NBDC News Center | Nebraska Business Development Center

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NBDC News CenterStay up-to-date with the latest Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) news and event schedules.

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News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1695013320000Coon will provide no-cost consulting services to businesses in Scottsbluff and the surrounding area. /news/2023/09/img/alex-coon-position-announcement-web.png

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1200800Alexander Coon Named South Panhandle NBDC Center DirectorGraphic that reads Position Announcement: Alexander Coon Named South Panhandle NBDC Center Director///

Scottsbluff, Neb. – Alexander Coon has been named the new Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) center director for the South Panhandle region. Based in Scottsbluff at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research & Extension Center, Coon will provide no-cost business consulting services for Nebraska small business owners and entrepreneurs in Scottsbluff, Banner, Kimball, Morrill, Cheyenne, Garden, and Deul counties who are looking to start, grow, or transition their companies.

His role is part of NBDC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program which provides a range of no-cost, confidential services including business plan development, financial projections, market research, and more.

“I am looking forward to helping businesses in this area start, grow, and prosper,” said Coon. “NBDC is an incredible service for Nebraska’s entrepreneurs and business owners, and it is exciting to be part of its almost 50-year history of providing no-cost support.”

The Small Business Development Center program is one of five NBDC programs that support Nebraska entrepreneurs in a variety of ways. In 2022, NBDC consultants served more than 2,000 Nebraska business owners, leading to an impact of $343.8 million to the state economy through job creation, business investments, sales increases, and government contract awards. NBDC is a center of the University of Nebraska at Omaha with offices located across the state.

Coon is a Western Nebraska native and earned his Master of Business Administration from Chadron State College. He brings with him a background in accounting and a track record of supporting community growth.

“Alex is the perfect person to support Scottsbluff-area entrepreneurs and business owners,” said Tony Schultz, state director of NBDC’s SBDC program. “He really understands the area, and with his expertise, business owners will be in great hands. We know that he will quickly become the go-to resource in the area for business questions big and small.”

Business owners or entrepreneurs interested in NBDC’s services can learn more at nbdc.unomaha.edu. Coon is accepting appointments and can be reached at 308.218.8382 or alexandercoon@unomaha.edu.

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Position Announcement: Spanish-Speaking Business Owners Have New Resource for Growing Their Businesses in Nebraska

/news/2023/09/news-release-sbdc-south-panhandle

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.759.1808

emailkjefferson@unomaha.edu

categoryCollege of Business AdministrationGeneral PublicCommunity Engagement

locationScottsbluff, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/09/news-release-sbdc-south-panhandleCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centernews-release-sbdc-south-panhandle

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Position Announcement: Alexander Coon Named South Panhandle NBDC Center DirectorNBDC, SBDC, Small Business, Playful Pastures Pet Services, Doggy DaycareNBDC CommunicationsCoon will provide no-cost consulting services to businesses in Scottsbluff and the surrounding area.

Sep 18, 2023 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1693198800000Dan Curran will be the third executive director in NBDC's nearly 50-year history of serving Nebraska business owners and entrepreneurs. /news/2023/08/img/dan-curran-position-announcement-web.png

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1200800Headshot of Dan Curran with graphic that says "Position Announcement, Dan Curran, Executive Director." ///

The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) has announced today that it has hired a new executive director – just the third in the center’s nearly 50-year history.

Dan Curran, who most recently served as the executive director of Intern Nebraska—Powered by Aksarben, will take over as NBDC statewide director on Nov. 1, 2023.

"I'm looking forward to working with Nebraska's small business entrepreneurs and innovators. These companies form the core of Nebraska's economy and the talented NBDC staff provide critical programming to help them grow and flourish," Curran said.

Curran will be replacing Cathy Lang, who is retiring from NBDC at the end of 2023 after serving as its executive director since 2016.

“I am so very excited to have Dan lead NBDC. Dan knows Nebraska, its business owners and its entrepreneurs, and understands the value that NBDC brings to business development across our state. Dan’s knowledge and experience will help support the mission of NBDC: to connect, collaborate, and consult,” Lang said.

“An essential part of our mission as UNO's College of Business Administration is to advance prosperity in our region, and NBDC is a driver of economic opportunity in Nebraska. We needed to hire the right person to take the reins after Cathy's regenerative leadership at NBDC. Dan is that person. He has spent his entire career working to make Nebraska prosper, and I couldn't be more pleased that his next step will be with us here at the University of Nebraska, where we work to advance the entire state,” said Michelle W. Trawick, John Becker Dean of the College of Business Administration at UNO.

The Nebraska Business Development Center has five programs supporting Nebraska business owners through no-cost, confidential consulting and resource referral services. In 2022, NBDC consultants served more than 2,000 clients, leading to an impact of $343.8 million to the Nebraska economy through job creation, business investments, sales increases, and government contract awards. NBDC is a center of the University of Nebraska at Omaha with offices located across the state. The services offered are available to any business owner or entrepreneur wanting to start, grow, or operate a business in Nebraska.

Dan Curran was named executive director of Intern Nebraska - Powered by Aksarben in May 2023. In that role he helped design and implement programming for the new intern program that will be launched in a partnership between the Aksarben Foundation and Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Prior to this role, Dan worked for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for over 29 years. For the last six years of his tenure, Dan served as deputy director of programs where he managed agency programs for domestic and international business recruitment, direct foreign investment, innovation, business retention and expansion, housing, community development, and marketing. He oversaw a staff of over 80 employees situated across Nebraska.

Dan and his wife, Angie, have been married for 29 years and have two sons, Ben and Alex.

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Three Nebraska Businesses Honored for Excellence, Community Contributions

/news/2023/08/news-release-dan-curran

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6256

emailkjefferson@unomaha.edu

categoryGeneral PublicCollege of Business AdministrationCommunity Engagement

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/08/news-release-dan-curranCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centernews-release-dan-curran

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NBDC Names Curran New Executive Director NBDC, APEX Accelerator, Carlos Garzón, Government Contracting, Spanish Business Resources, Nebraska Business ResourcesNBDC CommunicationsDan Curran will be the third executive director in NBDC's nearly 50-year history of serving Nebraska business owners and entrepreneurs.

Aug 28, 2023 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1694610000000An ingenious greenhouse design utilizing geothermal energy for temperature control has transformed into a thriving company led by its 91-year-old founder, retired U.S. Postal Service worker Russ Finch./news/2023/09/img/greenhouse-in-the-snow.png

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1200800Example of a greenhouse kit to demonstrate the technology for visitorsGreenhouse kit example in a green yard///

An innovative idea from an Alliance man some 35 years ago has since blossomed into a company with sales across the United States and now expanding into Canada and Europe.

Russ Finch, 91, retired from the U.S. Postal service with an idea for a natural way to heat his home. That idea led him to create a greenhouse in which the indoor climate is warmed in the winter and cooled in the summer simply by utilizing the Earth’s natural temperature 8 feet underground, where it is a constant 52 degrees Fahrenheit. His geothermal concept conserves energy and reduces greenhouse costs.

The company Finch founded, Greenhouse in the Snow, has sold more than 700 greenhouse kits, utilizing parts that are manufactured in Alliance by Antioch Machine, LLC. Finch approached Allen Bright, owner of Antioch Machine, in 2010 and the two have partnered ever since. Today, Bright supervises manufacturing, sales and delivery of the greenhouse kits, along with conducting a steady stream of tours at the Greenhouse in the Snow at his home.

The original greenhouse at the home where Finch lives with his wife, Darlene, became an attraction for visitors who wanted to see for themselves how using low grade geothermal heat and cooling could produce citrus, fruits, vegetables and many varieties of flowers year-round. It stood as an example to Finch’s ingenuity for more than 20 years until it collapsed under the weight of eight feet of snow in 2022, Bright says.

“It was a total loss,” he says. “It got to be 20-below-zero within a day or two. We couldn’t save any of the plants. It was heartbreaking. Russ is a trooper, though. He’s still talking about rebuilding it.”

This year, the company is building its first commercial greenhouse model west of Alliance.

Finch and Bright have relied upon the advice and guidance of the team at the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) office in Chadron since 2010. Chris McCarthy, Chadron consultant for America’s SBDC – Nebraska, a program of the NBDC; several former NBDC consultants, and Chadron Office Assistant Jennifer Wittrock have provided a number of services to Finch and Bright, from research and advice about competition, to website improvements and Finch’s plan to reduce his time with the company.

“Russ has been a very special client for us,” Wittrock says. “He gives credit to the NBDC, Dixie Nelson of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce, and Allen Bright for helping him succeed, all without ever going into debt. The business is still paying for itself.”

In 2014, the NBDC named Greenhouse in the Snow the Sustainability Business of the Year. The following year, the Small Business Administration (SBA) recognized the company as the Nebraska Congressional District III Small Business of the Year, third place.

Greenhouse in the Snow sells greenhouse kits that include frames, polycarbonate glazing, and detailed instructions for building the greenhouses. Greenhouse kits are priced by the lineal foot and are available in 6-foot increments. The greenhouses are 17 feet wide. Most kits range from 78 feet to 102 feet long.

“We just sold our largest ever, 180 feet long, to a buyer in Colorado,” Bright says.

Bright says he will continue to seek the guidance of the NBDC in Chadron as Greenhouse in the Snow expands into new markets, most recently establishing sales in Canada and Europe. “The people at NBDC take small business seriously,” he says. “Everybody thinks about big companies like Microsoft and Amazon, but across Nebraska, it’s the little businesses that make everything run.”

/Example of a greenhouse kit to demonstrate the technology to visitorsA greenhouse in a green yard with many plants///

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DAP Trucking, Inc. is Building Success One Heavy Load at a Time

/news/2023/09/client-story-greenhouse-in-the-snow

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone308.432.6282

emailnbdc@csc.edu

categoryCollege of Business AdministrationCommunity EngagementGeneral Public

locationAlliance, Nebraska

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Maslowsky Grading, Inc.

Greenhouse in the Snow Continues to Flourish, Adding International Markets, Commercial Kits

An innovative idea from an Alliance man some 35 years ago has since blossomed into a company with sales across the United States and now expanding into Canada and Europe.

NBDC, SBDC, Small Business Development, Greenhouse, Greenhouse in the SnowNBDC CommunicationsAn ingenious greenhouse design utilizing geothermal energy for temperature control has transformed into a thriving company led by its 91-year-old founder, retired U.S. Postal Service worker Russ Finch.

Sep 13, 2023 9:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1694005200000Depree Seavers of Omaha shares his journey of transitioning into electrical services and property redevelopment, while also providing internships to college students interested in becoming electricians./news/2023/09/img/black-power-redevelopers-cover-photo.jpg

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15121008Black Power Redevelopers Team in Omaha, NebraskaBlack Power Redevelopers Team in Omaha, Nebraska posing for a picture during a parade.///

A switch in careers to focus on electrical services and property redevelopment is empowering first-time business owner Depree Seavers as he builds his company and helps college students interested in becoming electricians through paid internships.

A 2011 graduate of Benson High School, Seavers was the first in his extended family to graduate high school in more than 40 years, and became the first to attend college when initially he enrolled at Iowa Western University before transferring to Metropolitan Community College (MCC). He earned associate degrees in electrical technology at MCC in 2014 and paramedicine in 2017, and became a certified firefighter through the college in 2020.

Seavers says the desire to serve as a paramedic began with an incident in his Omaha home with a cousin his mother had brought into the family. “Her brain was not fully developed when she was born, and she had seizures,” he recalls. “When the firefighters and paramedics from Station 24 came to our house, the way they responded to her needs and cared for her really inspired me.”

He went to work as a part time firefighter with the Bellevue Fire Department, and in 2018 launched Black Power Redevelopers to do electrical work while also planning to invest in real estate redevelopment. Ultimately, Seavers made the decision to become his own boss and commit fulltime to Black Power Redevelopers.

In June 2020, he took out a small business loan for $25,000 to buy his first work truck, hired his first employee and concentrated on growing a list of satisfied customers. “People liked my work ethic and my skills, so I kept getting hired,” he says. Within a year, his company had generated more than six figures in billable work.

He also worked closely with the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) and Consultant Harold Sargus.

Sargus helped Seavers create a capability statement, referred Seavers to the Small and Emerging Business Program with the City of Omaha, helped him activate his company’s dormant federal System for Awards Management (SAM) registration, and provided information on being a federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section III employer, which he now is.

“I also told him about the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification from the Nebraska Department of Transportation,” Sargus says. “He applied and was certified, which led to a proposal for an airport project. A next step is applying for federal certification as a HUBZone business.”

Seavers has attended the NBDC Meet the Buyers Conference and training sessions, as well as events sponsored by the City of Omaha and by large prime construction companies.

Seavers credits Sargus and the NBDC with bringing him and his company closer to their goals. “He has made this process so much easier by helping me understand where I’m at and where I need to be,” Seavers says. “He’s lined me up to where I have the opportunity and capability to get the jobs I really want.”

A father of three children ages 1, 3 and 7, Seavers is dedicated to future generations by offering paid summer internships for MCC students, several of whom he says have gone on to become apprentice electricians. He has also partnered with the Step-Up Omaha! employment initiative that recruits, trains and places young people age 14 to 21 in summer jobs and work experience opportunities.

“There’s something about my company that draws people to work here,” he says. “They want to work for me, and I’m happy to give them an opportunity to earn a little money and learn a trade at the same time. With the grace of God, things are working out.”

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DAP Trucking, Inc. is Building Success One Heavy Load at a Time

/news/2023/09/client-story-black-power-redevelopers

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6254

emailhsargus@unomaha.edu

categoryCommunity EngagementCollege of Business AdministrationGeneral Public

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/09/client-story-black-power-redevelopersCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centerclient-story-black-power-redevelopers

Maslowsky Grading, Inc.

First-Time Business Owner is Wired for Growth While Providing Internship Opportunities

NBDC, Black Power Redevelopers, APEX Accelerator, APEX, Government Contracting, SAM, Internships, Electricians, Omaha BusinessNBDC CommunicationsDepree Seavers of Omaha shares his journey of transitioning into electrical services and property redevelopment, while also providing internships to college students interested in becoming electricians.

Sep 6, 2023 9:00 AM

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News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1692018000000Great Thinkers Learning Academy, founded by Omaha native Danielle McGlynn, offers personalized online and in-person tutoring to bridge educational gaps, enhance learning joy, and improve test scores. /news/2023/08/img/great-thinkers.png

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1200800Great Thinkers Learning Academy Owner Danielle McGlynn Great Thinkers Learning Academy Owner Danielle McGlynn laughing with daughter while studying///

An Omaha woman with more than 20 years of experience in education has founded Great Thinkers Learning Academy, a source of individualized online and in-person tutoring in a wide variety of subjects to help improve test scores and “create a joy of learning.”

Danielle McGlynn has served as a science teacher, education consultant and school administration coordinator in Iowa and Nebraska. As an educator, she not only had to adapt how she worked with students during the COVID-19 pandemic, she also witnessed the burden that was placed on her fellow teachers who struggled with online lessons that were not as effective for some students as for others.

“What was taking place fell short of what students needed,” she says. “Many students needed extra help in more than one subject and from more than one teacher, and teachers were putting in countless extra hours with no compensation and no flexibility. It just wasn’t working for every student, and it resulted in gaps.”

She says she launched Great Thinkers Learning Academy in 2021 to help bridge those gaps for the students who could be successful if offered the opportunity of personalized instruction. “I wanted to create a joy of learning for students and bring back the joy of teaching for instructors,” she says.

First, McGlynn needed to do a little learning of her own. “Starting and running a business is difficult,” she says. “It’s like you’re on duty 24 hours a day. The marketing, budgeting and other aspects were all new to me.”

McGlynn turned to the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) for guidance. NBDC Consultant Luis Franco and Kiley Phelps, Omaha Center Director America’s SBDC – Nebraska, a program of the NBDC, worked with McGlynn to develop a business plan and other tools necessary to build a business from the ground up.

During their collaboration, Franco says he saw McGlynn become more determined and confident in her decision to start the learning academy. And, Franco says, he also witnessed McGlynn’s resilience in simultaneously dealing with the health of her mother, who had suffered a stroke, undergone surgery and later unfortunately passed away in an assisted living community, all of which happened out-of-state.

“I wanted to be in two places at once,” says McGlynn, a mother of four children. “We all know that’s impossible.”

McGlynn began Great Thinkers Learning Academy with online services delivered differently than those offered by schools. “Teaching online with groups of students is difficult to manage and doesn’t afford the flexibility for individual instruction like the classroom does,” she says.

“Our online tutoring is interactive, not conferencing,” she explains. “This gives our students the chance to adjust quickly and learn in a more efficient way, as opposed to a large group setting. They feel drawn in, not left out.”

Great Thinkers Learning Academy has 12 teachers and an extensive array of subjects, as well as exam preparation. More than 50 students are currently enrolled, McGlynn says.

Online tutoring is conducted in 30-minute sessions for K-8th grade and 60-minute sessions for high school students.

Great Thinkers has recently begun offering one-hour in-person tutoring sessions in the Omaha metropolitan area, delivered in the student’s home or in a public setting such as a library.

The academy also offers 45-minute Online Enrichment Classes with up to eight students and a teacher and subjects including Japanese, science lab, acting and theater, culinary arts and Spanish.

McGlynn says that in five years, she would like Great Thinkers Learning Academy to have a brick-and-mortar school, “a truly collaborative place for students and teachers.”

She says she finds it rewarding to see students progress, while also witnessing the pride their parents express. “All parents want their children to succeed, but they don’t all have the educational tools,” she says. “We have the tools, and we are giving parents hope that school will once again be a positive experience for them and their children.”

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‘CanaryBox’ Device Works to Refocus Attention During Stressful Situations in Operating Rooms

/news/2023/08/great-thinkers-learning-academy

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6633

emailkcphelps@unomaha.edu

categoryCommunity EngagementCollege of Business AdministrationGeneral Public

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/08/great-thinkers-learning-academyCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centergreat-thinkers-learning-academy

Maslowsky Grading, Inc.

Great Thinkers Learning Academy Sparks The Joy of Learning for Students, Teachers

NBDC, Great Thinkers Learning Academy, Tutoring, Small Business, Omaha, SBDC, Education, Nebraska Small BusinessNBDC CommunicationsGreat Thinkers Learning Academy, founded by Omaha native Danielle McGlynn, offers personalized online and in-person tutoring to bridge educational gaps, enhance learning joy, and improve test scores.

Aug 13, 2023 9:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1690866120000An innovative Lincoln-based company enhances operating room focus and patient safety through the 'CanaryBox' device, which reduces surgeon's music volume in response to changing patient conditions./news/2023/08/img/canary-sound-design.png

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1200800Canary Sound Design Logo and TaglineCanary Sound Design Logo of a bird and their Tagline, Smart Music for the OR///

An innovative idea sparked by an emergency situation in an operating room has led to a Lincoln-based company and its CanaryBox, a device that reduces or silences music commonly played in an OR during surgery based on negative changes in a patient’s condition.

The company, Canary Sound Design LLC, was co-founded in 2018 by Alistair MacDonald, M.D., an anesthesiologist in Missoula, Mont., Eric Crimmins, M.D., an anesthesiologist in Lincoln, and his wife, Annie Crimmins, an experienced critical care nurse.

Dr. Crimmins earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and has been practicing anesthesiology for 20 years, specializing in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia for the last 15 years.

Dr. MacDonald, the company’s CEO, and Dr. Crimmins, the Chief Clinical Officer, completed their residencies at the University of Washington and met in Seattle, where Annie Crimmins worked as a critical care nurse at Harborview Medical Center. She is the Chief Operating Officer for Canary Sound Design. The Crimmins live and work in Lincoln.

Annie Crimmins says it is estimated that music is played during surgery in 90 percent of all operating rooms. She says studies indicate music reduces surgeon stress, improves focus and can help a patient relax at the beginning of the operation. However, an OR can become “noise polluted” by beeping monitors, clinical alarms, clanging medical equipment and instruments, and muffled conversations. That mix of loud sounds can also lead to “alarm fatigue,” when alarms can be inadvertently ignored simply because of their frequency and the background noise.

In 2015, when a patient’s oxygen saturation dropped to an alarming level as he tried to awaken her after laparoscopic surgery, Dr. MacDonald found himself shouting to others in the OR who didn’t recognize the situation to “turn off the music.” The patient recovered, but Dr. MacDonald subsequently learned from colleagues of other instances where poor outcomes were attributed to intraoperative noise.
“I wondered, ‘Why can’t the audio system be aware of the patient’s vitals . . . and turn itself off?’” he recalls. “There is intelligence built into $20,000 cars that is completely absent in a $2 million operating room.”

In an effort to improve attention in the OR particularly during situations where the patient’s condition changes and alarms are sounded, Dr. MacDonald took on the issue of the “jumble of disturbing noise” and began the work that would eventually result in the CanaryBox.

Dr. Crimmins and Annie Crimmins came aboard as co-founders to infuse their enthusiasm for the project, provide ideas and help seek capital.

The trio has worked with Communications System Solutions in Lincoln on the design, software and manufacture of the prototype device. They obtained a $50,000 grant through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for the prototype, as well as a $25,000 matching grant from the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development.

They have also sought advice from the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) and its Innovation and Technology Program, directed by Josh Nichol-Caddy.

The Canary Box controller interfaces with most standard anesthesia monitors and responds to preset or customized settings regarding changes in a patient’s heart rate, oxygen saturation and blood pressure.

Most recently, Annie Crimmins says, the company has entered into an agreement with Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, Inc., to further sales and integration of the CanaryBox into ORs equipped with Storz monitors, under the stipulation that its manufacture remain in Lincoln.

Dr. Crimmins says the goal is to increase the focus of the OR team and improve patient outcomes. “It is primarily a patient safety issue,” he says. “We want to balance the beneficial effects associated with music with alarm recognition and vigilance.”

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Maslowsky Grading, Inc. Unearths New Business Through Government Contracting

/news/2023/08/client-story-canary-sound-design

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6232

emailjnicholcaddy@unomaha.edu

categoryCommunity EngagementGeneral PublicCollege of Business Administration

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/08/client-story-canary-sound-designCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centerclient-story-canary-sound-design

Maslowsky Grading, Inc.

‘CanaryBox’ Device Works to Refocus Attention During Stressful Situations in Operating Rooms

An innovative Lincoln-based company enhances operating room focus and patient safety through the 'CanaryBox' device, which reduces surgeon's music volume in response to changing patient conditions.

NBDC, CanaryBox, OR, Canary Sound Design, Innovation, Technology and InnovationNBDC CommunicationsThe 'CanaryBox' device, developed by Canary Sound Design LLC, reduces or silences music in operating rooms based on negative changes in a patient's condition, aiming to enhance operating room team focus and patient safety.

Aug 1, 2023 9:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1689742920000Carlos Garzón will provide no-cost business consulting statewide for the Nebraska APEX Accelerator program./news/2023/07/img/carlos-announcement-web.png

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1200800Headshot of Carlos Garzón, new Nebraska APEX Accelerator Consultant///

Lee este artículo en español.

Carlos Garzón has been named the Nebraska Business Development Center’s (NBDC) new Nebraska APEX Accelerator bilingual consultant. Based in Norfolk and offering services statewide, Garzón will provide no-cost consulting services that will help Spanish-speaking business owners grow their businesses through government contracting. He is the first consultant in this program dedicated to supporting Spanish-speakers in Nebraska.

His role is part of NBDC’s Nebraska APEX Accelerator program which helps businesses sell their goods and services to local, state, and federal government entities. The U.S. government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, and APEX Accelerator consultants can help businesses find opportunities, prepare bids, earn certifications, and navigate often-complicated processes.

The Nebraska APEX Accelerator program is one of five NBDC programs that support Nebraska business owners. In 2022, NBDC consultants served more than 2,000 clients, leading to an impact of $343.8 million to the Nebraska economy through job creation, business investments, sales increases, and government contract awards. Nebraska APEX Accelerator consultants helped business owners in Nebraska earn more than $133 million in government contracts. NBDC is a center of the University of Nebraska at Omaha with offices located across the state. The services offered are available to any business owner or entrepreneur wanting to start, grow, or operate a business in Nebraska.

Garzón, originally from Venezuela, immigrated to the U.S. and earned his degree in transportation and logistics from the University of North Florida. He moved to Nebraska in 2019, and his varied professional experience includes emergency response logistics, creating physical health and wellness programs for wounded veterans, helping establish a procurement department for a major non-profit, and farming in Nebraska.

“Throughout my career I've sought after professional opportunities with a heavy focus on serving others,” said Garzón. “As a consultant with the Nebraska APEX Accelerator, I'm able to directly serve and support the hard-working and dedicated members of the Hispanic community. I look forward to helping them navigate government contracting opportunities, elevate Hispanic business to be competitive in the government marketplace, and help remove any obstacles that may be preventing their success.”

“We have been working on bringing a bilingual government contracting consultant on our team for a while now, and I am extremely excited to have Carlos join our team,” said Veronica Doga, program director for the Nebraska APEX Accelerator at NBDC. “Latino-owned businesses have an amazing growth potential, and with Carlos’s help we hope to provide the necessary support to grow the federal and state small business industrial base throughout Nebraska.”

This new position is part of NBDC’s efforts to expand the organization’s capacity to serve Spanish-speakers and ensure more Nebraskans have access to these no-cost services. Earlier this year, NBDC’s Small Business Development Center program hired a consultant dedicated to offering small business owners consulting services for needs such as business planning, market research, and financial projections. NBDC’s SourceLink Nebraska program can connect Spanish-speaking business owners to other organizations that can support their needs.

NBDC’s services are provided at no-cost, and consultants are available for in-person or virtual meetings. Business owners or entrepreneurs interested in NBDC’s services can learn more at nbdc.unomaha.edu. Garzón can be reached directly at cgarzon@unomaha.edu or 531.510.4528.

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Maslowsky Grading, Inc. Unearths New Business Through Government Contracting

/news/2023/07/news-release-apex-bilingual

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6256

emailkjefferson@unomaha.edu

categoryCollege of Business AdministrationCommunity EngagementGeneral Public

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/07/news-release-apex-bilingualCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centernews-release-apex-bilingual

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Position Announcement: Spanish-Speaking Business Owners Have New Resource for Growing Their Businesses in NebraskaNBDC, APEX Accelerator, Carlos Garzón, Government Contracting, Spanish Business Resources, Nebraska Business ResourcesNBDC CommunicationsCarlos Garzón will provide no-cost business consulting statewide for the Nebraska APEX Accelerator program.

Jul 19, 2023 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1688619720000Family-owned business Maslowsky Grading, Inc. in Tekamah, Nebraska, has expanded its operations by securing government contracting opportunities./news/2023/07/img/maslowsky-grading

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/07/img/maslowsky-gradingCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centermaslowsky-grading

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1545974Bernie Maslowsky, founder of Maslowsky Grading, Inc. Bernie Maslowsky in front of company semi truck.///

A family-owned and operated business in Tekamah that offers grading and excavation, demolition and other services is digging up additional business through government contracting opportunities.

Maslowsky Grading, Inc. was founded in 1978 by Bernie Maslowsky. Since that time, four other family members have come to work for the business, which today has 11 employees.

Office Manager Christine Coontz says that being family owned enables the business to offer personalized service to its customers throughout east-central Nebraska. The company primarily offers grading and earth moving, barn and pasture clearing, demolition, heavy equipment hauling, moving rock and sand, trench digging, snow removal and other services.

Coontz says the company’s customers have included an increasing number of federal, state and local government entities, sparked by the advice and assistance of the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) and its Nebraska APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC) program consultants.

The company first worked with the NBDC in 2011 during a series of flood recovery resource meetings, says Nebraska APEX Accelerator Consultant Meghann Buresh. Maslowsky Grading needed an active registration, which at the time was the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), in order to pursue federal contracts.

In 2021, Maslowsky Grading again turned to the NBDC for help, this time to obtain a current System for Awards Management (SAM) registration, which replaced the previously required CCR registration. Buresh says the company sought to pursue a contracting opportunity with the City of Omaha, which occasionally has contracts that require contractors to have an active SAM registration because there are federal funds behind those projects.

“Christine was challenged with the task of completing additional steps to fix various issues that included migrating the CCR registration to SAM, completing and uploading a notarized letter to reassign an entity administrator role, and updating the legal business name from a sole proprietor to an incorporated business,” Buresh says.

Coontz says the registration upgrade has led to a variety of government contracts for the company.

Maslowsky Grading has completed several jobs for the City of Omaha, and most recently was awarded a contract for a demolition project in North Omaha. In 2022, also for the City of Omaha, the company hauled dirt that was dug out of a pond in Dodge Park.

The company was awarded three Missouri River flooding jobs by the City of Omaha in 2019, including a contract for the Omaha Wastewater Treatment Plant and another to remove temporary flood barriers.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has contracted with Maslowsky Grading to haul rock and complete site work for the new ranger station at the Memphis State Recreation Park north of Ashland. The company has fulfilled numerous contracts with the local government in Burt County, and also did grading work for the new volunteer fire department station in Uehling, Coontz says.

“Meghann and the NBDC were instrumental in getting our SAM registration going,” she says. “We wouldn’t have gotten those government contracts without her help, and she still sends us information on opportunities like seminars that could benefit our business. She’s been helpful through every step, and we’ve developed a good friendship along the way.”

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Prescription Pyro, LLC is Dedicated to Fighting and Preventing Wildfires

/news/2023/07/client-story-maslowsky

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6256

emailkjefferson@unomaha.edu

categoryGeneral PublicCollege of Business AdministrationCommunity Engagement

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/07/client-story-maslowskyCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centerclient-story-maslowsky

Maslowsky Grading, Inc.

Maslowsky Grading, Inc. Unearths New Business Through Government Contracting

Family-owned business Maslowsky Grading, Inc. in Tekamah, Nebraska, has expanded its operations by securing government contracting opportunities. The company, founded in 1978, provides services such as grading, excavation, demolition, and heavy equipment hauling and has since completed various government projects, including contracts with the City of Omaha and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

NBDC, Maslowsky Grading, Inc, Government Contracting, excavation services, contracts, family-owned businessNBDC CommunicationsA family-owned and operated business in Tekamah that offers grading and excavation, demolition and other services is digging up additional business through government contracting opportunities.

Jul 6, 2023 2:07 PM

Program Highlights

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1688533320000Changes to the federal HUBZone map mean new communities will have increased advantages in the government contracting marketplace. /news/2023/07/img/hubzone-changes-graphic.jpg

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New changes to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) Program will allow small businesses in different areas across the nation access to this federal contracting certification program. In Nebraska, some of the new areas that qualify for this program include Franklin, Johnson, Kimball, Logan, Loup, and Wheeler counties and specific parts of Kearney, Fremont, Omaha, and Lincoln. Use the SBA’s HUBZone Map Tool to see all qualified areas and to see if your business is located within a HUBZone.

What is the HUBZone Program?

The SBA’s HUBZone Program is a certification program designed to give small businesses located in areas with low income and high unemployment fair access to federal government contract opportunities. The two main qualifications for certification stipulate that the business’ primary address must be located in a HUBZone and at least 35% of all employees reside in a HUBZone. For questions about the requirements, visit the SBA’s HUBZone Program page or contact an NBDC APEX Accelerator consultant.

NBDC APEX Accelerator Consultants Are Here to Help

If you are interested in learning more about the HUBZone program or pursuing certification, get in contact with one of our NBDC APEX Accelerator consultants for professional one-on-one assistance. Our consultants are here to help you navigate the government contracting process from registration to certification to market research. NBDC APEX Accelerator consulting services are free and confidential to Nebraska companies.

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departmentDaniel Kuchar, Nebraska APEX Accelerator

phone402.554.6270

emaildckuchar@unomaha.edu

categoryCommunity EngagementCollege of Business AdministrationGeneral Public

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/07/apex-feature-hubzoneCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centerapex-feature-hubzone

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HUBZone Changes to Help Nebraska Businesses in the Federal Contracting MarketNBDC, NBDC Executive Director, Catherine LangDaniel KucharChanges to the federal HUBZone map mean new communities will have increased advantages in the government contracting marketplace.

Jul 5, 2023 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1660194120000Learn more about current issues that are occurring with the transition from the DUNS number and SAM.gov renewal/registration and how to troubleshoot them./news/2022/08/img/renwal-registration-sam.png

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On April 4, the federal government transitioned from the DUNS number as the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to the new SAM UEI. This transition created validation issues for the majority of companies and organizations trying to create, renew, or re-activate their SAM registrations. Even if you have been doing SAM renewals for more than 20 years, there is a good chance that you might experience validation issues.

Why are validation errors occuring with the new SAM registration/renewal process?

Prior to the transition, SAM.gov used the Dun & Bradstreet database to validate information. So, if you were registered in the Dun & Bradstreet database, the information entered into SAM.gov populated from your entity’s DUNS number. The previous process was highly predictable, but the new validation process is still evolving – which leaves entities unclear of what information is needed when trying to renew or register accounts. If you are a for-profit business pursuing government contracting, and you are unsure what to do next, contact your local PTAC consultant for a no-cost consultation, and they’ll be happy to assist. Although our consultants are also navigating this new process, we are a resource for guidance with experience in the new system.

What does SAM use to validate my information?

The Secretary of State is used to validate the legal business name.
The U.S. Postal Service is used to validate the physical address.
Use your 4-digit extension code if available.
You cannot use a PO Box Number, or a 4-digit extension for a PO Box Number – that will cause the SAM registration to be rejected.

What do I do if SAM does not list an exact match for my business and/or address?

If you are going through the renewal/registration process and SAM does not list an exact match of your correct legal business name and correct physical address, you will need to create a service ticket. This is a good point in the process to reach out to your local PTAC consultant for any questions prior to submitting the service ticket. This Knowledge Base article posted by the General Services Administration (GSA) provides the approved list of documents you can utilize to create a successful incident ticket.

We are discovering that businesses renewing on their own are unintentionally selecting a record that does not reflect the correct legal business name or correct formatting for their physical address, which can cause delays and issues.

How much does it cost to register or renew my business on SAM.gov?

Once these issues became apparent during the transition, many third-party companies have become more aggressive in their marketing efforts and will contact businesses to offer their fee-based services. A SAM renewal/registration is always free. Our team's services are available at no-cost to for-profit Nebraska businesses.

When should I start the SAM.gov registration/renewal process?

The wait time to receive a response from SAM.gov has lengthened due to the increased demand for support. Know when your entity registration expires and start the process of renewal two to three months in advance.

Can NBDC PTAC help me with my SAM.gov registration/renewal?

NBDC PTAC can assist any Nebraska based, for-profit business that seeks to pursue government contracting.There have been several challenges with the transition to the new SAM.gov registration/renewal process; however, our team is working diligently to identify these challenges as they present themselves and find solutions. Your local PTAC consultant is a great resource who can help ensure that you are able to complete the process with as little disruption as possible. Contact us at any time, and we will partner with you.

/news/2022/08/sam-renewal-faq

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6232

emailnbdc@unomaha.edu

categoryCollege of Business AdministrationCommunity EngagementGeneral Public

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2022/08/sam-renewal-faqCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centersam-renewal-faq

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Current and Updated Issues Regarding SAM.gov Renewals/Registrations SAM.gov, DUNS Number, UEI, NBDC, Small Business, Government ContractingNBDC CommunicationsLearn more about current issues that are occurring with the transition from the DUNS number and SAM.gov renewal/registration and how to troubleshoot them.

Aug 11, 2022 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1615356120000Beginning on April 4, 2022, the government will officially transition to using the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from the DUNS number. Continue reading to learn more about this important change and how it may affect your business./news/2022/03/sam-uei-web5396.jpg

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The Nebraska Business Development Center’s (NBDC) Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) provides government contracting assistance to Nebraska companies. We always strive to keep the Nebraska businesses engaged in government contracting aware of important developments. In this article, we will talk about the DUNS to UEI transition including how this transition will affect you and what steps you need to take.

Why is this transition happening?

Beginning on April 4, 2022, the government will officially transition to using the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from the DUNS number. The UEI number is automatically created in SAM when an entity is registered onto its database. The federal government will start using the UEI number of each entity to uniquely identify it. This allows the government to cease using third-party websites like Duns & Bradstreet (D&B). DUNS numbers will continue to exist after the transition; however, they will no longer be utilized by the federal government.

“This transition allows the government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government.”

How will this affect your business?

Companies that do business with the government should be aware of this change because the process is being simplified, but there is an increased importance on knowing your UEI. You will only need to go to SAM.gov to update and record your entities information. Companies will no longer need to update D&B prior to updating their SAM.gov, allowing companies to go to a single place. There will be no more searches with DUNS on SAM.gov, no more registering with D&B to get a DUNS number, and no need to have two separate help desks if issues arise. You will now be able to acquire your UEI and use that identifier throughout the entire SAM.gov platform.

What actions do you need to take?

If your entity is currently registered in SAM.gov, then you will automatically have a Unique Entity ID assigned. This also includes inactive registrations. You can find your UEI when you log into your SAM.gov account.

How Nebraska PTAC can assist you in this process:

NBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) consultants offer assistance with SAM registrations and renewals alongside any other questions you may have about government contracting. Get free, confidential, experienced guidance from start to finish.

Contact your PTAC consultant today to check on your SAM.gov status to see if you need to re-activate your account or renew your registration to keep it current.

References:

GovConBrief – Ding Dong the DUNS is Dead

Unique Entity Identifier Update - GSA

/news/2022/03/sam-transition-2022

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6232

emailnbdc@unomaha.edu

categoryCommunity EngagementCollege of Business AdministrationGeneral Public

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2022/03/sam-transition-2022CBA - Nebraska Business Development Centersam-transition-2022

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SAM.gov Transition from DUNS Number to UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)SAM.gov, DUNS Number, UEI, NBDC, Small Business, Government ContractingNBDC CommunicationsLearn more about this important change and how it may affect your business.

Mar 24, 2022 12:00 AM

Media Mentions/Flatwater Free Press: Robot-Loving Family Invents One Meant to Save Nebraska Farmershttps://flatwaterfreepress.org/robot-loving-nebraska-family-invents-one-meant-to-save-nebraska-farmers/ /Aurora News Register: Grain Weevil Wins Innovation Awardhttps://www.auroranewsregister.com/ag-life/grain-weevil-wins-innovation-award/Silicon Prairie News: How to Get Up to $1M in Startup Fundinghttps://siliconprairienews.com/2023/06/americas-seed-fund-road-tour-in-lincoln//Omaha World-Herald: Omaha Small Businesses Can Make Pitch for Fundshttps://omaha.com/lifestyles/short-takes-five-teens-win-valuable-scholarships-from-lutheran-family-services/article_d7907e4c-e9c6-11ed-8a24-9b4fdfe48434.html#tncms-source=login/KPTM: Three Omaha Businesses Awarded by Nebraska Business Development Centerhttps://fox42kptm.com/news/local/three-omaha-businesses-awarded-by-nebraska-business-development-center//////Join Our Network/Sign Uphttps://www.unomaha.edu/nebraska-business-development-center/nbdc-subscribe.phpNBDC News/news/2022/indexsite://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2022/indexCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centerindex

News Archive

News Archive//

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1667192520000The company is developing innovative technology that keeps farmers safer by keeping them out of grain bins. /news/2022/10/img/grain-weevil-web.png

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An Aurora, Neb. company’s robotic invention that preserves the quality of stored grain – while eliminating the danger inherent when farmers and others must work inside a grain bin – is gaining recognition and securing federal and state funding for research and development.

The Grain Weevil is a remote-controlled robot that uses augers and gravity to level grain, break crusts, conduct inspections, and feed grain into extraction augers. It is portable and, if accidentally buried, can dig itself out of up to 5 feet of grain. The goal is to robotically maintain the quality of the grain while keeping farmers out of grain bins, which can be dangerous and deadly.

The invention is the brainchild of Ben Johnson, who worked on the first versions of the Grain Weevil while he was an undergrad student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In the second year, Johnson was joined by his roommate, software engineer Zane Zents. Johnson has since graduated with a degree in electrical engineering and serves as Grain Weevil’s chief innovation officer. Zents graduated with a degree in computer science and mathematics and is the company’s lead software engineer.

The company is led by co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Chad Johnson, Ben’s father. Chad has more than two decades of informal science education experience, including exhibit design, curriculum development, and program facilitation. He was a NASA MESSENGER Fellow, the Association of Science and Technology Centers’ Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge award winner, and the recipient of the American Public Power Association’s Energy Innovator award.

The idea for the Grain Weevil grew from a conversation between Ben Johnson and an Aurora farmer. Chad recalls the two were discussing Ben’s first major robotics project. “He said, ‘Hey, if you can build that robot, you could build me a robot to stay out of the grain bin,’” Chad says.

The team went to work, and after two years of trials and hundreds of hours, they finished the prototype robot.

The Johnsons and Zents consulted with the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) for assistance with an initial business plan, as well as applications for grants through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) federal funding program, and the Nebraska Innovation Fund.

The company also joined The Combine Incubator program based in Lincoln. The Combine Incubator hosts food and agriculture technology companies and leads them through its commercialization program, which begins with goal setting and idea assessment with a focus on pursuing capital.

In 2021, Grain Weevil received the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize, along with $10,000. Earlier in 2022, Grain Weevil finished in first place and won $50,000 in the Ag Innovation Challenge competition, sponsored by American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in partnership with Farm Credit Services of America.

Most recently, Grain Weevil received a 2022 National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR Research Grant worth $256,000, and that was coupled with a Nebraska Innovation Fund matching grant worth $100,000.

Chad Johnson says the team continues to work on several areas of development. “Our research is focusing on the tasks necessary for the robot to provide the right functions within the grain bin,” he says. “It has to be able to meet a wide range of variables including the moisture content of the grain and temperatures that range from below zero to over 120 degrees.

“We also are working to develop the robot’s capabilities in a very hazardous environment,” he says. “If you think of a Roomba (robotic vacuum cleaner), what it does is a thousand times easier than what we’re trying to do in a grain bin.”

He says the team is also testing the impact of the environment within the grain bin on the Grain Weevil’s mechanics. “It’s not only the dust factor and what it does to the inner workings, we also have to be certain everything is spark-free.”

The Grain Weevil is undergoing trials this fall in grain bins on farms in Nebraska, Iowa, and Tennessee. “Our goal is to start by providing a service to farmers while we work on certification,” Johnson says. “By the end of next year, we hope to begin direct sales.”

He says the mission of the Aurora-based company is simple. “No boots in the grain.”

“That’s what drives us,” he says. “Going inside a grain bin is the worst job on the farm. We want to prevent the deaths and injuries that occur in grain bins every year, while also maintaining the high quality of the grain being stored.”

Johnson credits the NBDC with supporting Grain Weevil since its inception. “We had no idea how to form a business plan,” he says. “The NBDC’s input and feedback with our early grants helped us build our foundation. They were there for us when we were just an idea on a napkin.”

Learn more about Grain Weevil on their website.

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Former Hawaii Resident Finds 'Aloha Spirit' At Work for Nebraska Small Businesses

/news/2022/10/client-story-grain-weevil

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6256

emailkjefferson@unomaha.edu

categoryCollege of Business AdministrationCommunity EngagementGeneral Public

locationAurora, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2022/10/client-story-grain-weevilCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centerclient-story-grain-weevil

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Grain Weevil is Putting Research Grants Toward Grain Bin Safety, Product QualityNBDC, Aurora, SBIR, Grain WeevilNBDC CommunicationsGrain Weevil is developing innovative technology that keeps farmers safer by keeping them out of grain bins.

Oct 31, 2022 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1673330520000The no-cost program, which has helps Nebraska business owners find success in the world of government contracting, will go by a new name./news/2023/01/img/apex-brand-announcement-1.png

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A no-cost program that in 2021 helped Nebraska businesses grow their organizations with $162,079,983 in government contracts is getting a new name.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), one of five programs within the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is being rebranded to NBDC’s Nebraska APEX Accelerator.

The program plays an important role in the state. The U.S. government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, and every year, contracts are available to businesses at the local, state, and federal level. Contracts transcend industries, ranging from construction to catering. The newly named Nebraska APEX Accelerator helps Nebraska businesses earn a share of these contracts by helping them find opportunities, prepare bids, and navigate the incredibly detailed process of applying.

“Government contracting is an area that many business owners don’t think of when trying to grow their organizations,” said Veronica Doga, program director of NBDC’s APEX Accelerator. “But the government needs all kinds of goods and services. Our goal is to make sure Nebraska businesses are earning these opportunities and bringing these dollars to the Nebraska economy.”

As an example, last year, a consultant helped a Nebraska business earn a contract for up to $36 million to build a shelter for wild horses and burros. Another consultant helped a media relations firm renew their eligibility to provide media monitoring services to government entities. Yet another helped a small sanitation company exponentially grow their business through government contracts during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It can be a complicated and overwhelming area to get into, but that’s why we’re here. We don’t charge for our services, and any for-profit business can come to us for support,” said Doga.

Consultants also help businesses apply for certifications that may help them get an edge when competing for contracts earmarked for certain business types, such as minority-owned, woman-owned, or HUBZone small businesses.

The program hosts events to help business owners improve their knowledge base and network. One such upcoming opportunity is the spring Meet the Buyers Conference, held in Omaha on April 20, 2023. The event allows business owners to meet directly with government agency purchasers to pitch their goods and services, ask questions, and learn about upcoming contract opportunities.

The rebrand from PTAC to APEX Accelerator is occurring at a national level, with the program’s administration shifting from the Defense Logistics Agency to the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs.

“Every business owner in Nebraska should ask themselves if government contracting could be a good fit for their business model,” said Catherine Lang, executive director of the Nebraska Business Development Center. “And if they’re unsure, our consultants can help. There are so many opportunities out there that Nebraska businesses could be taking advantage of.”

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Related Reading:

Meet the Buyers Conference Announced

New Year, New Business Series Announced

/news/2023/01/news-release-rebrand-apex

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6256

emailkjefferson@unomaha.edu

categoryCommunity EngagementGeneral PublicCollege of Business Administration

locationOmaha, Nebraska

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site://CBA - Nebraska Business Development Center/news/2023/01/news-release-rebrand-apexCBA - Nebraska Business Development Centernews-release-rebrand-apex

[Article Heading]

NBDC’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center Renamed to Nebraska APEX Accelerator

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center will be renamed to Nebraska APEX Accelerator.

NBDC, SBDC, Small Business, Playful Pastures Pet Services, Doggy DaycareNBDC CommunicationsThe no-cost program, which has helps Nebraska business owners find success in the world of government contracting, will go by a new name.

Jan 10, 2023 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1673416920000The ability to refine, combine, and personally tailor medications to fit a doctor’s orders as well as the needs of individual patients sets Innovative Rx, a compounding pharmacy in Kearney, apart from the services available at a traditional pharmacy./news/2023/01/img/innovative-rx-web.png

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1200800Innovative Rx team members///

The ability to refine, combine, and personally tailor medications to fit a doctor’s orders as well as the needs of individual patients sets Innovative Rx, a compounding pharmacy in Kearney, apart from the services available at a traditional pharmacy.

Owner Rachel Daly, Pharm.D, R.P., became familiar with compounding pharmacies while working at one in Lincoln as an undergraduate. After receiving her doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Pharmacy in 2012, she moved to Kearney with her husband, Tyler, when he transferred for his work as a financial advisor.

A compounding pharmacy and its pharmacists are licensed and regulated by the same State Boards of Pharmacy as a traditional pharmacy. The difference is that most traditional pharmacies are not able to prepare custom medications in accordance with pharmaceutical best practices. Compounding pharmacies must meet exacting standards to provide this service.

Compounding pharmacists work closely with prescribing physicians and patients to develop medication solutions for a variety of needs, such as formulating a prescription medication without a specific allergen, creating a dosage that is commercially unavailable, combining multiple medications into one for the patient’s convenience, creating a medication with a customized flavor, and producing necessary medications during disruptions in the commercial supply chain.

Daly says she enjoyed working at the compounding pharmacy in Lincoln, but when she moved to Kearney, a similar opportunity did not exist. “Being fresh out of school, I wasn’t ready yet to open my own business,” she recalls.

After eight years working as a pharmacist at CHI Health Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney, Daly felt she was ready to take the next step and open her own compounding pharmacy. “I had the perfect mix of experience and ignorance,” she says. “I was confident in my ability, but not about knowing everything about business, or even how to find everything I needed.”

To get those answers, Daly turned to the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) and Odee Ingersoll, consultant and NBDC Center Director in Kearney. NBDC offers no-cost consulting services for Nebraska business owners, and Ingersoll assisted with the development of a business plan, financials, and a loan package request for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan.

Daly received the SBA loan and opened the doors to Innovative Rx in September 2019. For the initial year and a half, she did everything. Her business has since grown to include two part-time pharmacists, four part-time pharmacy technicians, a combined marketing director/office manager, and an office assistant. Her family has grown, too, as she and Tyler now have three children, ages 9, 7, and nine months.

One of very few compounding pharmacies in the state, Daly says Innovative Rx provides medications to patients across Nebraska, as well as clients from out of state who come to Nebraska for medical care.

Because the prescriptions are unique and not mass produced by large pharmaceutical companies, Innovative Rx does not contract directly with insurance companies. Patients can use their Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for prescriptions, Daly says, or can pay cash and submit a form to their insurance companies for reimbursement.

“Because we aren’t told by an insurance company what to charge, we can set our own prices,” she says. “We offer options and pricing that reflects the time and work that goes into preparing a prescription. We can also work directly with doctors to modify medications to be cost effective.”

Daly says the federal government is modifying its pharmacy regulations to separate labs that work with hazardous materials from those working with non-hazardous materials, for the safety of the workers and to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination. Innovate Rx already has separate labs that conform to those pending regulations. “We’re aligning with the industry’s best practices, even the ones that are not yet required,” she says.

In the next year or two, Daly says, Innovative Rx is planning an addition to its current facility that will expand its lab spaces and compounding services. When that happens, Daly says she knows the NBDC will be ready to answer any questions.

“The NBDC is both accessible and prompt,” she says. “I was on pins and needles not knowing where to start, and they were very step-by-step in shepherding me through the process.”

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New Lincoln Business is Writing a Script for Success

/news/2023/01/client-story-innovative-rx1

departmentNebraska Business Development Center

phone402.554.6256

emailkjefferson@unomaha.edu

categoryCollege of Business AdministrationCommunity EngagementGeneral Public

locationKearney, Nebraska

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Innovative Rx Fills Unique Needs for Doctors, Patients

NBDC, ASBDC, SBDC, Kearney, Innovative RX, Compounding PharmacyNBDC CommunicationsThe ability to refine, combine and personally tailor medications to fit a doctor’s orders as well as the needs of individual patients sets Innovative Rx, a compounding pharmacy in Kearney, apart from the services available at a traditional pharmacy.

Jan 11, 2023 12:00 AM

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Featured

Position Announcement: Alexander Coon Named South Panhandle NBDC Center Director

NBDC Names Curran New Executive Director

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First-Time Business Owner is Wired for Growth While Providing Internship Opportunities

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Position Announcement: Spanish-Speaking Business Owners Have New Resource for Growing Their Businesses in Nebraska

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