Down To Business In Lincoln

Hosted by Polly ReQua

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Jul 2024

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About the show

Down to Business in Lincoln is hosted by Polly ReQua. Polly is a Senior Account Executive at Broadcast House Media and Founder of Bark & Wag. Polly sits down with industry leaders and discusses motivation, business strategy, and what makes them tick. Whether you’re a new entrepreneur looking for next-level advice, a current business owner ready to expand, or just love talking shop, listen in and join the conversation with Polly’s Down to Business in Lincoln.

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12 recent

July 12, 202415 min

Meet Sydney Standard with Mutual of Omaha

Sydney Stanard is an experienced and knowledgeable financial advisor dedicatedto securing the financial future of you and your family. With a bachelor's degree in business marketing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she brings a comprehensive understanding of both financial principles and the dynamics of individual decision-making to the table. Since 2014, Sydney has been serving clients at Mutual of Omaha, equipped with life and health insurance licenses, as well as Series 63 and 65 licenses. Her experience spans a wide range of financial services, including Life, Disability, Critical illness, Long-Term Care, health, and Medicare Part D insurances, along with investment planning, annuities, IRAs and 401(k)s, managed investments, and non-qualified brokerage accounts. She is supported by a dedicated team that includes McKenzie Lee, Administrative Assistant and Curtis Gude, our licensed professional that specializes in Property and Casualty insurance which includes covering Home, Auto, Motorcycle, RV, Boat, and a variety of business-related insurances. At their practice, they treat clients like family, offering support and guidance just a phone call away. Licensed to work with clients across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, and Florida, they ensure accessibility and convenience for all their clients. They tailor personalized financial plans to meet your unique needs and goals. Outside of work, Sydney enjoys spending quality time with her husband Curtis and their son Maverick, enjoying our camper and the pool in the summertime and traveling when it gets too cold to stay in Nebraska! Additionally, Sydney is involved in the Northview Lincoln Business Association (NLBA), serving on the board since 2014, where she is passionate about supporting business growth and development and especially giving extra attention to mentoring young women in our community. If you're ready to take control of your financial future contact Sydney today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards financial security and peace of mind.

June 24, 202412 min

Brave Animal Rescue

Brave Animal Rescue is a volunteer-based animal welfare organization dedicated to rescuing homeless kittens, cats, dogs, and puppies. Learn about their mission, ways to help and Nora's Fund. Founded in 2020 by a group of animal advocates in Lincoln, Nebraska, Brave Animal Rescue is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) volunteer-based animal welfare organization dedicated to rescuing homeless kittens, cats, dogs, and puppies. By working with a network of volunteer advocates, foster caregivers, local veterinarians, and shelters, Brave Animal Rescue is able to help hundreds of animals every year by pulling animals from high-kill shelters, by working hands-on rescuing orphaned kittens, by aiding in local Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts, and by helping those who are no longer able to care for their pets. We provide these animals with care and temporary homes until we are able to place them in permanent homes. Brave also aims to serve as a resource to our community by providing information about pet ownership, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, and TNR. The founders of Brave Animal Rescue are life-long animal advocates who have several years of experience working with other nonprofit animal groups throughout the Midwest. Through these experiences on the forefront of rescue, the founders quickly began to recognize a need in the community for a neonatal-focused rescue. The vast majority of animals that are surrendered to animal shelters are under the age of 18 months old. According to The Humane Society of the United States, 80% of kittens are born outside. Without intervention, these kittens go on to procreate, get killed (by disease, vehicles, predators, etc.), or end up in shelters. Unfortunately, kittens and puppies under 8 weeks old are the population most at-risk for being euthanized in shelters due to a lack of resources and foster homes. With a passion for newborn kittens and puppies, and drive to help the community, the founders of Brave Animal Rescue aim to end the cycle of unwanted companion animals through education, rescue, and spaying and neutering. Who and What is Nora's Fund? Nora’s Fund was created in memory of an extraordinarily special dog. Nora was a puppy mill survivor, spending the first 10 years of her life living only in a cage to produce puppies. Upon rescue, it was discovered the serious neglect and abuse she had endured during those 10 years. She had broken bones, tumors, rotten teeth, and a shattered spirit. The healing trio of love, medical attention, and doggy dementia allowed Nora to leave her trauma behind her and live her new life to the fullest. Nora lived for three years after rescue. She was silly, she was brave, and she was so, so loved. Nora’s Fund is our effort to honor a little dog who meant a great deal to us. Nora's Fund provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals in Nebraska who cannot afford their pet’s medical treatment. We understand life can be complicated and we all need help sometimes. Eligible pet owners can apply for a one-time assistance grant. Nora's Fund relies on donations and provides a limited amount of financial assistance to pet owners based on the resources available in the fund.

June 10, 202421 min

Sleepy Bees Lavender Farm

Sleepy Bees Lavender Farm came into existence with the first planting of 1700 Phenomenal Lavender plants the first week of May 2018. Owners Jerry and Holly McCabe had the vision to bring lavender to their farm just south of Lincoln Nebraska. The duo started with 3/4 of an acre of Phenomenal, and now are up to almost 2 acres with 7 different varieties of culinary lavender. Their dream is to keep the lavender going, adding some each year, and help increase the number of pollinators with our flowers, herbs and grasses. They also love having visitors to the farm during the blooming season to share the peace and beauty of our little corner of Nebraska. Into their 6th year, they have developed a successful line of products made with their lavender, a small agritourism business and a website that grows as they learn. They also participate in Farmer's Markets and other Maker's Markets in Lincoln area. Please check out their blog, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube TikTok and X for a more in-depth and ongoing story of their journey, as well as the website for all your shopping and gifting needs.

May 22, 202426 min

Meet Nolan, Owner of Save Local App and Lincoln Ice Cream Company

Nolan left his cushy job in Finance making $100,000+ a year to start a marketing business that helps business owners and consumers get to where they want to be. The way to rescue your business is not a TV commercial, radio ad or billboard. The way is getting targeted traffic using Facebook and Instagram ads directed at a sales funnel. That’s where Nolan comes in. He will use tools to help you get from the worst of situations to your ideal situation when it comes to getting customers. Visit savenbraskalocal.com Bringing Local Businesses and Consumers Together! They are a results-driven local business directory aimed at helping your business grow & develop meaningful business relationships. Finding Nebraska Businesses is easy by searching our trusted network of top-rated Nebraska Businesses. Learn more by visiting: https://www.lincolnicecreamco.com https://www.savenebraskalocal.com .

April 11, 202427 min

Rutabagas Restaurant is serving nostalgic comfort food in Lincoln. Each dish is inspired by plants and made with love.

Rutabagas was launched in the summer of 2018 by Chef + Owner Sara Brown. There was a need in the Lincoln community for plant-based comfort food options, as a self-proclaimed foodie. a self-taught chef, with restauranteur blood running through her veins, Sara knew she was just the person for this adventure. After spending nearly a year in a private commercial kitchen testing and releasing dishes to the public for feedback and popping up at local breweries and events to sell her popular dishes, it was time to take Rutti’s to the next level, and see if a restaurant concept could be supported. Rutabagas opened as a restaurant-concept in the Fall of 2019, operating with limited hours as a temporary arrangement in the old Spaghetti Works at 12th and P for 8 months. It became immediately clear that Lincoln could support an entirely vegan, full service restaurant. Sara felt confident in finding Rutabagas a “forever home” and finding a space to make their own. The lease was signed in March 2020 for Rutabagas very own restaurant space, a place to call home, in the old Lazarri’s spot at 1434 O Street, in the heart of downtown Lincoln. Renovation was well underway as COVID was impacting our community and wreaking havoc on the restaurant industry. Despite the pandemic, Rutabagas opened its doors as a full service restaurant to the public in May 2020. In the summer of 2021, Sara welcomed a sweet little ruta-baby boy to the team and Cormac became the youngest known dishwasher in the city. After enduring the pandemic and all the challenges that followed from it for nearly 18 months, Sara made the incredibly difficult decision to close the doors of the restaurant Christmas Eve 2021. In February 2022, Rutabagas returned to its roots and secured a private commercial shared kitchen space and operated from there, focusing on large catering events, pop ups, and weekly meal offerings. In August of 2022, Rutabagas debuted as a food truck and hit the road! Borrowing a food truck from a dear friend, Sara was able to serve food all around the city (and even surrounding cities) from the food truck window. Sun, rain or snow… nothing stopped her! In March of 2023, her time in the food truck ended, and she served out of the Harbor Coffee Shop a few nights a week until this journey became VERY full circle. In May of 2023, the space that gave Sara her start back in 2018, was vacated and became available for rent. Sara IMMEDIATELY jumped at the opportunity, and the rest is history. A few months later, Sara was given the keys and officially (re)opened Rutabagas as a restaurant in August of 2023. Since August of 2023, Sara has been operating the restaurant with scaled back hours to maintain some work-life balance and is operating with a small but incredibly mighty team. Bingo is hosted every Thursday night, cooking classes take place a couple times a month, and Sara has never felt more at home or more at peace. June of 2024: Sara is planning to overhaul a delivery truck that was very generously gifted to her from Pepsi and get Rutti on the road again as a food truck for all those fun summer events. Visit: Located in: Meadowlane Shopping Center Address: 854 N 70th St, Lincoln, NE 68505

March 25, 202429 min

Cody Schmick discusses Kinkaider Brewing and its expansion in Nebraska.

"We love Nebraska," said Schmick, who ended up moving to Lincoln from Broken Bow with his family. He and the three others at the core of Kinkaider — Dan Hodges, Barry Fox and Nate Bell — feel like doubling down and investing in Nebraska is extremely important, Schmick said."We all live here. We were all born and raised here. We want to see it grow. We want to be able to build cool things that keep people in communities. We want to help shape culture in the small way that we can," Schmick said. "Really that's our driving force behind all of this." The four met 10 years ago in Broken Bow. Schmick and his wife moved there after buying the grocery store. And he started trying to bring in some unique craft beers to the market, something the area didn't have a ton of access to at the time. Learn all about Kinkaider Brewing, Bierhaus Maisschaler and Sideshow Spirits located in Lincoln, NE.

March 17, 202417 min

Meet Amy and Bre, the owners of Larkspur Upholstery Studio in Lincoln

Amy came to the upholstery industry with 10 years experience refinishing furniture and upcycling, and an eye for the latest interior trends and color. She trained for three years under the master upholsterers at Pechous Upholstering Company and was responsible for a large portion of both residential and commercial projects that came through the shop during that time. Amy is an artist and a perfectionist who will return your pieces to you looking better and more beautiful than they did out of the factory. Bre learned to sew at a young age and has been a serious sewist for over twenty years. In 2015, she graduated from UNL with a Masters degree in Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising, and later learned the specifics of sewing and cutting for upholstery (and met Amy!) at Pechous. With her knowledge of textiles, design, and advanced patternmaking, Bre delivers a polished and professional finished product every time.

February 5, 202420 min

Lincoln American Electronics is giving clients a peace of mind with reliable security systems.

With over 30 years of experience in the Security Industry, Lincoln American Electronics has deep roots in Lincoln and the surrounding areas. They are passionate about providing peace of mind to home and business owners so that you can focus on living your life and leave those unwanted fears of the unknown behind. They work hard to always provide the latest technology solutions, and you can trust that they will stand behind their work. LAE values relationships with clients and will always seek to do the right thing. They listen to you in order to understand problems and find the best solution. They do not push unwanted products or lock you into excessive contracts. You’ll never experience pushy sales people here, because they treat you like how they would want to be treated. Lincoln American Electronics is a Lincoln, NE based security company, offering smart, reliable security solutions that give you protection, control, and peace of mind. Their services include residential protection, smart home and energy management, and business solutions for companies of any size. Whether you need smart-home integration, or are managing multiple businesses- protecting and staying connected to your property has never been more simple, accessible, and customizable for you. Their security solutions and smart home integration technologies offer protection for every situation. They listen to what matters most to you, then work to tailor a plan that fits your needs, while producing protection and security you can depend on.

January 22, 202412 min

AR Workshop Lincoln is your destination for all things DIY! Our charming boutique studio offers hands-on craft classes, group activities, private parties, and a curated selection of gifts and on-trend home decor.

AR Workshop Lincoln is owned by Tim and Teresa Tibbits. They have had a long-term dream to own their own business. Teresa is originally from Lincoln and has been crafting and DIYing as long as she can remember. So, when they found AR Workshop - they knew it was the perfect fit! Tim and Teresa are excited to bring a Fun, New DIY Experience to Lincoln, NE and surrounding communities. Register for a DIY workshop to create on-trend home decor from raw materials – wood signs, canvas pillows, wood framed signs, bottle openers and more! Enjoy a girls night out, date night, team building event, private party or birthday party at AR Workshop Lincoln! Visit https://www.arworkshop.com/lincoln

January 4, 202427 min

Learn all about Madsen's Bowling & Billiards 2024 goals with 3rd Generation Co-Owner, Sara Madsen

Madsen's Bowling and Billiards and Ej's Lounge and Grill is a great place to meet friends and family for a game and dinner. Learn all about the history of the establishment. Madsen's is located at 4700 Dudley St, Lincoln, NE 68503 or /www.madsenslincoln.com.