Written by: Angela Chaney, publisher of WhirLocalOmaha.com and partner at Pixel Fire Marketing There’s nothing better than a signature cocktail after a long day of work...or for happy hour...or with lunch! It really doesn’t matter when you have one, a signature cocktail is a fun way to try something new. Fortunately, Omaha has a huge selection of bars and restaurants that offer signature cocktails. While I’m not going to say the ones on this list are the best of the best, they’re certainly enjoyable and worth a try. Percy Pig Lemon Drop: Tipsy Pig If you haven’t checked out the Tipsy Pig on 1150 Sterling Ridge Drive (around 129th and Pacific), you’re missing out! This cool cocktail bar has fun waitresses, K…

Four years ago, Mark Fredrickson of Omaha was busy dreaming up new business ideas. He had been in and out of the corporate world and was searching for an opportunity—one that would allow him to run a business, yet still have time for his kids. He knew to achieve that, the business would need to have a limited number of employees and be a business where the equipment could do the work. He also wanted his business to offer something different—something the competition didn’t have. Mark decided to go into the trash business. After a lot of brainstorming, Mark knew he wanted to do something unique and that the Omaha area had not seen before. This led him to finding redbox +, a franchise company that rented dumpsters with an added “b…

Nick Hebrew and Jen Tobey believe business owners should focus their energy on what’s most important...running their businesses well. How can they possibly do that if their days are constantly interrupted with facilities needs and maintenance issues? Unfortunately, the need to keep the office or shop smoothly functioning, clean, and appealing to clients can be a frustrating, but necessary distraction, especially for small business owners. That's why Nick and Jen brought System 4 Nebraska to Omaha. This unique franchise has successfully helped businesses across the country outsource their facilities operations and management, saving them time and money and reducing stress. Since they opened System 4 Nebraska in September of 2023, b…

When Cyrus Jaffery of Omaha walked into his future father-in-law's home situated near the 18th hole of a golf course and looked out at the beautiful pool, he knew one thing. He had to find out what he did for a living. At the time, Cyrus had been working for a bank selling mortgages, but he had dreams of something more. Something big. When his father-in-law told him he was an insurance agent, Cyrus decided that was it. He began a career in insurance with State Farm—but that was just the beginning. From Corporation to Entrepreneur After several years at State Farm soaking up everything he could learn about the insurance industry, Cyrus followed his entrepreneurial heart and left in 2019 to open his own brokerage. What started…

Originally from North Carolina, Justin Ogburn was still in the Navy when he got started in the real estate business. His last duty station was in Virginia and Justin had purchased rental properties he was managing to prepare for his life after the military. He had not planned to stay in Virginia after being discharged, though, as his wife was from Lincoln and the couple planned to reside in Omaha to raise their family. When he and his family relocated, Justin continued his real estate journey by joining Headley Realty, a firm owned by another veteran and that provided both real estate and property management services to clients mainly in the Omaha area. Justin knew he could contribute to their success by focusing on others in the mi…

“We treat every project we undertake as if it is our own.” With this attitude toward each client, whether one is looking for a small business expansion or a multimillion-dollar complex, Holly Hunt is seeking to provide her customers with a construction experience that builds meaningful relationships and 100% customer satisfaction. This is the vision behind ELEVATE Construction, Holly’s latest entrepreneurial journey that opened its doors in 2022. What Sets ELEVATE Construction Apart? ELEVATE is a full-service construction firm that provides a broad scope of services to meet their clients’ needs from design-build to general contracting, pre-construction planning and permitting, and project management. Holly and her te…

Come on in. Grab a seat and make yourself at home. First time visiting Uppercuts Barber Shop in Papillion? Not a problem. You’ll soon be a regular too. Terril Brown, Uppercuts’ owner, was only ten years old when he discovered his natural talent for haircutting. Throughout his school years, he practiced on himself and friends. At the urging of his barber cousin, he went on to complete 1800 hours of study and practice to receive professional credentials. By the time he was finished, he knew how to do perms, braids, color, and relaxers and honed his hair-cutting skills. He also had a sketch of a business logo he’d designed for the barber shop he wanted to open one day that he carried that sketch in a folder everywhere he went.…

Two generations ago, a young Filipino woman traveled across the ocean with her two young sons to start a new life in America. Though she said goodbye to her home and her people, “Auntie Bel” carried with her a deeply ingrained family culture of entrepreneurship and tenacious industry.  Maria Corpuz brings a unique approach to promotional materials through her company Bel Merch. In the Land of Opportunity, one of Auntie Bel’s little boys grew up to become a dentist, and with his wife by his side, they opened a practice together. The couple had a daughter who grew into her place in the family business, and their example of hard work and business savvy became a part of who she was as well.  Their little girl grew up with …

Chaeli Greco’s journey into physical therapy can be traced back to infancy. Her dad took a sabbatical from work for the first year of her life and wasted no time introducing her to America’s Pastime. She attended the College World Series before her first birthday, and throughout her childhood, the ball field was her second home.  By the time she was eight, Chaeli was chalking the fields in preparation for the fall league baseball games, a league started by her mother and father. Chaeli wasn’t just a field attendant or spectator in the stands. She grew up playing ball herself and suffered a significant knee injury that required three surgeries in her middle school years. In high school, she went through three additional su…

In a world increasingly dominated by industrial agriculture, a new wave of farmers is emerging who are dedicated to regenerative farming practices and local food production. One of these farmers is Tim Fonfara, founder of The Omaha Urban Farmer LLC, who is bringing a fresh perspective to urban farming that emphasizes sustainability, self-sufficiency, and community. Of the seven acres on his property, Timothy Fonfara estimates five are farmable. Fonfara’s journey began during the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. "If you would have asked me six years ago if I would have been interested in farming, I would probably have looked at you in confusion,” he recalls. As pandemic-related shut-downs highlighted the fragility of glo…

What happens when an Air Force veteran with experience and expertise in human resourcesand event planning pursues his love of poker? You get a Vegas-style casino experience and a night you’ll never forget. Ken Waters, owner and operator of All In Party Rentals, found his way into the casino gamingculture while stationed in Las Vegas. He, among other servicemen, was recruited to help withthe World Series of Poker and he also had the opportunity to help host amateur poker events.He loved everything about it including the atmosphere, the game, and the culture of casinogaming. Ken’s time in the service ended with retirement and he chose Omaha as the ideal location toreinvent the civilian version of himself. He took an all-in a…

Remember how proud you felt when your mom hung your kindergarten art on the refrigerator? At Hawaii Fluid Art, the team can guide you through creating a canvas or wearable art you’ll be happy to show off beyond the Frigidaire. Walking through the door of the 2600 square foot studio feels like entering a portal into a tropical gift shop with palm tree wall hangings, seashell jewelry, and beach-evocative music greeting you. But the real work at Hawaii Fluid Art happens a little further back where canvases, drying racks, and acrylic paints are all at the ready. If you’ve been less than inspired by the traditional paint-and-sip, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the creations you can accomplish with fluid art.  Owner Da…

Bob Williams of Williams Law, LLC may have left the Nebraska farming community of his childhood behind, but it’s clear the small-town values and enthusiasm for giving a neighbor a hand are foundational principles that have shaped his career in law. With over twenty years in legal defense, Bob decided in 2019 that it was time to open an independent practice. He’s been approached numerous times to forge a partnership with friends and associates in the business, but he’s happy with the freedom to direct his days and his schedule, helping him balance what he loves most: his family first and foremost, and the clients he is able to provide with expert counsel and support in times of need. Justice is a Fundamental Right for All of Us …

Ward Peters has experienced a long and fulfilling membership in the Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha. A member for more than 40 years, Ward has served as the President of the club, has been an integral part of many committees, and now serves on the Blue Ribbon Committee—made up of all past Presidents—to help advise the board. His reputation in Rotary may only be matched by his reputation in the Omaha business community. Ward began his career in real estate with Bob Wurdeman and his real estate company. It was only after Bob passed that Ward realized what an inspiring mentor he had been to him. Almost everything he learned about how to treat people came from observing Bob and these lessons continue to serve him to this day. At th…

As a lifelong sports enthusiast, Jimmie Allen couldn’t be having more fun at work. His talk radio program, “After Hours Sports” on 1620 AM, The Zone, set a new standard for brokered shows and has triggered a positive chain reaction he never could have imagined. Jimmie began his radio show by purchasing airtime, which meant he not only had to fill his two hours with content every week, but he also had to pitch his show to businesses, convincing them that advertising during his program was a wise investment. Finding high schools interested in showcasing their sports and outstanding student-athletes wasn’t so hard. However, overcoming his reticence to become a salesman and embody all the negative connotations that word held for him…

We were told in Field of Dreams that “If we build it, they will come.” Maybe that works in baseball, but for entrepreneurs, there’s another step we can’t afford to overlook. “If we build it, we have to show them where to find it, and THEN they’ll come.” Doug Krehbiel, founder of Lumenvox Media in Omaha, is putting this marketing philosophy into practice through his latest business venture. Doug Krehbiel, founder of Lumenvox Media Just last year, Doug watched Formula 1 Racing in Las Vegas, and as he’s ever on the lookout for the next big idea, he noticed and marveled at the creative marketing strategies he saw being used there, particularly the mobile media centers. Curiosity developed into a business idea as he ask…