Weekly Market Report: May 22, 2025

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Smokin Barrel BBQ has signed a lease at 2457 South 132nd Street, just east of Fazoli’s near 132nd & West Center. The local BBQ spot is relocating from 13508 Discovery Drive and said it will share more details soon.

TOMO Sushi & Ramen has opened at 210 North 114th Street in the former Greenbelly space. The restaurant serves traditional Japanese dishes, sushi, sashimi and ramen. First online orders of $20 or more come with a free appetizer.

Cedar Creek Coffee & Art has started building out its future space at 20603 Elkhorn Drive in Olde Town Elkhorn. Opening is scheduled for September. The space is in a newly constructed, 3-story building. The specialty coffee shop will be a multi-roaster concept, carrying coffees from roasters all over the country. The shop will have a stage for live jazz, an art gallery and a resident ceramicist studio program with the ceramics studio viewable from the coffee shop space.

Papi’s Mexican Grill has opened a second location at Nebraska Crossing in Gretna in the former PepperJax space. Papi’s menu includes tacos, burritos, bowls and more crafted fresh daily. The original location is in the Inner Rail Food Hall at Aksarben Village.

Taqueria 84 Tacos Burritos Y Mas opened last week at 8406 Q Street in a former cake bakery space. From the same owner as Bomb Taco, Taqueria 84 serves eight varieties of tacos and nine burritos as well as a selection of quesadillas and beverages.

Signage is up for Unity Seafood at 7605 Cass Street in the former Outback Steakhouse location. The Cajun grill and bar will feature an outdoor area. Liquor license filings list previous ownership ties to Grand China Buffet and Hot Pot 88.

Reservations open May 29 for Terra Gaucha, a Brazilian steakhouse opening in the former Charleston’s space at 13851 FNB Parkway near 137th & West Dodge. The Florida-based chain calls its concept the “Ultimate Churrasco Experience.” This will be its fifth location.

Exterior signage is now in place for Godega Market, a coffee shop and convenience market, which is planning a second location in Aksarben Village. Godega is remodeling a space at 1917 South 67th Street on the ground floor of the HDR global headquarters building. The previous tenant was Zoup, which closed last year. Godega Market’s original location is at 423 South 11th Street in the Old Market.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is opening its first Nebraska location soon at 6516 North 73rd Plaza in Sorensen Park Plaza. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based company has 574 stores and calls itself “America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory. The closest existing locations are in Kansas City.

Kinkead Optical Co., an independent eyewear and sunglasses store, is opening next week at 1001 North 13th Street in Millwork Commons. The store occupies a ground-floor space on the southwest corner of the 5-story Dizzy Mule building. The recently completed Dizzy Mule complex includes both new construction and historic renovations. The upper floors have a total of 172 apartments.

Baker’s Candies will celebrate the grand opening of its factory outlet store May 23rd through 25th in Greenwood. The 14,000 sq. ft. store will offer 500 varieties of candy and snacks plus 18 flavors of Kool-Aid on tap. The Kool-Aid will be free of charge as a way to celebrate the Nebraska-born beverage. The store will also feature a 14-foot tall “talking cocoa tree” and retro candy from the past 100 years.

We can now report the first six businesses planning to open in the Tower District, a 120-acre, mixed-use project on the northwest corner of 84th & Highway 370 in Papillion. Developed by Calabretto Building Group, the Tower District will be home to Starbucks Coffee, Panera Bread, Casey’s, Pinnacle Bank, AutoZone and GreenState Credit Union. The development gets its name for its proximity to Papillion’s iconic water tower.

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!

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Acadian Grille is a Cajun-Fueled Family Affair Built on Bold Flavor

Dan O’Brien spent 30 years in the corporate world at Pitney Bowes, TD Ameritrade and First Data Corporation. But Corporate America wasn’t his first calling.

O’Brien’s culinary journey began informally during his travels after high school. He eventually landed in a San Francisco restaurant, working under an Italian chef, who taught him the ins and outs of a professional kitchen.

While working their corporate jobs, O’Brien and his wife Jennifer – now his business partner – spent years hosting family gatherings. They developed a love of Cajun food during work travel in cities like Macon, Chesapeake and New Orleans. After decades in the corporate world, the O’Briens felt opening a restaurant was their logical next step.

“We were always the family who hosted the parties,” O’Brien said in our interview. “Graduations, holidays, whatever. A restaurant just made sense.”

Acadian Grille is a family affair. Jennifer runs the front-of-house and oversees marketing. She’ll soon be sharing the marketing tasks with their daughter Riley. Their 22 year-old son Liam runs the back of the house and is the craftsman behind many of the sauces, dressings, jams and the house-made ice cream. Their eldest, Tara, pursues other interests but still works Friday night dinner shifts and helps out where needed. O’Brien handles the cooking and encourages menu innovation amongst the family and staff.

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Multi-Family Development Starting Soon at 213th & Harrison

Hubbell Realty Company of Des Moines, Iowa, plans to develop The Rye at Harrison, a $20 million apartment and townhome project planned for the northwest corner of 213th &Harrison Street near the Coventry Wood subdivision.

The first phase, which will include 99 housing units, is slated to begin later this year and be completed in late 2026. This will include 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units.

In total, the project will have two or three phases, and a total of 286 units, both market-rate rental apartments and townhomes, and over 550 parking spaces. The entire project is slated to be complete by 2027.

“The Rye presents a unique opportunity to continue the expansion west along Harrison Street in a very desirable area. As we look ahead to the potential expansion at Nebraska Crossing, CONNECT Sarpy and a new children’s hospital and medical center, we believe rental housing of both types will be heavily desired for the workforce coming to this area,” said Matt Weller, vice president of development with Hubbell.

The Rye at Harrison will have townhomes surrounding the exterior and resident amenities on the interior such as a swimming pool, clubhouse, fitness center, dog park and package concierge.

According to a recent CoStar Insight report, Omaha is coming off a record year of housing supply, ranking in the Top 20 across numerous sectors of the U.S. multifamily markets, behind markets like Nashville, Tenn.; Austin, Tex; Minneapolis; and Jacksonville, Fla. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Omaha kept similar pace with other major markets, posting a 3.6 percent annual rent growth and a 5.9 percent vacancy rate.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Lauritzen Gardens will celebrate the grand opening of Sophia’s Play Garden on May 26. The new play area is located just outside of the Visitor and Education Center. The botanical garden broke ground on the project in 2022. The $13 million, donor-funded project offers a variety of interactive, horticulture-related activities and play areas. The attraction is named in honor of the daughter of donors Polina and Bob Schlott.

Prix Versailles, an architecture design award, has recognized Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha as one of the seven most beautiful new museum openings. The other winners were Grand Palais in Paris; Saka Museum in Bali, Indonesia; Audeum, in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Kuntstsllo in Kristiansand, Norway; Diriyah Art Futures in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Cleveland, Ohio. Joslyn recently opened its $100+ million, 42,000 sq. ft. Rhonda & Howard Hawks Pavilion designed by renowned architecture firm Snøhetta.

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha broke ground May 19th on its first new-build development – 30 single-family houses – in Papillion. Cobalt Credit Union has invested $7 million to help make these houses possible. Habitat Omaha is partnering with a for-profit developer, Hoppe Development, on Tallgrass, a 600-unit, mixed-income, 35-acre neighborhood inside the 440-acre Oak Leaf subdivision near 72nd & Capehart Road.

Crews have framed the fourth floor of the NOVA Apartments under construction southeast of 12th & Nicholas Street in North Downtown. NOVA will be a 5-story building with street-level retail and 74 apartment units. The building will include 20,000 sq. ft. of street-level retail space for lease. The first floor has been framed with steel beams. Floors two through five will be wood framed. It’s one of several new buildings planned for the Millwork Commons district north of Charles Schwab Field. The ground level will have a sports bar from Baton Rouge, La.

One of Nebraska’s largest high school sporting events returns to Omaha this week as more than 2,600 athletes compete in the 2025 NSAA State Track & Field Championships at Omaha Burke Stadium. The statewide event draws students, families and fans from throughout Nebraska. The four-day meet runs from May 21 to 24, with Class A and B events on Wednesday and Thursday, and Class C and D events on Friday and Saturday.

Nebraska is the number-one state in the nation for newly retired women, according to Travel + Leisure. A study by Manhattan Mental Health Counseling ranked all 50 states on many factors including cost of living, health care, life expectancy, crime, climate and more. In addition to #1 Nebraska, several regional states made the top 10: South Dakota (#2); Iowa (#3); Kansas (#4); Wisconsin (#7); North Dakota (#8); and Wyoming (#9).

The Omaha Planning Board approved plats for new developments along 192nd Street. Northwest of the Avante subdivision, at 192nd & Fort Street, Woodland Homes is platting 236 single-family lots in a subdivision named Whispering Oaks. This 90-acre subdivision is a combination of two subdivisions called Sunrise and Daybreak, whose preliminary plat and final plat were approved in early 2025 and 2021, respectively.

Adjacent to the north of this subdivision, Falcone Land Development is planning a 267-lot subdivision called McArdle Ridge. The 95-acre subdivision is located on the southwest corner of 192nd & Ida Street.

Lastly, the planning board approved the final plat for a mixed-use development called Antler View West. The final plat is largely the same as the preliminary plat, except for the splitting of the 20-acre multi-family residential lot into two multi-family residential lots. The remaining 12 commercial lots remain intact.

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Midwest Mobile Golf has opened for business, serving the Omaha metro area. Founded by Garrett Hamilton and Chase VanWinkle, the Gretna-based company provides a golf simulator on a custom-built, truck trailer. The simulator debuted two weeks ago at the SIP Festival in Ashland. Guests can play simulated famous courses such as Pebble Beach. Because it’s mobile, the simulator is available for corporate events, fundraisers and parties.

Werner Enterprises, Inc. declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per common share. This dividend will be paid on July 23 to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 7, 2025. Werner Enterprises has paid a quarterly cash dividend to its stockholders every quarter since July 1987.

Patty’s Childcare Center is opening in the former St. Rose Catholic Church building at 4110 South 13th Street on a 2-acre site just a few blocks south of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The 12,000 sq. ft. building went through a $4 million renovation that included adding an additional interior floor and elevator.

JLL, an international commercial real estate firm, has expanded its Iowa/Nebraska team with the addition of five Omaha-based brokers, who were previously part of Cresa Omaha. They are Eric Rose, Johnny Dorn, Erick Tjarks, Mark Palmer and Tanner Borchardt. Chicago-based JLL has 112,000 employees and operates in more than 80 countries, generating $23.4 billion in annual revenue.

The Greater Omaha Chamber has named CQuence Health as its May 2025 business of the month. Founded in 2011, CQuence Health is a healthcare strategy company that provides strategic guidance, professional services and investment capital to a diverse portfolio of innovative healthcare organizations.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen this week signed a lab-grown meat ban into law, making Nebraska the sixth state to do so, according to the Center for the Environment and Welfare, one of the leading critics of lab-grown meat. Nebraska joins Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Montana and Indiana as the states that have enacted bans on lab-grown meat.

Eighty-two percent of people agree that small businesses positively impact their lives, and 40 percent would be devastated if their favorite local business closed, according to a Constant Contact study of more than 8,000 of its customers worldwide. Restaurants, grocery stores and retail shops are the most-loved small businesses, and 40 percent of consumers visit their favorite small business at least once a week

The number of renter-occupied housing units grew from 39.7 million in 2010 to 45.6 million in 2023, according The Hustle. Not only are more people renting, but they’re older. The share of people 65+ who rent their homes is projected to grow from 22 percent in 2020 to 27 percent in 2040. People who purchased starter homes in 50 major U.S. cities in 2024 spent an average of $1,000 more on monthly housing costs than their renting counterparts.

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The Salvation Army of Omaha this summer is launching Family Meals of Hope, a program that serves free, nutritious dinnertime meals at four parks across the city: Miller, Benson, Upland and Highland parks. Family Meals of Hope will serve meals food-truck style each weeknight – except for holidays – from June 2 through August 1.

The Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative is hosting a community birthday party on Wednesday, May 28, for the 60th anniversary of Head Start, a program that currently serves more than 5,500 children in 56 counties across Nebraska—and more than 40 million nationwide since its founding. The community is invited to join at 3200 North 30th Street, Suite 200, to celebrate Head Start’s impact on Nebraska communities and learn how they can take action to help protect Head Start for future generations.

May is National Foster Care Month, and the Omaha Storm Chasers are recognizing the Child Saving Institute as the Charitable Organization of the Game on May 27. A foster care team will be at the game to answer questions, share resources and connect with the community. The Child Saving Institute works to build a city where every child can stay close to the people, places and possibilities that feel like home.

Volunteers with AAA the Urban Nature Alliance planted 15 trees Tuesday in the Ramblewood neighborhood of Elkhorn. The group hopes to return in the fall to plant 150 more trees to replace those that were destroyed in last year’s Arbor Day tornado.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

Former Creighton Bluejay Ryan Fitzgerald made his MLB debut last Friday night. The undrafted free agent, who played for the Storm Chasers last season, was called up to the Minnesota Twins from Triple-A affiliate Saint Paul Saints. Fitzgerald is batting .328 for the Saints this season. He went 0-3 at the plate in the Twins’ 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Omaha softball’s historic season concluded Saturday night against Cal, who dealt Omaha both its losses in the NCAA tournament. Cal took game one Friday 1-0 sending Omaha to the losers’ bracket. The Mavericks then beat Boston 3-1 on Saturday before turning around to face Cal again later that day. The Bears led wire-to-wire in the rematch, winning 4-0 to advance to the regional final against the nation’s No. 2 overall seed and host Oklahoma.

Omaha’s historic year included its first Summit League regular season title in program history and third straight Summit League Tournament title. They housed the Summit League’s Pitcher of the Year, Maddia Groff, and Defensive Player of the Year, shortstop Maggie O’Brien. The Mavericks have now won at least one game in each of the last three postseasons.

Union Omaha fell to Texoma FC 2-1 Saturday night, despite dominating shots, shots-on-target, and possession in the match. The Owls’ lone goal came from Max Schneider in the 87th minute while attempting to mount a comeback. Omaha’s next match is vs. FC Naples this Sunday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. All USL League One games can be streamed on ESPN+.

Creighton baseball completed a sweep of Georgetown in its final series of the regular season to claim a share of the Big East regular season title and No. 1 overall seed in the Big East Tournament. Connecticut also clinched a share of the regular season title. The Bluejays won 18 of their final 20 games of the season, dropping only one conference game over that stretch.

Jac Caglianone, the Kansas City Royals’ top prospect, has been promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers. Major League Baseball’s No. 10 prospect will likely be a short-term rental. Caglianone was the No. 6 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft out of Florida and is one of baseball’s top batting prospects. He lived up to the billing, recording three hits in nine at-bats over the first two games of this week’s series against Salt Lake City. The Storm Chasers are 0-2 in the series and are back in action tonight at 7:35 p.m. All Storm Chasers games are broadcast locally on 1290 AM.

Six Omaha baseball players earned All-Summit League honors this season. Infielder Tyler Bishop and outfielder Jackson Trout were named to the league’s first team, while pitcher Ben Weber was selected to the second team. Outfielder Tyler Palmer and pitcher Tanner Foertsch were honorable mentions. Senior third baseman Henry Zipay, an Omaha native, was named the Summit League Player of the Year. He is the fourth player in program history to earn the award. Zipay led the Summit League with a .397 batting average this season.

The Big East announced its league awards Tuesday, and the regular season champion Bluejays were featured prominently. Pitchers Dominic Cancellieri, Wilson Magers and Garrett Langrell each made the All-Big East first team, while catcher Connor Capece, outfielder Nolan Sailors and third baseman Matt Scherrman were named to the conference’s second team.

Cancellieri was named the Big East Pitcher of the Year, posting a 2.06 ERA during conference play. His counterpart, Wilson Magers, was named the Big East Freshman of the Year. In his first season as a Bluejay, Magers pitched a season-high 67.0 innings. Creighton also took home Coaching Staff of the Year as they clinched a share of the Big East regular season title and the conference’s No. 1 overall seed. In his final season, coach Ed Servais put together his best work and earned his sixth Coach or Coaching Staff of the Year honor.

Ava Martin and Nora Sis will train with USA Volleyball’s U23 National Team next month in preparation for the NORCECA U23 Pan American Cup. Eighteen athletes will train from July 18-25 at the National Team Training Center. From there, Twelve will be selected to represent the United States in Mexico at the event. The duo led Creighton volleyball to its first Elite Eight since 2016 and were unanimous All-Big East selections last season. Martin will play her senior season for the Bluejays this season, while Sis is coming off a PVF title with the Orlando Valkyries in her rookie season.

Creighton basketball announced it will host Iowa State in an exhibition game on October 17 at the CHI Health Center. In 2026, the Cyclones will host Creighton for an exhibition in Ames. Iowa State’s head coach T.J. Otzelberger will reunite with Greg McDermott, who gave Otzelberger his first Division I assistant coaching job when he was the head coach at Iowa State.

Omaha baseball dropped its first game of the Summit League tournament Wednesday night against North Dakota State. Star pitcher Ben Weber tossed 9.0 scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters before surrendering to reliever Oliver Mabee. The Bison won the game in walk off fashion in the 10th inning. A lead-off triple in the bottom of the inning turned into the winning run just two pitches later, as an errant pitch from Mabee snuck past catcher Noah Greise, allowing the Bison to score the game’s lone run.

Creighton baseball beat St. John’s in its first appearance in the Big East tournament since 2022, taking down the Johnnies 10-8 to move to the winners’ bracket of the double elimination tournament. They will face Xavier, who defeated co-champion UConn in 10 innings Wednesday night. First pitch is 5:30 p.m. tonight. The game will be broadcast locally on 1180 AM.

The NSAA State Soccer Championships concluded Wednesday night at Morrison Stadium. Westside defeated Omaha South 3-2 to take home the Class A Boys Championship, while Schuyler took down Bennington 2-1 in the Class B final to win its first state title.

On the girls’ side of the bracket, Lincoln Southwest won its second straight state title, taking down Omaha Marian in the Class A Championship Game. In Class B, it was Gretna East defeating Lincoln Pius X to cap a perfect season and capture its second straight state title in only the second year of the school’s existence. Lincoln Southwest’s only loss this season was to Gretna East.

The NSAA State Baseball Championship Game will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Werner Park. Millard North beat Elkhorn South in an elimination game on Wednesday to advance to the final. They will face top-seeded Lincoln East.

More NSAA State Championships are being held currently. State track is underway at Burke High School through May 24, and Girls Tennis began today in Lincoln and will conclude on May 28.

Upcoming Games

• Creighton baseball vs. Xavier | Tonight, May 22 | 5:30 p.m.
• Omaha Storm Chasers at Salt Lake | May 20 – May 25 | 7:35 p.m. Thursday
• Union Omaha at FC Naples | Sunday, May 25 | 6:30 p.m.

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Great Plains Theatre Commons is hosting its 2025 New Play Festival from May 25-31 at Metropolitan Community College and Yates Illuminates. Each year, the GPTC New Play Festival helps to develop a group of new plays that are selected from a pool of around 700 submissions. During the festival, local and national playwrights, actors, directors, dramaturgs, designers and Omaha community members, share a week of stories, workshops, readings, meals, performances and celebrations. All public festival events are free to attend. Click HERE for the festival program and schedule.

North Omaha Music and Arts held a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to showcase new renovations and additions to their music program at 2510 North 24th Street. The leading-edge space is meant to accommodate the needs of quality music and arts education for the youth of the community. NOMA’s growth and building renovation are an integral part of an overall plan to reinvigorate the North 24th Street corridor.

The Joslyn Castle will feature Mary Kay Leatherman at its Local Author Celebration Series on May 22. Leatherman’s works span several genres. She is a writer of fiction, literary non-fiction and non-fiction books, traditionally published and independently published works. Her three novels explore human relationships with reflection, humor and hope and often refer to or take place in Omaha. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. and is free to attend.

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 Omaha’s median household income is $84,821, which compares favorably with the nation as a whole?

Did you know nearly 50 percent of out-of-state Creighton graduates and 80 percent of in-state graduates stay in Nebraska to pursue careers or further their education?

Did you know the population inside the Omaha city limits is now 489,265? That means

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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!

Whatever’s Clever happening on May 23rd: Every 4th Friday, a talented cast of Big Canvas improvisers brings high-energy, family-friendly, short-form improv to Omaha’s Blackstone District. With each show offering a brand-new adventure, no two performances are ever the same. Laughter is guaranteed from a cast that includes Eric Green, Jeremy Plumb, Andrea Lane, Jeff Journey, Tom Moore and Danny Jablonski.

Sofia’s Play Garden Grand Opening happening on May 26th: Join Lauritzen Gardens on May 26 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. as they open Sofia’s Play Garden to the public! This amazing acre is thoughtfully designed to spark imagination, discovery, and joy for visitors of all ages. With hidden adventures around every corner and features that bring nature, play, and learning together, it offers an inclusive, sensory-friendly environment where children and families can explore, grow and build meaningful relationships with the natural world.

Kick Off The Summer Event happening on May 29th: Kick off summer in style at this high-energy party on Thursday, May 29, featuring live music from Rustic Rebels from 7 to 10 p.m. Guests can enjoy raffles, yard games, local vendors, a summer-themed photo booth and nonstop dancing with DJ Nick. Specialty drinks, hot food and classic bar fun like pool, darts, and even a mechanical bull, keep the vibes going all night. It’s more than just a night out; it’s the ultimate summer welcome party!

Corgi Cup happening on May 29th: Get ready for some tail-wagging fun at the Corgi Cup on May 29th! Watch as corgis dash toward glory in a lighthearted race to crown the next champion. If you think your pup has what it takes, be sure to register early-spots are limited. It’s the perfect event for corgi lovers and spectators alike!

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ACCESSbank announced that Patrick Corrigan, co-founder, chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, will retire from his daily operational responsibilities on June 30. He will continue to serve as chairman of the board. Tom Corrigan, current president, will assume the expanded role of president and Chief Executive Officer on July 1.

FNTS, an IT managed services provider, has appointed Mike Walenta as Chief Financial Officer and Chris Sparks as senior director of finance. Sparks previously served as director of finance at FNBO. Walenta will take on dual responsibilities, continuing in his role as vice president of finance at the bank while also serving as Chief Financial Officer of FNTS.

Woodmen Financial Services appointed Rahja Porter as Chief Compliance Officer this past April. He has experience and expertise in financial compliance and risk management, having spent the last decade with Osaic (formerly Securities America) as an Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction Leader of Compliance & Supervision.

Koley Jessen has expanded its banking and finance practice with the addition of Gabrielle Kott-McCarty as a senior associate. She earned a J.D. from Creighton University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nevada—Reno.

Marty Hug, longtime CEO of Omaha-based Agemark Senior Living, announced he is stepping down from the position and will continue at Agemark as executive chairman. He will also advise Agemark’s new CEOs, Forrest Westin and Michael Pittore. The official leadership transition will take place on June 1, 2025.

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

The “detachment paradox” occurs when managers recognize the benefits of detachment from work for employee well-being/productivity, yet they simultaneously penalize those who engage in such detachment. Turns out this is a “high-class problem,” according to Axios. Overwork is most endemic among those with higher-incomes and advanced degrees.

Surveys of more than 12,000 employees across various industries and 44 countries, found that Generation Z is more likely to be in the office than their older counterparts, according to real estate company JLL. Younger workers (up to 24 years old) are in the office on average three days a week, tracking higher than all other age groups.

Business Travel – Customers lodged a record 66,675 complaints against U.S. airlines last year, according to CBS News. Here are the three worst carriers: Frontier (23.3 complaints per 100,000 passengers); Spirit (12.8); JetBlue (10.4)

SALES

When prospecting via email, think of your subject line as the key that unlocks a door. But don’t be cheesy, and never mislead your reader. Emails that don’t fulfill the subject line’s promise are a shortcut to the unsubscribe button.

Sales Stat – Forty-two percent of sales reps feel they don’t have enough information prior to making a call, according to Spotio.

Having a higher price than your competitor isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A higher price is an insurance policy against reputation damage, says sales expert Anthony Iannarino. “Without the money to prevent the problems that cause a loss of reputation, you are creating the kind of experience your decision maker and their teams will confess your sins, complaining to anyone who will listen. In a world where everything is known and searchable, your client’s underinvestment shows up as your bad results.”

WISDOM

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Unless your car is over 25 years old, it has a check-engine light next to your speedometer. Not all check-engine lights are created equal. Some indicate trivia, like your air filter is dirty. Others indicate that the engine on the verge of a catastrophic meltdown.

Just as a check-engine light can indicate a variety of maladies, drivers’ responses to check-engine lights also cover a wide spectrum. Some drivers take a glowing check engine light with a grain of salt and drive on until the engine blows up. Others panic at the mere flicker of a check-engine light, pull over to the side of the road and call Triple-A.

Ninety million American workers have 401(k) accounts. They have $12.3 trillion retirement dollars invested in those accounts. If you are one of those 90 million 401(k) owners, consider the following as your 401(k) check-engine light.

A 401(k) account is not a savings account; it is an investment account. It is designed to provide wise and thoughtful workers an opportunity to control the financing of their golden years. The owner of the 401(k) plan is responsible for deciding which investments to include in their 401(k) portfolio. But they can only choose investment vehicles from a menu of mutual funds prepared by a registered investment professional. And the investment professional preparing that investment menu is compensated by the mutual funds they place in that menu. That’s potentially a conflict of interest.

Fees play a critical role a mutual fund’s performance. They are a massive headwind and a small tailwind. Every year, America’s 90 million 401(k) plan owners pay Wall Street in excess of $120 billion dollars for professional fund management. Those fees run anywhere from 2.2 percent for target-dated funds to .01 percent for index funds. Over the course of a working career this could result in a 401(k)-owner paying as much as $250,000 to Wall Street to manage his or her mutual funds.

Now the $64,000 question – What category of driver are you? Do you ignore the check-engine light and hope nothing bad will happen? Or are you one of those drivers who pulls over at the slightest hint of pending doom?

If you fall under the first category, I wish you God’s speed and an improbable happy ending. But if you really care about your retirement check-engine light, you will review your 401(k)-investment menu and do what you can to keep some of the Wall Street’s $120 billion fees in your own pocket.

For more on index funds, visit my podcast, “Wall Street for Dummies.”

Hubbell Realty Company is a full-service development company providing construction, development, homebuilding and management services since 1856. Click HERE for more information.

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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