rd minute, giving her the first goal of her career and the Mavericks new life on the season. Sixth-seeded Omaha will face third-seeded South Dakota State on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. in the tournament quarterfinal. Fans can stream the game live on the Summit League Network.

Creighton Volleyball has moved up to No. 12 in the latest AVCA poll, announced Monday. Fresh off its 41st straight Big East win, Creighton returns home this weekend to host DePaul at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, and Marquette at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Saturday’s match will be a stripe out.

Omaha Volleyball’s Emily Huss was named the Summit League Defensive Peak Performer of the Week, announced Tuesday. Over three matches last week, the junior tallied 15 assisted blocks, with nine coming during a sweep of Oral Roberts. Omaha will host South Dakota State tonight, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. Starting at 6 p.m. kids will be able to trick or treat on the concourse of Baxter Arena with Omaha student-athletes.

Creighton Volleyball seniors Ava Martin and Annalea Maeder were named the Big East Offensive Player of the week and Setter of the week, respectively, announced Tuesday. In road sweeps over Providence and Connecticut last week, Martin moved into sixth place all-time in kills at Creighton with 27 total. It’s her third time this season receiving the honor. Maeder led all Big East players in assists per set last week, posting an impressive 10.50 mark. This is Maeder’s third straight Big East Setter of the Week recognition and fifth on the season.

Union Omaha – stop me if you have heard this before – continued its unbeaten streak last weekend, playing Spokane Velocity to a 2-2 draw. The Owls head into the USL League One Playoffs as the No. 5 seed, having not lost since Aug. 16, when the high temperature in Omaha was 93 degrees.

Omaha will travel to the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Fla., to face No. 4 seed FC Naples in the USL League One Playoffs quarterfinal at 6:30 p.m. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+.

Creighton women’s soccer hosts St. John’s on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the match having major implications on the Bluejays’ season. Creighton will need a win over the Red Storm to make its second straight Big East Tournament appearance. Should they emerge victorious, Creighton will begin play in the Big East Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 6 in Germantown, Md.

Creighton Athletics will continue to offer the Creighton Athletics Community Ticket Program for the 2025-26 season, and select home games for Creighton men’s and women’s basketball home games are available. The program distributes complimentary tickets to nonprofit and community-based organizations that may not otherwise have the resources or opportunity to attend a Creighton Athletics event. All requests should be made through existing nonprofit, youth and community organizations in Nebraska or Iowa. Those requests can be made here.

Upcoming Games

• Omaha Volleyball vs. South Dakota State | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 7 p.m.
• #12 Creighton Volleyball vs. DePaul | Friday, Oct. 31 | 11:30 a.m.
• Omaha Hockey at #15 Colorado College | Friday, Oct. 31 | 8 p.m.
• Omaha men’s soccer vs. UCLA | Saturday, Nov. 1 | 1 p.m.
• Creighton women’s soccer vs. St. John’s | Saturday, Nov. 1 | 1 p.m.
• Creighton men’s soccer vs. Seton Hall | Saturday, Nov. 1 | 4 p.m.
• Omaha women’s soccer vs. South Dakota State | Saturday, Nov. 1 | 5 p.m.
• Union Omaha at FC Naples | Saturday, Nov. 1 | 6:30 p.m.
• #12 Creighton Volleyball vs. Marquette | Saturday, Nov. 1 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey at #15 Colorado College | Saturday, Nov. 1 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha men’s soccer at Oral Roberts | Wednesday, Nov. 5 | 2 p.m.

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The Prague Hotel in Little Bohemia

By Patrick Wyman

In the heart of Little Bohemia stands the Prague Hotel, built by Gottlieb Storz, to serve as the hub of the Czech community’s cultural and social life. At the time, it held the unique distinction of being the only hotel between Chicago and the Pacific Coast dedicated specifically to Czech immigrants.

Designed by J.P. Guth and constructed in 1898, the rectangular, 3-story brick building at the southwest corner of 13th & William Street integrates a variety of architectural styles popular at the time, giving the structure its eclectic appearance. Its features include a recessed corner entrance at street level supported by a round cast-iron column. A bit farther south, flanked by windows set within brick arches, is the second-floor entrance. On its eastern façade is a decorative metal cornice that extends along the front.

Inside the main entrance on the first floor were a restaurant and tavern. Given that it was owned by Storz, it was no coincidence that the tavern provided guests and neighbors with easy access to his beer. The kitchen for the restaurant was located in the basement, while the second floor included guest rooms. The third floor housed the ballroom and meeting space.

The hotel helped ease the transition for new immigrants and even appealed directly to women with a sign in Czech that read: “Prague Hotel, Ladies Are Invited.” The building was used by fraternal clubs for meetings, dances, dramatic productions and private parties alike. Edward Rosewater, a Czech immigrant himself, published advertisements in his Omaha Bee newspaper listing the hotel’s room and board rates at $4.50 and up. Well known in Czech circles around the world, it hosted many prominent travelers, including the foreign minister of Czechoslovakia.

With Prohibition picking up steam nationwide, Storz opted to sell the hotel in 1915. Joseph and Marie Pivonka purchased it and converted the third floor into additional guest rooms to accommodate even more immigrants. The restaurant developed a reputation for offering authentic Bohemian cuisine and specialized in dishes such as shrimp, frog legs and steaks. After Prohibition went into effect in Nebraska, Joseph and his bartender were arrested when 30 bottles of fine wine and whisky were discovered beneath several bushels of potatoes stored in a basement stairway.

The neighborhood continued to evolve with the opening of the Bohemian Café in 1924 and Sokol Auditorium in 1926. The Bohemian Café became the destination for authentic cuisine, while Sokol became the new epicenter of social activities. The Prague continued to thrive and remained a focal point for both visitors and commerce. The hotel began appealing to travelers, including ranchers in town to deliver cattle to the stockyards. It also became an important meeting place for politicians and professionals.

The hotel remained in the Pivonka family as it was taken over by their daughter Zeda and her husband, Jerry Kostinec. Despite its popularity, it was forced to close for a time during World War II as the women who worked there returned to their family farms after many of their brothers were called into service. When it reopened, it was under the management of its cook, Vaclav Fisher — the man responsible for the Czech dishes that made the restaurant famous. After more than 30 years, the Pivonka family sold the hotel in 1947.

Though it lost some of its luster in the decades that followed, the restaurant remained popular. Instead of serving authentic cuisine that appealed to the neighborhood, it developed a reputation for its large sandwiches, which sold for just a buck. When it was listed for sale in 1979, the hotel with its 19 guest rooms and six apartments was advertised as including a “nice bar with super sandwiches.”

By the early 1980s, it primarily appealed to people with lower incomes as its rooms were available for $35 per week. After the owner failed to obtain permits for renovations, the building was deemed unlivable due to illegal electrical work, improper drainage from sinks and the persistent odor of gas. The structure was condemned in 1985.

Fortunately, the old Prague Hotel found new life in 1987 when it was gutted and rehabilitated by local architectural firm Prochaska and Associates. The firm was recognized for its work on the building which was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The exterior remains intact and as impressive as ever. Today, the building contains two commercial spaces on the main floor, along with 11 studio and one-bedroom apartments located in the basement, second, and third floors.

Steelhouse Omaha has just announced a new show coming in next spring called, “In The Air Tonight: The Phil Collins Story,” coming to the Steelhouse March 11, 2026. Tickets are on sale. Visit steelhouseomaha.com for more info.

The Omaha Symphony will perform a Día de los Muertos concert at the Holland Performing Arts Center, Sunday, November 2nd at 2 p.m. This concert explores and celebrates the rich traditions of honor and remembering loved ones in a fun, family-friendly setting for all to enjoy and experience. Admission starts at $21. More details can be found at omahasymphony.org.

Ming Toy Gallery is hosting the opening reception of “Weirder, Wilder, Witchier” by Lori Elliott-Bartle on November 7th at 6066 Maple Street in downtown Benson at 6 p.m. It features a series of large-hinged wood panels that mimic the small accordion books filled with paintings and collages, inspired by nature.

Elliott-Bartle spent 15 years as a professional journalist and has work accepted into regional and national juried shows, including the Nebraska Biennial (2025, 2023, 2019 and 2017) and in private collections across the United States and several other countries. She has been awarded artist residencies at Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City, Farwell House in Frederick, Ill., and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Cedar Point Biological Station. “Weirder, Wilder, Witchier” will be on display through November 29th. Gallery hours are Wednesday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Omaha Conservatory of Music will feature “Soulful Sounds” presented by Acute Inflections on November 2nd at 6 p.m. Whether you’re in Gatsby glam or your own stylish flair, get ready for a Roaring 20s revival with a modern unplugged edge. Expect dynamic duets, clever comedy and captivating freestyles with the chemistry of Lucy and Ricky of Acute Inflections. More than 30,000 fans have attended their sold-out shows across the United States and abroad. Complimentary refreshments will be provided throughout the show. For more details, visit their website.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Failure is an essential prerequisite for success, according to a 2019 study by Northwestern University researchers. To prove their point, the researchers analyzed 46 years’ worth of venture-capital startup investments, among other data points.

One of the most famous examples of a major business leader succeeding from failure was Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, according to Fortune. In 1985, Apple’s board voted to remove Jobs from his post. He returned to Apple 12 years later. In a 2005 commencement address to the graduating class of Stanford University, Jobs admitted his fear of death ultimately drove his decisions in life and allowed him to overcome fear of failure.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life,” Jobs said. “Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” Jobs died in 2011.

The majority of executives are using Artificial Intelligence, contrasting with a much lower adoption rate among their employees, according to BusinessChief. Dayforce’s recent 16th Annual Pulse of Talent survey shows that AI adoption varies by seniority, with 87 percent of executives using it on the job, compared with 57 percent of managers and 27 percent of employees. And get this…Execs are 45 percent more likely to use AI at work than Gen Z respondents, the first generation to grow up with this kind of technology.

Your money goes further here in Omaha – If you want to be among the top 5 percent of earners in Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, New York or New Jersey, you would need to make more than $600,000 a year, according to The Hustle.

SALES

What causes some sales professionals to shy away from setting sales goals? Why don’t they commit to goal-setting? Here are some answers:

1. Fear of clarity – forces them to confront uncomfortable truths
2. Overconfidence or complacency
3. Fear of accountability
4. Believe they don’t have time
5. Past failures created cynicism toward goal-setting
6. Sales manager does not model goal setting or push them to do it.
7. Sales manager does not follow up to make sure it’s done.

Prospecting via LinkedIn – Jeb Blount, author of The LinkedIn Edge, recommends trying the “social trigger” cold call. Before picking up the phone, find a specific, recent trigger event on a prospect’s LinkedIn profile. This could be a new job, a post they wrote, a company milestone, or a recent comment they left on an industry article. Start your call by referencing this specific trigger. This immediately transforms the call from an interruption into a relevant, “warm” conversation.

Prospecting Question – You want to find out about your prospect’s ability and willingness to pay as early as possible. Here’s a good question to ask: “How much have you spent on similar solutions in the past?”

WISDOM

“I have never met a successful person in my life who learned anything when things went well. They learned every lesson they needed to learn that helped them achieve when things went horribly wrong.” – Simon Sinek

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Did you know the TV dinner was invented in Omaha by C.A. Swanson and Sons?

Did you know the downtown visitors center welcomed 12 percent more visitors in 2024 than in 2023, according to Visit Omaha?

Did you know that Omaha’s office-to-apartment conversion pipeline is the 16th biggest in the United States in 2024 with 1,294 converted apartment units under development?

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The Official Halloween Bar Crawl happening October 31st & November 1st: Get ready to celebrate Halloween like never before! On October 31st and November 1st, join other Omahans for a spooktacular, two-day, bar crawl featuring creepy cocktails, outrageous costumes and an electrifying atmosphere. We’re making our way through Omaha’s top bars with exclusive drink deals, Halloween-themed entertainment and surprises lurking around every corner. Grab your friends and throw on your most hilarious, horrifying or out-of-this-world outfits—because this night is all about bold looks and big scares. Each stop on the crawl will bring a new vibe, from bone-rattling beats to ghoulishly good drinks.

Soulful Sounds in Omaha happening November 2nd: Step into a world where the Harlem Renaissance meets today’s vibe with the sensational Music & Comedy of Acute Inflections! As seen on HBO and Amazon, this NYC-based Jazzy R&B duo delivers a sound fans of Erykah Badu and Billie Holiday will adore, with a fresh twist of timeless soul and modern charm. Whether you’re in Gatsby glam or your own stylish flair, get ready for a Roaring 20s revival with a modern unplugged edge. Expect dynamic duets, clever comedy and captivating freestyles with the chemistry of Lucy and Ricky.

Friendly Feud happening on select Tuesdays: Gather your crew and join Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. for a Free Friendly Feud showdown! It’s just like Family Feud, folks – teams compete to guess the top five answers that were given from survey questions! Rack up those points with correct guesses and win big with prizes for the top three teams in each game. No registration required! See you at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday!

Millwork Moves: Yoga in the Dock happening on select Tuesdays: Happening on select Tuesdays, Millwork Commons is hosting Yoga in the Dock with Lotus House of Yoga! This event is free and taught by a certified yoga instructor. Simply bring a mat, a water bottle and show up to enjoy flowing movement with the community.

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 two residential sales associates to the company: Doug Johnsen and Kris Earlywine.

Baird Holm LLP has welcomed three new attorneys to the firm. Ellie Crawford focuses her practice on commercial real estate, representing clients in the acquisition, financing, development, leasing and disposition of commercial properties. Emily E. Palmiscno is a member of the firm’s Litigation practice, where she represents individuals and companies from all industries in commercial litigation proceedings. Mike T. Franken practices within the Finance and Creditor’s Rights section.

Cordia Energy has promoted Jason Hill of Omaha from Midwest regional president to President of Public-Private Partnerships. He will now will lead the identification, evaluation and execution of projects nationwide. Cordia provides heating and cooling services to many of the large buildings in downtown Omaha.

iHeartMedia Omaha announced that legendary NewsRadio 1110 KFAB personality Gary Sadlemyer is retiring from his regularly hosted morning show and full-time radio on December 12. In his nearly 50-year career with the station, Sadlemyer has anchored “KFAB’s Morning News” for more than three decades, hosted the first live, daily talk show in KFAB’s 100-year history and served several years as the station’s program director. He was in the broadcast booth for Husker football games from 1980 to 1995. During retirement, he plans to stay on at KFAB as an occasional fill-in host.

The Omaha Press Club will enshrine Fr. Tom Fangman, Jr., as the 184th Face on the Barroom Floor this evening. He has served as a priest for more than 30 years and is currently pastor of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at 186th & West Maple Road.

FNTS, an Omaha-based managed IT services company, has announced the three Omaha high school recipients of its 2025 Women in Tech Scholarships: Zareena Abdessalam, Omaha North High School; Isabella Worden, Omaha Central High School; Maya Apedjinou, Omaha Benson High School

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.

“Par” is a term that golfers use to evaluate how they perform on multiple courses and against other golfers. The word par is derived from the Latin word par (go figure), which roughly translated means “equal.” Webster says par is a way of measuring how we expect professionals to perform a specific task.

Par is also a critical concept for 401(k) participants to consider. If you are paying for something, you should be able to measure the relative value of that product or service. In the investment arena, par means “the market.” But, as always, the devil is in the details.

During my ill-gotten years as a broker, we used our performance relative to the market as a way of separating ourselves from our peers in order to retain and gain clients. And of course, whenever possible, we’d fudge a little bit. The regulators allowed us the pleasure of defining what we meant by the market.

So rather than just going against the conventional indexes, we would throw in a bond index, an international index and sometimes even a kitchen sink index. We used anything we could, because we knew that a hodgepodge index would always underperform the true indexes.

Now to the $64,000 question…How has your 401(k) performed compared to the market? In my world, there are only two indexes that represent the market; the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 is the broadest and most objective measure. The Nasdaq is a close second, but there are two versions of it. One is the broader index which includes all 7,500 stocks traded on the Nasdaq exchange. The more commonly used index is the Nasdaq Composite, which includes the top 100 stocks in the index, excluding the financials.

Over the last two years, the S&P 500 has gained 64 percent, and the Nasdaq has climbed 76 percent. Now the critical question: How did your 401(k) perform during this period? Look at your October 2023 statement and compare it to the present balance, then calculate the percentage return. If you and your employer have added money during this period, you need to back those dollars out and recalculate your return. The answer won’t be perfect, but it will be close enough for government work.

A second way to compare your 401(k) score to par is to go to Yahoo Finance, plug in the ticker symbols of the mutual funds you own and compare their performance against the market. Again, it’s not perfect, but you will have insight into your portfolio’s relative behavior.

Now you have a rough idea how your 401(k) has performed. The next step is to compare your results against your expectations. Not every golfer expects to shoot par. If you don’t give a rat’s patootie about your relationship to par, there’s a good chance you’ll ignore the above. But, if you really want to take the time and effort to get market returns, you may have work to do.

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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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