Weekly Market Report: February 13, 2025

Feb 13, 2025

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Restaurant & Retail Updates

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Nékter Juice Bar plans to open its first Nebraska location in the former Phoenix Pool and Spa space at 1405 South 204th Street. Shannon and Jeff Salem will be the local franchisees. California-based Nékter is an award-winning juice bar concept, offering juices, smoothies, açaí bowls and healthy snacks at more than 200 restaurants nationwide. The company was founded in 2020. The closest existing locations are in Kansas City and Sioux Falls, S.D.

Know Good, a concept from the owner of Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop, will open this spring at 3528 Center Street, formerly Sunnyside on Center. The “brunchette” has operated full-time at Archetype Coffee in Little Bohemia since January 2023 and will continue there after opening its new location, which will focus on bagels, sandwiches and a small café menu.

Gambino’s Pizza has opened at 11717 Bryan Street in Gretna in a new strip mall east of Cobalt Credit Union along Highways 6 & 31. Signage is also up for a future Omaha location at 3020 South 32nd Avenue in the former Lo Sole Mio Villa Banquet space. The chain pizzeria also operates in Fremont, Kearney and North Bend. Additional locations are in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

HomeGoods, Sierra Trading Post and Ross Dress for Less are planning to open at Manawa Power Center in Council Bluffs, according to The Lerner Company, an Omaha-based real estate firm. The three national retailers will occupy the former Gordman’s and Toys R Us building at 3125 Manawa Centre Drive between Wal-Mart and Home Depot. The spaces are now under renovation. HomeGoods, Sierra and Ross all have existing locations in Omaha but will be new to Council Bluffs.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, the nation’s largest family-owned barbecue chain, closed or sold nearly 100 locations in 2024, leaving only 366 operational nationwide. The chain once had more than 500 locations. Nebraska’s only remaining Dickey’s location is at 12241 West Center Road in Omaha.

Krush Ultra Lounge, formerly Throwback Arcade Lounge, is facing the potential cancellation of its liquor license at 1402 Howard Street downtown. The Omaha City Council voted 6-0 to recommend revocation following multiple police incidents, including fights and a shooting. The final decision rests with the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Krush plans to appeal.

Noli’s Pizzeria will close its Regency location inside Blue Sky Bar & Patio at 10730 Pacific Street on February 16. The New York-style pizza concept will continue operating at its Aksarben location at 6307 Center Street and Blackstone at 4001 Farnam Street.

Two Omahans have been nominated for Best Chef: Midwest on the 2025 James Beard Awards Semifinalists list. They are Tim Nicholson from The Boiler Room and David Utterback from Ota and Yoshitomo. They were the only semifinalists from Nebraska. There was one from Iowa (Cedar Rapids), and one from South Dakota (Custer). Missouri had four, while Kansas had two. Winners will be announced June 16th in Chicago.

Starting this fall, Valentino’s will serve concessions at home games for the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ football, volleyball and soccer games. The 10-year contract with Aramark Sports and Entertainment was recently approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and will feature beer, wine and an expanded menu.

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The “Restaurant & Retail Updates” section is sponsored by Anderson Convenience Market, featuring Quality AMOCO Fuels and serving Omaha since 1952, and proud to announce the return of Quality Amoco Fuels. Look for changes this Summer at Anderson Convenience Market – 8 Omaha area locations!

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

Grow Omaha Eats with
Chris Corey

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Exterior shot of Blue Sushi Sake Grill in Legacy West Omaha

Blue Sushi Sake Grill Is an Omaha Original Serving Inspired Sushi Since 2002

Blue Sushi Sake Grill first opened in 2002. Its original location was just a few doors down from its current location at 144th & West Maple Road. Blue opened at a time when Omaha had limited sushi offerings and is the first of many concepts from Flagship Restaurant Group.

Recently, the location at 16939 Wright Plaza expanded when a neighboring space became available. The restaurant had outgrown the space, as it was the smallest of the Omaha Blue locations. Once dubbed “Baby Blue,” it’s now “all grown up” and on par with the size of the other locations.

The renovations include some updates to the decor. There are obvious Japanese influences with dark woods and deep red colors. On the walls, you’ll see renderings of Godzilla roaming around the Omaha skyline. The decorations are sophisticated, and the artwork is playful. That also speaks to what I found on the menu: Blue’s sushi and cocktails are sophisticated and playful.

I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing several Flagship concepts and have enjoyed each one. Blue is no exception. There’s something consistent among Flagship restaurants that goes beyond good food. The servers at these restaurants are all excited to be part of the Flagship team. I’ve yet to meet an employee with anything remotely negative to say.

Mark Kantaras is the director of operations for Flagship and has been with them for 13 years. He has worked as an executive chef at Charleston’s and Kona Grill. No doubt, his culinary experience allows him to bring a leadership style that’s empathetic to the hard work required to run a successful restaurant.

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The Big Story

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Construction workers building childrens behavior health center
Media members take a sneak-peek tour today at the under-construction Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children’s Nebraska.
Photo by Brad Williams

Children’s Behavioral Health Center on Target for October Completion

Grow Omaha and other local media toured the Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children’s Nebraska today. The future hospital is located at 8550 Indian Hills Drive on the west end of the Children’s campus.

Construction on the $114 million project is coming along nicely. The project is on schedule, and the partially completed facilities look impressive.

The 4-story, 107,250 sq. ft. building sits on seven acres. The main entrance, for both patients and staff, will be on building’s the east side. The building is on track for completion this October, but Children’s Nebraska will begin serving patients in a phased approach starting in January 2026.

Groundbreaking for the project took place in August of 2023 with construction starting one month later. The topping-out ceremony (when the final piece of structural steel was installed) occurred on May 16th of last year.

Children’s Nebraska is partnering with the Mental Health Innovation Foundation, a not-for-profit organization led by community leader and philanthropist Ken Stinson to address growing mental health challenges among Omaha’s children and teens. Stinson convened mental health professionals in the summer of 2021 to address mental health challenges, ultimately leading to the new building.

The Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children’s Nebraska will offer a wide array of services and features:

  • Crisis Assessment Center – It will be dedicated to screening and crisis stabilization and will be one of a small number of similar centers in the country and the first of its kind in the region.
  • Inpatient Care – 40 single-occupancy hospital inpatient bests that will double the capacity of the Omaha community. It can be expanded to 48 beds if necessary.
  • Partial Hospitalization Program – a structured, day treatment for children and adolescents with moderate behavioral health needs. This includes an eating disorders program.
  • Outpatient Services – Individualized therapy for children and families.
  • Primary Care Integration – Children’s will provide comprehensive, coordinated and accessible care that addresses acute and chronic conditions.
  • Additional specialized services

The need is great for the center’s services. Even before the pandemic, one in five children was experiencing a mental illness. The pandemic led to increased mental health challenges and suicide risk among kids. Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death for youths. Unfortunately, Nebraska exceeds national trends for the number of suicide deaths in adolescents ages 15 to 19.

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Grow Omaha Snippets

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Eppley Airfield’s next construction phase begins February 17. The entire central portion of the terminal will close – including level 2 – and the terminal will split in half. The closure will accommodate construction of a new central pavilion, which will contain the security entrance and food court in the new terminal.

During construction, the airport will operate as two terminals with each airline’s ticketing, gates and baggage claims located within its own terminal. The north terminal will house Southwest, United and Allegiant airlines. The south will have American, Delta, Alaska and Frontier airlines.

Demolition is now underway on the old Park Fair Mall at 16th & Douglas Street. The mall opened in the 1980s but closed many years ago. It most recently served as an indoor parking garage. The building is being torn down to make way for a 10-story building that will be part city-owned parking garage and part apartment building. The 150 apartment units on the top five floors will be part of The Duo, a 700-apartment unit that also includes the twin towers immediately to the east.

Topping Out – The final beam on the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s CORE building was installed February 7. The $105 million project will house students, faculty and external organizations in computer-based research and wet-lab based research. Along with the renovated Omaha Steel Casting building, The CORE Building will be part of UNMC’s 30-acre EDGE District west of Saddle Creek Road. The University and developers aim to build a mixed-use development that will serve as a regional hub for “scientific discovery, entrepreneurship and commercialization.” The CORE building will open in mid-2026.

Developers are planning a mixed-use subdivision southwest of 192nd & West Maple Road. The Omaha Planning Board approved a preliminary plat that would divide the greenfield site into 12 lots for a commercial development and a 20-acre lot for multifamily development. The multifamily lot was originally planned to be zoned for R8 high-density multifamily, but after a neighborhood meeting, will now be zoned for R7 medium-density multifamily. R7 zoning limits density to approximately 40 units per acre.

The City of Omaha is reviewing new plans for a portion of the Heartwood Preserve development. Developers are seeking approval of a preliminary plat southwest of 144th & Pacific Street. The multi-use development will be anchored by two medical office buildings totaling 180,000 sq. ft. Additionally, plans show six standalone retail buildings and a 5,500 sq. ft. restaurant. A 2-story, 120,000 sq. ft., mixed-use building on the southwest corner of the site will have ground-floor retail space, a parking garage and multi-family units on the second floor.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved a $2 million project to reconstruct the crosswalk across 42nd Street in front UNMC’s Wittson Hall just south of the Dewey Street intersection. It’s the busiest crosswalk on campus. The project is being done in coordination with a MUD project to replace a water main. The pedestrian crosswalk project will remove an existing mid-street island and will install a raised traffic table and narrow the traffic lanes. These improvements are being made to increase visibility of pedestrians and slow traffic through the intersection. The project is expected to be completed by early 2026.

St. Cecilia Cathedral is embarking on a campaign to construct an outdoor plaza and memorial garden, according to The Catholic Voice. The $8.2 million project fulfills the original vision of renowned architect and designer Thomas Rogers Kimball, who died in 1934 and did not live to see the cathedral’s completion. The project has raised approximately $3.1 million toward the overall goal. Construction may begin as early as this summer.

The University of Nebraska announced this week that it generates $6.4 billion annually and supports one in every 20 Nebraska jobs. NU produces 11,000 graduates annually, with one in seven working-age Nebraskans holding a degree from the university. NU alumni generate $3.5 billion in additional earnings each year. If you add UNMC’s clinical partner Nebraska Medicine, NU’s total economic impact rises to $11.9 billion.

Omaha is hosting the Asics Presidents’ Day Classic volleyball tournament today through Monday. It’s the 21st year Omaha has hosted the event, one of the largest youth tournaments in the country. This year’s event reached maximum capacity with 570 teams registered and an expected 13,000 attendees from across the United States and Canada. More than 10,100 hotel rooms are booked. Players are competing at CHI Health Center Omaha, Union Bank & Trust Sports Complex and Iowa West Fieldhouse.

The Harney Street reconstruction project has been delayed because of weather. Demolition of the bridge over Interstate 480 was to start this week. The start date is yet to be determined. Notwithstanding the delay, the Omaha Streetcar project continues to move forward.

At their February meeting, the Omaha Streetcar Authority discussed additional work that is already underway or soon to begin. The design is now 100 percent and is under final review. The notice to begin the vehicle maintenance facility was issued. The authority approved a proposal from OPPD for electrical work and an agreement with Thiele Geotech for materials testing and observation services. Additionally, the authority approved a 30-month lease with the property owner of an undeveloped lot at the northeast corner of 40th Street and Harney Street to be used as a lay-down site and parking for the public during construction of the streetcar line.

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Business News

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Berkshire Hathaway purchased more shares of Occidental Petroleum after the oil and gas producer tumbled more than 30 percent from its record high, according to CNBC. The Omaha-based conglomerate scooped up 763,017 shares of the Houston-based energy company on Friday for $35.7 million. Berkshire is Occidental’s biggest investor, holding a 28.2 percent stake.

Forbes has recognized Mutual of Omaha as one of America’s Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row. The company ranked #38 overall and had the highest ranking among large employers in Nebraska, as well as the third highest ranking within the insurance industry.

Union Pacific is transferring commuter rail services in the Chicago area to Metra. Mechanical and station agent services, along with some management services, have already been transferred. The transfer of Train Operation services is expected to occur in mid-April. Financial negotiations are ongoing, including compensation for Metra’s use of Union Pacific’s tracks and infrastructure. Metra is Chicago’s commuter rail system. It operates 11 lines and 243 stations.

Green Plains Inc. announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024. Net loss attributable to the company was $54.9 million, or $(0.86) per diluted share for the fourth quarter compared to net income attributable to the company of $7.2 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023. Revenues for the quarter were $584.0 million compared with $712.4 million for the same period in the prior year.

Farmers and ranchers in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming will be receiving $392.6 million in cash-back dividends returned by Omaha-based Farm Credit Services of America as part of the financial cooperative’s patronage program, paying 1 percent back as a cash-back dividend. Eligible customer-owners were issued cash-back dividend checks the last week of January.

Structural steel has gone vertical at Woodlands Retail, a two-building retail strip center totaling 19,322 sq. ft. northwest of 192nd & Q Street. Completion is planned for late this year. Building “A” will total 13,136 sq. ft. Building “B” will be 5,949 sq. ft. No tenants have been announced.

Union Pacific Corporation has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.34 per share on the company’s common stock, payable Mar. 31, 2025, to shareholders of record Feb. 28, 2025. Union Pacific has paid dividends on its common stock for 126 consecutive years.

The job-search process is rough for candidates these days, according to Fortune. About 20 percent of job seekers have been searching for 10 months or longer, according to a Career Group report, which surveyed 765 candidates across many industries.

The unemployment rate in the technology sector rose from 3.9 percent in December to 5.7 percent in January, well above the overall jobless rate, according to the Wall Street Journal. Automation and artificial intelligence are having a negative impact on the tech labor market.

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Grow Omaha Sports

View of Charles Schwab field in Omaha

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

The College World Series announced plans to celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. Starting in May, look out for a traveling sculpture at Omaha community events dedicated to the anniversary and history of the tournament. There will also be CWS decals placed in special locations around the city, a new commemorative logo, featured website and a free event June 12th at the RiverFront with live music, family activities and a fireworks display. More information can be found at the feature website: cwsomaha.com/75.

UNO will join Creighton as co-host of the College World Series starting this year. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li stated that “This partnership enhances our national visibility, strengthens UNO’s reputation as a leading metropolitan university, and most importantly, gives our Mavericks unique teaching, learning and research opportunities.” The Road to Omaha begins tomorrow, February 14th. The first game of the 2025 CWS will be Friday, June 13th.

League One Volleyball, a network of youth volleyball clubs across the country, just kicked off its professional league last month. Omaha has a spot among the six founding franchises. Omaha joins teams from Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison and Salt Lake City. LOVB Omaha is off to a 4-2 start, and with a win last Saturday against LOVB Salt Lake, they clinched the #2 seed and a bye at the upcoming, in-season LOVB Classic tournament in Kansas City February 14th-16th. Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds will be broadcast on ESPN+, while the championship game will be broadcast on ESPN 2 on Sunday, February 16th at 7:30 p.m.

Creighton Basketball’s win streak came to an end on Tuesday night after losing to UConn 70-66. Creighton shot out of the gate, taking an eight-point lead into the half but shot just 30 percent from the field in the second half, gifting UConn their first win at the CHI Health Center since rejoining the Big East. The program-best, nine-game Big East win streak is over, but the Jays still hold sole possession of second place in the conference and are on track for their ninth consecutive top 4 finish in the Big East.

Waiting in the wings is Rick Pitino’s red-hot St. John’s Red Storm at the World’s Most Famous Arena on Sunday. After St. John’s loss in a thriller at Villanova last night, Sunday’s matchup will be a battle for first place in the conference. Creighton beat the Red Storm in their first meeting 57-56 on New Year’s Eve.

UNO Basketball is at the top of the Summit League at 10-1 in conference play and 16-10 overall. The Mavericks are on a three-game win streak of their own, which featured a buzzer beater from JJ White against North Dakota last Thursday. Afterwards, SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt even shouted out the program on his late-night show for their WWE-style, post-win tradition that involves a locker room trash can. Check the team out on social media to see the mayhem. If you’re looking for sports to watch now that football is over, Omaha has two exciting teams that can make the NCAA Tournament this March.

Three Omaha Supernovas were selected for the inaugural PVF All-Star Match next week in Fishers, Ind., home of the league’s newest franchise, the Indy Ignite. Kaitlyn Hord was selected to Team Collier, led by Georgia Tech Volleyball coach Michelle Collier. She will face teammates Brooke Nuneviller and Camila Gomez, who were selected to Team Shondell, coached by Purdue Volleyball coach Dave Shondell. The game will be broadcast on CBS next Saturday, February 22nd at 12:30 p.m.

Upcoming Games

  • UNO Basketball at South Dakota State tonight at 7:00 p.m.
  • UNO Hockey at #3 Western Michigan Friday, February 14th at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 15th at 5:00 p.m.
  • #24 Creighton Basketball at #9 St. John’s Sunday, February 16th at 2:00 p.m.
  • Omaha Supernovas at Atlanta Vibe Sunday, February 16th at 3:00 p.m.
  • League One Volleyball (LOVB) Classic starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 14th – Sunday, February 16th

Grow Omaha University

Leadership & Sales Insights for Ambitious People

Compiled by Grow Omaha co-founder and sales trainer Jeff Beals.

Sponsored by Dundee Bank

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Inspiring Leaders – According to Inc., here are three qualities of leaders who inspire people to greatness: 1. They are visionary; 2. They are exemplars of desired behavior; 3. They empower and encourage through mentorship.

A brain dump is the process of unloading thoughts, worries, tasks and ideas onto paper—without organizing or filtering them. According to Forbes, the goal is to clear your mind. By decluttering your thoughts, you free up mental bandwidth and gain a clearer perspective on your priorities. This practice is particularly valuable during challenging times.

Customer Service – You’ve heard the term, “The customer is always right.” Where did it come from? Marshall Field introduced it when he founded Chicago’s first department store in 1893, according to HubSpot. César Ritz introduced the motto to the hospitality industry when he founded The Ritz Carlton Hotels. His mantra was “Le client n’a jamais tort,” meaning “The customer is never wrong.”

GoFundMe has seen $250 million donated so far to victims of the Los Angeles fires, according to The Hustle. That’s $20 million more than it collected for all natural disasters worldwide last year. Funds came from more than a million donors across 160 countries.

SALES

Here’s the beginning of a prospecting email I received: “We are an estimation company named X. We provide accurate and detailed estimation and takeoff services for construction projects with market-competitive prices, we have 30+ professional estimators to ensure optimum accuracy and the least turnaround time.” What’s wrong this this message? It’s selfish. There’s no value to the recipient. This is why my most common sales-training topic is “What to Say When Contacting Cold Prospects.”

Sales Stat – Only 39 percent of a sales rep’s time is spent selling or interacting with prospects and clients, according to Spotio.

Most sales professionals think prospecting sucks, says best-selling author Jeb Blount. But top producers suck it up and do it. Top earners are “relentless, unstoppable and obsessive about keeping their pipeline full of qualified opportunities.” What’s the key? Use a systematic focus for daily prospecting and leverage a balanced methodology that works for your industry and customer base.

WISDOM

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

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Did You Know?

Surprising Facts, Figures & Points of Pride That Make Omaha Unique

This section is sponsored by Lockbox Storage.

Did you know the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Young Professionals Summit is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year? It’s one of the largest gatherings of young professionals in the country.

Did you know Omaha had a newspaper called The Omaha Bee? It operated from 1871 to 1920. In 1898, South Omaha had a newspaper named The South Omaha Wasp. It didn’t last long. What was up with the insect names?!!?

Did you know Omaha’s Eppley Airport had more passengers in 2024 than the airports in several larger markets including Buffalo, Memphis, Louisville, Oklahoma City and Tulsa?

This section is sponsored by Lockbox Storage, an affiliate of Omaha-based McGregor Interests Inc. We provide storage solutions for all of your storage needs. Our facilities have full-time managers and bright lighting to provide superior security for your belongings. In addition to space for rent, we also provide packing supplies, protection plans and locks along with complimentary handcarts and dollies. Visit LockBox Storage and let us help you with all your storage needs.

Upcoming Events in the Metro

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Cupid’s Corner: A Valentine Pop-Up happening on February 13th & 14th: Join others at Max & Joe’s for a Valentine Pop-Up Cocktail Bar! You can expect Valentine decorations, Valentine-inspired cocktails, along with a full bar, and you can enjoy dinner or just some appetizers, as the full Crescent Moon Ale House food menu is available to order from in Max & Joe’s. Celebrate your Galentine’s or Valentine’s day at this pop-up!

Valentine’s Day Dinner happening on February 14th: This Valentine’s Day, treat your special someone to an intimate dinner in an enchanting garden setting at Lauritzen Gardens. Indulge in fine dining, see incredible art and be serenaded by the soothing melodies of Goldenrod Duo, whose live music will set the perfect mood for the evening. Reserve your table now and let love bloom in the garden!

Date Night Pickleball Clinic happening on February 14th: Keep the romance alive with the world’s fastest growing sport. Smash Park in La Vista is hosting a Date Night Pickleball Clinic, where you’ll learn the ins and outs of pickleball, literally, from their professionally trained coaches and be treated to a FREE Shareable for after your session. You’ll leave your date night being able to play a whole game, and you’ll be able to invite other couples to do the same!

Mid-Winter Float Fest happening on February 19th: It’s the mid-winter float fest happening as a fun addition to Omaha Beer Week! Scriptown Brewing Company is partnering with Coneflower Creamery with curated ice cream and beer pairing for your best floating experience. You can expect traditional root beer floats as well for anyone looking for NA style drinks! Come out and join the fun!

2x Technical Founder w/ Ben Stevinson, Co-Founder of Workshop happening on February 20th: Join others at Scale Omaha to welcome Ben Stevinson, CTO & Co-founder of Workshop, where he will share his journey as a repeat founder and technical leader. Ben has played a key role in scaling Workshop—a Series A-backed SaaS startup streamlining internal email and communications for companies like Steve Madden, Papa John’s and Edelman Financial. Before that, he co-founded Median, a browser-based screen-sharing tool that was acquired by Loup in 2020. His experience spans engineering, analytics and marketing, making him uniquely positioned to discuss the intersection of technology, operations and startup growth. Join others in learning more about his insights and connecting with others in the community!

Millwork Conversations | Tech featuring John Grange happening on February 20th: Millwork Conversations is a happy hour chat between Omaha’s creators, innovators, artists, thought leaders and activators. It’s an opportunity to learn from people across communities right here in Nebraska. They dive into new ideas and what’s possible – how to push past real and imagined boundaries. Each month provides an inspiring, memorable experience for attendees through compelling conversations. Join an evening of insightful discussions between John Grange and Jeff Slobotski, preceded by an hour of networking with tech enthusiasts, professionals and innovators.

Do you have an event you want Vesta to publicize? Share them with us here for free!

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!

People in the News

Sponsored by The Greater Omaha Chamber

greater omaha chamber of commerce logo
digital rendering of Flatiron District project buildings

NP Dodge Real Estate has welcomed new residential sales associates including Joe Heidrick, Vivian Tracey and Kristopher Warren.

Lockton has added Marcey Darmento as an account executive in its Omaha office. She has an extensive background in human resources and graduated summa cum laude from Bellevue University with a Bachelor of Science in Business.

Great Plains State Bank has promoted Todd Heithoff to Chief Credit Officer. The Columbus, Nebraska-based bank has an Omaha branch 17041 Lakeside Hills.

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.

Wall Street: The Week in Review

Commentary by George Morgan

Views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author.

He is the founder of Morgan Investor Education of Omaha.

The last two years in the stock market have been a lot like driving on a deserted road at 160 miles per hour, no cops or curves in sight. During this period, the S&P 500 rose almost 50 percent. It’s up 27 percent in the last 11 months. The market is moving at twice its historical average of 10.6 percent. I am not now, nor will I ever be, in the prediction business, but I think inquiring minds could agree that somewhere out there, at the end of the straightway…there is a curve.

So, what should investors do when we come to the inevitable curve…when the market goes from plus 25 percent to minus 25 percent? The prevailing Wall Street mavens’ answer is “Take the hit and wait for the market to come back.”

That approach may have worked 40 years ago, when I was a wet-behind-the-ears young broker, but today there are more than 70 million investors whose average age is 63.7, who have $9 trillion invested in retirement accounts. They don’t have time to wait and recover from a sizable hit.

One possible alternative to the “wait-and-see” approach is to move some (or all) of your assets from the stock market to the bond market. The conventional wisdom is that bonds are safe, which became problematic when the Fed started raising interest rates three-and-a-half years ago. At this approach, the Wall Street mavens warn, “You don’t know when the market will turn south, so, you don’t know when to get out, and if you did, you wouldn’t know when to get back in.”

But you don’t have to be 100 percent right to benefit from such as approach. If you do nothing, and the market declines by 25 percent, you’ll have to recover 33 percent to get back to where you started. If you misread the market and move some or all of your assets to the bond market after a 10 percent decline, it only takes an 11 percent gain to get you back to whole.

I think it’s reasonable to assume that at the end of every straight away there’s a curve. There is however, one notable and ironic exception. If you drive in a westerly direction on Wall Street, you will not come to a curve — you will come to a cemetery. I leave it up to you to draw your own conclusion.

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Have You Watched Grow O on Video Yet?

Jeff Beals, Trenton Magid and a guest in the KFAB 1110 Radio Booth

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.

Support the Grow “O” Mission

Don’t keep this newsletter to yourself. Forward it to your friends, clients and co-workers. You want to know the real reason we produce this report? It’s to remind Omahans about the vibrant, prosperous and growing city they call home. The more Omaha residents believe in their city, the more successful we’ll all be. Spread the news!

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