SL Jensen

We’re large enough to make the ‘daunting’ feasible, yet small enough to be directly connected to you and your efforts, aware of your constraints and high expectations, attentive to the scrutiny applied, and stay approachable while being expert craftsmen. We effectively collaborate, discuss, debate, and decide—then deliver for you!

We offer a wide range of property services including:
Kitchen Renovations • Bathroom Renovations
Laundry Room Augments • Room Optimizations
Home and Storm Repairs • Window and Door Replacements
Cabinetry Solutions

ALL INCLUSIVE – We can be your “one-stop-shop” for home improvements and maintenance.
CREATIVE OPTIONS – We can provide insight and direction for cost effective elegance.
LIMITED HASSLE – We can make plans, outline details and facilitate projects for short turn-around times.
BUDGET CONSCIOUS – We provide bids and thorough estimates to minimize change orders and unknowns.
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH – We stay engaged with you to address all issues immediately.

At SL Jensen, we have craftsmen on staff for each specific trade, including:

Painting: Our Painting Director has 25 years experience providing exceptional paint services and product recommendations for Homeowners, Designers and Clients

Masonry: Our experienced masons specialize in complex situations.  We take the design into consideration when collaborating with the Homeowner and/or Designer; understand the priorities and expectations, and then complete the installation on time and within the budget.  Masonry projects include fireplace and hearth construction including chimney construction; mailboxes, brick walkways, patios, and pavers; brick and stone veneer; and all aspects associated with new construction and remodels.

Tile: Our tile setters have extensive experience with all types of tile including natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, quarry, and glass mosaic.  They use the latest technology in waterproofing and stain resistant grouts, and are also certified in heated floor installation.  Tile projects include custom shower and tub surrounds, fireplace surrounds, floors, and backsplashes.

Cabinetry: Our cabinetry division combines over 30 years of experience in order to custom design, build and install your cabinetry needs using state-of-the-art equipment
and techniques.

By partnering with architects and staffing the highest quality tradesmen in-house for each specific project, this enables us to give our clients that highest quality of work for ANY budget.  Project management is a very important aspect of our business, and we provide an open book policy for our customers to ensure proper communication with respect to any budget concerns that may arise.  We are a licensed and insured contractor, and have been a Better Business Bureau member since 1994.  People often see our work and think they can’t afford our services, but our staff is accustomed to tailoring the project budget so if fits the needs of each client.  Our superior quality and reputation has resulted in over 90% of our business being referral/word-of-mouth.

SL Jensen has recently formed a new maintenance division in order to take the hassle and worry out of all your home repair and preservation needs.  This includes our current trade experts, and adds services such as winterization inspection and repair and home maintenance inspection; no project is too small or too big!

We deliver projects on time & on budget. CALL TODAY!
402-593-9466 • sljensenconstruction.com  

Here are some of their events in March:

Veteran Business Owners Forum
Date: March 1, 2013
Time: 7:15am (sign-in), 7:30am-9:00am (program)
Location: UNO Thompson Alumni Center
Content: This event is a forum for possible teaming, partnership, and education on veteran related businesses. Come team up with veteran owned businesses in Nebraska.
Panel Discussion: Tommy Garrett (The Garrett Group), Steve Wolf (Issues Management Solutions), and Lisa Wolford (CSSS.NET)
Registration: http://ptac.unomaha.edu/vetforum.cfm or contact Kelly Grant at (402) 554-6252

Applying for Small Business Certifications
Date: March 5, 2013 • Time: 10:00am-Noon
Location: University of Nebraska Kearney, West Center Building, Room 120E
Content: This workshop will provide you with information on whether your business is qualified for 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned, and Veteran-Owned certifications and how to get certified.
Registration: http://ptac.unomaha.edu/events.cfm or contact Traci Miller at 402-554-4085

Women Owned Construction  Consortium
Date: March 8, 2013 • Time: 8:30am-10:00am
Location: UNO, Mammel Hall Suite 200, 6708 Pine St. Omaha, NE
Content: Join us to work together and expand opportunities for women in a traditionally male dominated arena.
Registration: http://ptac.unomaha.edu/wocc.cfm or contact Kelly Grant at (402) 554-6252

Winning Federal Contracts for Your Business
Date: March 21, 2013 • Time: 8:30am-10:30am
Location: U.S. Small Business Administration, Omaha, NE
Content: This informative workshop, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration (SBA), will provide you with the information and resources to set your business on the path to winning government contracts.
Registration: contact Mary Graff at mgraff@unomaha.edu

Selling to the Government: Finding Bid Opportunities
Date: March 26, 2013 • Time: 11:45am-12:45pm
Location: University of Nebraska Kearney, West Center Building Room 120E, 1917 West 24th Street. Also available as a webinar
Content: Discover how to locate bidding opportunities with the many government agencies that buy what you have to sell.
Registration: http://ptac.unomaha.edu/events.cfm or contact Scott Knapp at 308-865-8244

That experience starts with knowledgeable associates who can help professionals select the right plans and devices to fit their business. Whether a business needs one line, 50 lines or any amount in between, U.S. Cellular has the ideal plan that offers value and rewards business customers for their loyalty.

“We understand that every small business has different needs,” said Mike Adams, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Nebraska and southwest Iowa. “That’s why we offer national business plans that start with two lines, so companies can get the minutes, messaging and data they want at a price that fits their budget.”

U.S. Cellular also offers plans that start with seven lines and go up to 21-plus lines for larger and expanding businesses.

U.S. Cellular has a team dedicated to the special needs of small and medium-sized businesses to help them streamline their connections with employees and customers. The team will match businesses with the right devices.

With Android-powered smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S III and Motorola ELECTRIFY M, businesses can boost their productivity with a wide range of apps that help them optimize communications across a mobile workforce.

The BlackBerry Wireless Solution from U.S. Cellular enables businesses to stay connected, informed and organized. Business professionals can use a BlackBerry Curve 9350 or
BlackBerry Torch 9850 to leverage BlackBerry Internet Service or BlackBerry Enterprise Server to respond to time-sensitive email and manage their inbox while on the go.

A wireless modem is a powerful and productive tool that enables mobile professionals to conduct business efficiently whether they are in the office or away from it. Business travelers can power it up and connect their laptop and other Wi-Fi enabled devices using the Wi-Fi network name and security key displayed on the LCD.

Business professionals also can enjoy the flexibility of going wireless by connecting to the Internet directly with the Samsung SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot. This portable powerhouse keeps them continuously connected anytime and anywhere.

But a phone and plan are only as good as the services that support them. U.S. Cellular customers enjoy unique benefits, such as free Overage Protection and free Battery Swap. U.S. Cellular also offers customers a valuable rewards program that recognizes customer loyalty and rewards customers for simple things, such as paying bills on-time, adding a line or referring friends and family. Points may be used for faster phone upgrades, additional lines, devices, accessories and ringtones.

Because business professionals need a phone that works where and when they want it, U.S. Cellular provides a high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier.

“At U.S. Cellular, all of our customers can expect to be treated with respect, fairness and honesty,” Adams said. “Our associates aim to deliver on this commitment every day at every consumer interaction.”

Visit us online to see what we can do for you.
uscellular.com

What do you think makes you different from other companies similar to yours?
I take the time to work with my clients on a consultative approach. I design a personalized plan for each client as every person’s plan is different.

What do you like about doing business in the Omaha area?
What I love about Omaha is that people here understand the need for insurance. It’s not just about their homes or autos. They care about protecting their livelihood, families, and do very well at planning for the future.

What kind of community organizations/groups are you involved with?
I am a sponsor of the Elkhorn Baseball Association , a member of the Millard Business Association and a member of NAIFA (The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors).

Do you have a business philosophy or mission statement?
My philosophy derives from my desire to help others. No two plans are the same so I take the time to get to know my clients. The more we know about our clients situations, the more effectively we can protect them.

What changes have you seen in the industry and your company in the past few years?
More and more people see the great need for life insurance and disability to protect their families and income. This will be a great focus for us in protecting our clients.

What do you see happening with the business in the next five years?
Now more than ever it is important to have an advisor that will look for discounts and quality products designed specifically for you. With current economic conditions, damaging storms, and financial uncertainty, having an advisor that you trust is key to getting through any uncertainty in the next few years. Communication and trust will be a key role in those relationships with our clients.

What is one of the biggest challenges that your company has faced?
One of the major challenges I have faced is finding time to get in front of all the people who need and want my help. I’m constantly working on time management to effectively help as many people as possible.

What has been your most important achievement as a business?
One of the most important achievements has been being able to put together plans for clients at all of their different stages of life.  Small steps reap huge rewards for your family.

What was the biggest turning point in your business?
The biggest turning point for me was when I realized how much I can actually help people!  It is a great feeling to know that we can do so much for our clients.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about your business that most people don’t know?
We are a full service Insurance and Financial Services Agency. We not only protect what our clients own but also build plans for their futures.

What is one goal for your business that you have yet to accomplish?
My goal is to continue to grow as an Agency. We’re currently looking to add one or two more producers to our company. Once we accomplish that we will evaluate our business and re-establish
our goals from there.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’m currently working with a small business in Lincoln on a buy/sell agreement. There are great benefits from this as it helps the owner to keep a quality employee from pursuing other career options, as well as builds funds for the employee to buy out the owner at an agreed upon time. The employee also feels like there is a commitment from the owner to sell him the business in the future. This is just a small example of some of the things we can handle for our clients.


Call today to see what I can do for you.
402-218-1069
agentshanemyers.com
Shane.Myers@fbfs.com
5728 S 144th St. Omaha, NE

Celebrating 12 years of serving small to mid-sized businesses, CoreTech’s commitment to providing proven services and expertise to tackle technology problems continues to resonate with their clients.

What do you think makes you different from other companies similar to yours?  The way we approach client relationships. We work toward building an integrated partnership, and thus function as an extension of our clients’ staff. Small and midsize businesses today use technology more extensively than they have in the past, they require partners that are effective and relationship oriented.

What changes have you seen in the industry and your company in the past few years? Our industry is constantly in transition, which means our business is growing and changing as well. The consumerization of technology with the use of smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. has impacted our business and how we service clients. Employees are bringing their devices to work and using them for work. We help clients manage and secure the devices, in addition to making business applications accessible on those devices.

CoreTech is making a significant investment as a company in order to provide top-notch services to our clients. Cloud computing makes it easier for companies to take advantage of updated technology and the capabilities. In addition, we have found that more small and midsize businesses are willing to partner with a technology provider, invest in technology, and see an increase in revenues without having to add additional staff. Typically, enterprise businesses implement this approach, however small and midsize businesses are able to take advantage of the approach as well.

With the addition of cloud computing, there are a lot of options including on-premise, off-premise, third-party providers, and combinations of these options. Solutions are more complex, so it is important that businesses engage the services of a provider who understands the connectivity, data migrations, and application integration requirements. We have expanded our staff and resources to accommodate these clients.

What do you see happening with the business in the next five years? We see growth and expansion as a priority for our business in the coming years. Our clients drive this growth as technology is an important focus and competitive advantage for their businesses. Strategy and integration will become driving services in our business as well. Clients need a person within their technology team overseeing how business goals are meeting technology plans and budgets, maximizing ROI, and providing consulting services to better their business. We are addressing this role with an assigned Virtual CIO for CoreCare | Critical, or managed services, clients.

What is one of the biggest challenges that your company has faced? Growth is a challenge we’ve tackled the past few years as we’ve nearly doubled our staff and increased the services we offer. We worked hard at maintaining the company culture and client relationships in the midst of this growth. We are currently transitioning internal processes to adapt to new staff and management team members. Finalizing these processes will continue into next year.

What was the biggest turning point in your business? The decision to grow the company and then accomplish growth was our biggest turning point to date. We wanted to provide more services and opportunities for our clients; and we realized we would not be able to achieve this without growing the business. We moved to a new location and implemented some significant technology systems to benefit our clients as well. In addition, our new space is great for client educational sessions and events.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about your business that most people don’t know?  Most people don’t know we created SecureTech two years ago. It’s a division focused on networked video surveillance and access control, and cloud-based services. We merged with Security Systems Integrators to form the new division. Prior to this time, CoreTech was providing video surveillance systems to a number of clients. We saw a void in the marketplace for a team of security and IT experts working together to apply network and high-tech security systems knowledge to meet business needs. The merger brought this expertise together in-house.

The SecureTech client base consists of small to midsize, and enterprise clients as well. The exciting news for today’s small to midsize businesses is –by utilizing cloud technologies the company can take advantage of high-end security systems at a much lower cost. Business people have been very interested in talking to us about our proactive management systems and cloud technologies.

We visited Harvest on a Wednesday evening and, after taking a look at the menu, want to state that you should not be fooled by the word ‘café’ in the name.  Harvest is a truly gourmet restaurant with award-winning European trained chef Robert Barr creating choices like Chicken Olivia, Bangkok Shrimp Wrap and Grilled Swordfish.  Although we went there for dinner, there are many tasty lunch choices like the grilled cheese Panini, smoked salmon Panini and Sonoma smoked turkey, each of which is served with a Harvest side salad, Harvest chips, fruit salad or you can substitute soup for $2.

For our dining options, we chose the Duck a la Orange (slow roasted duck with a triple reduction orange and wine sauce, served with Piemont rice and vegetables), Salmon  en Croute (a six ounce fillet of Atlantic Salmon baked in a buttery puff pastry shell served with a side of roasted asparagus), Chicken Marsala (two sautéed breasts of chicken, button mushrooms, shallots and a sweet Marsala wine sauce over a bed of angel hair pasta), California Cioppino (Chef Barr’s gold medal winning California bouillabaisse made with cod, shrimp and sea scallops served with seasoned crostini and rouille sauce) and the Grilled Bone in Ribeye (served with sautéed vegetables and roasted scallion and cheese risotto).  We were so impressed not only with the amazing quality of the food, but also the large portions and beautiful presentation.  The risotto was honestly the best we have ever tasted and the Cioppino was unique and rivaled any seafood dish we’ve had, even on the coasts!

If we had to choose the area where Harvest really excels, though, it would have to be the desserts.  When we say we had a brownie, that really doesn’t best explain the chocolate piece of heaven this dessert truly was!  You have to experience this unbelievable brownie to really understand how wonderful it is.  We also tried a treat that was a puff pastry shell with a sweet, light lemon custard inside.  Delicious!!  You might want to consider visiting Harvest just to try a dessert, or make sure to box up half of your meal so that you have some room left to try these out!

Harvest is built on the solid principles of locally produced foods made fresh without preservatives or unnatural additives, which is something we all should be supporting.  Add in the fact that Chef Barr is internationally known and amazingly talented and has created a spectacular menu and there is just no reason that you should not give Harvest Cafe a try.

“Blend is literally a blend of the best resources available in Omaha”

What do you think makes you different from other companies similar to yours?
Blend was created specifically to offer business owners in Omaha a one-stop shop for literally everything they need to start and grow their businesses.

What do you like about doing business in the Omaha area?
Omaha is where each of the member companies does business and we’re here to promote the continuing growth of people and companies who, like us, call Omaha home.

Do you have a business philosophy or mission statement?
Blend’s philosophy is to serve Omaha business owners with the best services available and to promote business growth through our unique alliance.

What changes have you seen in the industry and your company in the past few years?
The economic climate for small businesses in particular is causing new challenges for entrepreneurs which makes it vital to work with providers who work together toward the common goal of helping business owners succeed.

What do you see happening with the business in the next five years?
Blend believes business owners will increasingly find value in the relationships they form with professional service providers…and will seek sources where they can find a better combination of resources in one place.

What is one of the biggest challenges that your company has faced?
As with any new organization, getting the word out about what we do and the unique things we offer…each of the members have their own “brand” and we’ve already been referring business as strategic partners for years…consolidating our various talents/offerings into one group and getting business owners to recognize it as a stand- alone brand is the big challenge right now.

What has been your most important achievement as a business?
Deciding to launch Blend.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about your business that most people don’t know?
The advantages working with this type of services alliance are tremendous!

What is one goal for your business that you have yet to accomplish?
Making Blend the proverbial “house-hold” name for entrepreneurs in Omaha.

For business owners wanting information on Blend and its members, visit www.OmahaBlend.com or call Jeremy Vokt at (402) 397.8822

It all started in 1895 when Gus Renze purchased floats from the year’s Mardi Gras parade and sent them back to Omaha where workmen carefully repainted and refashioned them for what was to become part of Omaha’s heritage, the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Parade and Coronation Ball.

Every autumn, thousands would turn out to watch Renze’s Electric Night Parades, powered by the electric current from the city’s streetcar tracks. It was this kind of innovation that helped establish Renze as a vital resource for props and floats and other materials used in parades and pageants.

In 1935 the company was purchased by Maynard Buchanan, and after 25 years it was sold to his son, John Buchanan. Currently the company is owned by Doug Buchanan, the third generation of his family to carry on the tradition. And now the 4th generation of Buchanan’s is in the business — daughter Lindsey is in sales and son Scott heads up purchasing.

Through the years, Renze continued to evolve with the times. The company continued to diversify, building advertising displays, hand-painted and screen-printed signs, and distinctive point-of-purchase. In 1967, Renze was one of the first in the Midwest to introduce automatic screen printing presses.

If Renze could be the first to bring innovation to its customers, it did. In 1972, Renze recognized the need for lighter, more portable tradeshow displays as an option to the traditionally heavier custom-built exhibit. Renze became one of the first exhibit houses in the country to offer these modular displays, and today carries one of the widest range of these systems in the Midwest.

Today we combine old-world craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to creatively and cost-effectively solve your display marketing challenges.

In the broadest sense, we provide displays and graphics for events, trade shows, point-of-purchase, and environments of all types.  One only has to glance at our website at renze.com to see thousands of specific examples of our work — custom and portable tradeshow displays, wall murals, kiosks, window film, posters, banners, museum exhibits, custom wallpaper, lightboxes, dimensional lobby logos, and the list goes on and on!  For many of our clients we are a one-stop graphics shop.  We specialize in the unique and the challenging, as well as high quality and fast delivery, which is why so many design firms, ad agencies, event planners, and architects have come to rely on us to help them solve their clients’ marketing challenges.

Times have changed. Our innovative thinking has not. Gus Renze would be proud of how the company has grown, and how it has continued a tradition of innovation.

More information about Renze Dispaly can be found online at www.renze.com/.

Let’s start working on your next project- Call today! 800.627.9131 | 402.342.1111

What do you think makes you different from other companies similar to yours?
Our experience level in the industry, along with our years of updated skill training in both the fabrication department as well as systems integration on large scale new construction projects.

What do you like about doing business in Lincoln?
Lincoln has always been like a second home to us. Mary K. and I lived in Lincoln during the ‘70s out on Southwest Plum Street. We love the college atmosphere and in our humble opinion, people are just a little warmer in Lincoln.

What kind of community organizations/groups are you involved with?
I’m involved with the Veterans Business Forum here in Omaha, as well as with the Sarpy and Omaha Chambers.

Do you have a business philosophy or mission statement?
Our mission statement is to provide both value and expertise in the buying experience and to complete our work as promised on time.

What changes have you seen in the industry and your company in the past few years?
As with every business today, technology is the driving factor. The window coverings business is no different. Today’s jobs require systems that are energy efficient, user friendly and are capable of building management interface.

What do you see happening with the business in the next five years?
I see the technological gains that can currently be enjoyed by larger scale clients filtering down to smaller and smaller companies to where it will be economically feasible for a small company to be able to budget for these systems.

What is one of the biggest challenges that your company has faced?
Acquiring the necessary growth capitol has been our largest challenge.  We have the capability to grow exponentially, but any business must have the financial resources to support such growth.

What has been your most important achievement as a business?
Achieving certain sales goals has been satisfying, but I would say mastering the technology of complete building shading systems has put us in a position to now take on these projects as they arise.

What was the biggest turning point in your business?
Hiring a professional estimator to increase our bidding capabilities and enhance our submittal and shop drawing process so as to present a more professional bid package.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about your business that most people don’t know?
Lifestyle has fabricated treatments for the governor’s mansion remodel back in ‘98 and over the years has fabricated many different treatments for both Street of Dreams homes and designer show houses. While the core of our business is now contract work, we still have the skill and expertise to do very large upscale style treatments for more affluent clients and bring in our motorization expertise from our contract work to the residential homeowner.

What is one goal for your business that you have yet to accomplish?
We have a great marketing plan for future expansion, which includes project management and possible branching out into other service areas of the business.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Go Huskers!! Beat State!!  I don’t care who else we beat this year, we must get a win in Columbus! Also, don’t forget to visit us online at www.LifestyleDrapery.com!

Who are the owners/important executives?
Co-Founder and President: BC Clark; Board Members: Mary Onken: Executive Administrator; Jane Onken: Treasurer; Marian Holden: Membership Director; Kelly Grant: Social Media; Board Members: Ayesha Station, Jodi Teal, Madeline Moyer, Marlene Hansen, Ruthaa Woolridge, Lee Pankowski and Jackie Webster.

What do you think makes you different from other organizations similar to yours?
What makes us different is that we embrace women right where they are and connect with them. Our forum is not just a breakfast, it’s a support group, a mentorship, a “what can we do to help you with your transition or how can we help going forward”.

What kind of community organizations/groups are you involved with?
MOWBC is involved with and receives great support from many different organizations in the area such as the Chamber of Commerce for Ralston and the Hispanic community, centers for business consulting such as the Nebraska Business Development Center, Small Business Administration, and SCORE, Christian and Omaha Business Women Network, and other great organizations like, Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation, and Springville School  PTO.

What is one of the biggest challenges that your company has faced?
The biggest challenge we face is getting the right people in the right seat on the train, with enough passion and time for the positions. With that said we are looking for volunteers with a desire and passion to help MOWBC grow, educate and empower women to their next level of success as well as support the team on the next phase of our strategic plan. Want to donate time on a short project or committee event please contact by email admin@mowbcf.org,  Mary Onken at 402-201-2334 or BC Clark.

What has been your most important achievement as a business?
One of our goals was to create a cash award that would be given to an up and coming woman entrepreneur each year. We took this goal and established the Start-Up Assistance Grant which was awarded in January of 2012 to Beka Doolittle of ThePinkStore.com. The next award will be presented at our annual Start-Up Assistance Ball on February 23, 2013.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about your business that most people don’t know?
We live to give back, so MOWBC looks for women and businesses to give a makeover to.  We tried it on a small scale, giving a complete head to toe makeover to a woman. Her self-esteem and confidence rose to new levels. Our next plan is to give a business a “makeover”; getting all the support in place was key to this being successful.  We are on track to completing this by the end of the year. “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care” –BC Clark.

What is one goal for your business that you have yet to accomplish?
We plan to secure a building in the near future.  That milestone will allow MOWBC to get to the next phase of the strategic plan, where the programs we’ve developed will take action, further empowering women in their endeavors.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Dreams come often, sometimes nightly and they quickly go, but the dream that comes and won’t go away is worth exploring (vision).

Additional information about Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center (MOWBC) can be found online at www.mowbcf.org/.