Business LNK

David Cary, Director of Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning and Development Services, joins Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Ball in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the recent consolidation of two City of Lincoln departments--the Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Department and Building and Safety Department into the Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning and Development Services Department. Jason and David discuss why that makes sense, how it will help business and the community at-large, and what the timeline looks like for the project to be fully implemented.

Kathy Anderson, Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, is joined by Scott Henderson, Managing Director of NMotion, in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the startup community in Lincoln and how entrepreneurs are supported through NMotion, how businesses can continue to support local efforts and entrepreneurs and why this work is important to growing communities.

Kathy Andersen, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, welcomes Stephanie Ledbetter, Founder and CEO of Modern HR Collaborative, into the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the current landscape of working in HR. Stephanie talks about her background in HR and why it was time to start Modern HR, the need to have more personal relationships at the heart of HR work and why it's important for businesses of all sizes to adopt an evolving look at HR practices when it comes to their workplaces.

James Bowen, President of Five Nines Technology Group, joins Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Ball in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about their growth as a company and as Chamber members since their founding. James and Jason also talk about evolving technology and how cyber threats continue to be a real, escalating problem for businesses and individuals alike, plus to promote Five Nines' upcoming "Cyber Seniors™ Coffee & Cybersecurity event in Lincoln on Saturday, October 4 from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. at their offices, located at 5617 Thompson Creek Boulevard. For more information on the October 4, head to the Five Nines Facebook page.

This episode of Business LNK is the third in our Latino Connect series. Angenita Pierre-Louis, Membership Engagement Coordinator at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, welcomes Marcela Willeke, Owner and Founder of Coffee is our Religion, into the AOI Podcast Studio. Angenita and Marcela talk about why Marcela wanted to share her love of coffee from growing up in Colombia, the challenges the coffee production industry is facing and the challenges of entrepreneurship.Este episodio de Business LNK es el tercero de nuestra serie Latino Connect. Angenita Pierre-Louis, Coordinadora de Participación de Membresía de la Cámara de Comercio de Lincoln, da la bienvenida a Marcela Willeke, propietaria y fundadora de Coffee is our Religion, al estudio de podcast de AOI. Angenita y Marcela hablan sobre por qué Marcela quiso compartir su pasión por el café, fruto de su infancia en Colombia, los desafíos que enfrenta la industria cafetera y los retos del emprendimiento.

Todd Bingham, President & CEO of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, joins Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, in the AOI Podcast Studio to chat about his previous experience as CEO of the Utah Manufacturer's Association, finding the strengths that Nebraska can utilize to their advantage to recruit and retain businesses and what he has experienced in his time thus far with the state chamber. Bingham has over 30 years as a registered lobbyist as a key advocate for business and industry and also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Manufacturers.

On this first edition of the Lincoln Young Professional Group's "Yappin' with YPs", Mia Wilken, event and program director with Lincoln YPG and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, welcomes Kelly Ross into the AOI Podcast Studio. Ross, founder and executive director of ECHO Collective, talks about her "why" for starting ECHO Collective, her experience being nominated for a Young Lincoln Leader Award and winning one in 2024, and what advice she would give to young professionals who are looking to find their passion when it comes to their work.The nominations for YPG's Young Lincoln Leader Awards continue until August 31, 2025, with the awards ceremony to be held on October 9. To nominate a Lincoln Young Professional, visit https://www.lincolnypg.com/YLLA-Nomination.

Claudia Muñoz-Nájar, Owner and Founder of Build Más, joins Kathy Andersen, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development , in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about Build Más, a 2025 LaunchLNK recipient. Build Más is a bilingual platform to help Hispanic-owned small business contractors create accurate, professional and profitable estimates to help them maximize their profitability. Kathy and Claudia talk about the journey of entrepreneurship, where Build Más is hoping to grow and what else is coming up for the company.For more details on LPED's LaunchLNK program, visit https://launch-lnk.lpages.co/launchlnk/.

Tracy Edgerton, President of the Lincoln Community Foundation, joins Allison Hatch, Director of Workforce Development for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development , in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the mission of the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF), how they continue to partner with organizations and groups in Lincoln and the mission of Prosper Lincoln, now in its third phase, which focuses on improving early childhood, housing and connections throughout the Lincoln community.

Bill Udell, Chief Operating Officer at Don't Panic Labs, joins Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the mission of Don't Panic Labs to help innovation and entrepreneurship, the continued growth of DPL as they recently moved into a new space in Lincoln's Telegraph District, and a bit about their history as they are celebrating their 15-year anniversary in 2025.Bill and Jason also talk about DPL's Pathways program, which Jason discussed with DPL's Doug Durham in a previous episode in February 2023.

Bryan Slone, President & CEO of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, joins Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about what's next for him as he embarks on his next venture. Slone's tenure as executive director of the NE Chamber ends on June 12, 2025 after spending seven years in the position. Bryan and Jason talk about his time leading the NE Chamber, the successes that the two Chambers have embarked on for businesses and communities across the state and key issues that remain important going forward. We thank Bryan for his leadership and time at the NE Chamber!

Kathy Andersen, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, welcomes Nicole Daharsh, CEO of Microgreen Gals, into the AOI Podcast Studio. Kathy and Nicole talk about the story of Microgreen Gals and how they have grown into a local supplier of microgreens to area restaurants and customers in and around Lincoln, NE. Their microgreens include amaranth, broccoli, rambo radish, arugula, kohlrabi and more.

Kathy Andersen, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, welcomes Devon Seacrest, CEO of CodeBuddy, into the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the services that CodeBuddy provides through AI and software development, how CodeBuddy leverages the best of AI to help businesses and builds scalable software for its clients.

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird joins Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Jason Ball in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the partnership between the Chamber and the City of Lincoln with the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, how the city and development services they offer help businesses, what types of offerings are presented through development services, how the city works with businesses to streamline processes of reviews and help make projects move more quickly.For more details on the City of Lincoln's Development Services, visit their website.

Christine Weeks, CEO and Founder of Eleanor Creative, joins Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Ball in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the successes and expansion that Eleanor Creative has seen in recent years. After starting Eleanor Creative in 2009, Christine talks about the journey through her leadership of the company, why culture matters so much in their office and what they do and the work that Eleanor Creative does in both Lincoln and Omaha, helping numerous companies tell their stories.

This episode of Business LNK is the second in our Latino Connect series. Angenita Pierre-Louis, Membership Engagement Coordinator at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, welcomes Sandra Barrera, Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, into the AOI Podcast Studio, as they talk about Sandra's work with entrepreneurs in rural parts of Nebraska and how she helps small businesses plan for their development.For more details on Latino Connect, visit lcoc.com/latinoconnect.Este episodio de Business LNK es el segundo de nuestra serie Latino Connect. Angenita Pierre-Louis, Coordinadora de Compromiso con los Miembros de Comercio de Lincoln, le da la bienvenida a Sandra Barrera, Educador de Extension de Nebraska con la Universidad de Nebraska-Lincoln, al Estudio de Podcast de AOI, mientras hablan sobre el trabajo de Sandra con empressarios en zonas rurales de Nebraska y como ayuda a las pequenas empressas a planificar su desarrollo.Para obtener mas detalles sobre Latino Connect, visite lcoc.com/latinoconnect.

Jon Riewer, President and CEO and Dayna Swenseth, VP of Nebraska Operations for Eventide Senior Living Communities, join Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Ball in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about merging with Tabitha, which was finalized in October 2024. Jason, Jon and Dayna chat about the role of senior living communities in Lincoln, how they hope to continue providing quality care for seniors in Lincoln and about the projects currently going on at Tabitha. Eventide Senior Living Communities is the parent organization for Tabitha, which is based in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Ann Post, attorney and partner at Rembolt Ludtke, joins Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Ball in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the Lincoln on the Move initiative and the proposed extension of the quarter-cent sales tax for road funding in Lincoln that will go before voters this spring in the April 8 citywide election. Ann talks with Jason about why homebuilders and other community members are in favor of extending the quarter-cent sales tax after its approval in April 2019, how this funding can fuel continued and sustainable growth for Lincoln business and the community and the other provisions of Lincoln on the Move, such as freezing impact fees and money going to additional infrastructure.For more details on Lincoln on the Move, visit the Lincoln on the Move website.

Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Ball welcomes Sherri Tafoya, Owner of Custom Blinds & Design, into the AOI Podcast Studio. Custom Blinds & Design was the Chamber's Small Business of the Year in 2024, and in this episode Jason and Sherri talk about the history of the company and why she started it in 2000, how they continue to provide the products and services they do and how engaging with the Lincoln Chamber has helped create important connections throughout Lincoln, Omaha and beyond.

Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Ball is joined by Lincoln Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. John Skretta in the AOI Podcast Studio on this edition of Business LNK. Dr. Skretta talks about his recent January 2025 appointment as interim superintendent, areas where the district is looking to grow and improve and their relationship with the business community.