Midtown Business Association

04/09/2026

The Midtown Business Association is excited to announce our upcoming speaker lineup for April through June, featuring three incredible individuals making an impact in our community.

April 22nd, Kristine Ge**er

A leader in education, preservation, and community engagement, Kristine serves as Program Director of Making Invisible Histories Visible at Omaha Public Schools and is the founding Executive Director of Restoration Exchange. A published author of several history books—including Omaha's Architectural Landmarks and Ak-Sar-Ben: Looking Back & Leading Onward—Kristine continues to shape how we understand our local history. She will also be honored at the Women Defining History Luncheon this April.

May 27th, Ricky Bertz

Owner of the Omaha Beef since 2018, Ricky leads Omaha’s professional indoor football team. The Beef compete in the National Arena League and play home games at Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ralston, bringing energy and excitement to the local sports scene.

June 24th, John Lajba

A renowned sculptor, John is the artist behind The Broom Man, set to be dedicated this summer in Turner Park. His work also includes The Road to Omaha near TD Ameritrade Park and a World War II memorial sculpture in Heartland of America Park. His pieces can be found throughout Omaha and across the country.

Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for our speaker luncheons—an excellent opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired.

We look forward to seeing you there!

03/25/2026

On March 25th, the MBA hosted its Monthly Member Lunch featuring guest speaker Clark Ross. Attendees enjoyed a fantastic lunch provided by the MBA, catered by Graze Craze Charcuterie Boards & Boxes at Midtown Crossing.

Clark Ross, owner of Mercury in downtown Omaha, a mid-century cocktail lounge known for its inventive drinks, playful menus, and scratch kitchen, shared valuable insights on a pressing local issue.

In addition to his work at Mercury, Clark is leading the Streetcar Impact Alliance, a coalition advocating for accountability, transparency, and fair mitigation for businesses affected by the Omaha Streetcar construction.

During his talk, Clark highlighted the ongoing challenges many local businesses are facing along the construction route. With road closures and limited access due to barricades, numerous businesses are experiencing significant declines in revenue, putting their long-term viability at risk without meaningful support.

To learn more or get involved, you can find the Streetcar Impact Alliance on Facebook, Instagram, or visit their website: streetcar-impact-alliance-xmyjp2.mailerpage.io

03/18/2026

Join us for the Midtown Business Associations (MBA) Member Lunch on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 12:00 PM!

Location:
Security National Bank Omaha
3500 Farnam Street

We’re excited to welcome guest speaker Clark Ross.

Clark is part of the Streetcar Impact Alliance. A coalition of local business owners and residents formed the Streetcar Impact Alliance, an organization focused on the economic and residential health of the Harney and Farnam corridors during the streetcar project.

Lunch will be provided by MBA.

02/21/2026

Join us for the Midtown Business Associations (MBA) Member Lunch this Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM!

Location:
Security National Bank Omaha
3500 Farnam Street

We’re excited to welcome two guest speakers who play active roles in the Blackstone area:

• Katie Kyker, Blackstone Business Association (BBA)
• Matt Oberst, Blackstone Business Improvement District

They will be discussing current things happening in the Blackstone District including construction updates and upcoming projects in the Blackstone area.

Lunch will be provided by MBA.

No registration is required — just come and join us!

We hope to see you there!

02/17/2026

On January 28th the MBA held the Monthly Member Lunch with guest speaker Kim Isherwood. Lunch was provided by the MBA.

Kim serves as President of Preserve Omaha, an organization dedicated to advocating for the preservation, restoration, and appreciation of historic buildings and neighborhoods throughout the Omaha–Council Bluffs region.

She shared the importance of protecting Omaha's rich heritage and architectural gems that make Omaha unique.

If you would like to know more about Preserve Omaha and how you can help with their mission, their website is www.preserveomaha.org

01/05/2026

Drivers commuting to midtown and downtown are in for another round of disruption starting next week as the city prepares to demolish the Farnam Street bridge over I-480.

11/30/2025

🎉 Cheers to five incredible years in the Blackstone District! Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel continues to bring historic charm, elevated stays, and unforgettable moments to the neighborhood. Here’s to many more! ✨

11/14/2025

Our annual Midtown Business Association Members/Board Meeting is coming up next week. We will not have a speaker at this meeting.

We will be discussing the past year and goals for the Association going forward. Also, as you may be aware, we are down a few board members and would really like to increase the participation. We will be nominating board members at this meeting as well.

We would like to see as many of our members as possible at this event to help us prepare for the next year. Are there speakers/topics you think we might consider? Bring these ideas to the meeting.

Date/Time: November 19, 2025 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Location: Security National Bank, 3500 Farnam St

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you next week!

10/24/2025

We had a fantastic October Member Meeting on Wednesday, October 22, 2025!

Lunch was generously provided by the MBA from Pickleman’s.

Our featured speaker, Curtis DeBerg, founder of Give Blue Hope, delivered a powerful and inspiring presentation about his nonprofit’s mission to support families of fallen law enforcement officers and first responders.

With over 34 years of service as an EMT, police officer, corrections officer, and personal protection agent (including for Warren Buffett), Curtis shared the origin story of Give Blue Hope. What began as a casual conversation in fall 2022 turned into a calling — sparked by Mr. Buffett’s simple but motivating words: “Get it done.”

Give Blue Hope provides one-time charitable gifts to families of officers and first responders killed in the line of duty, helping bridge the financial gap while waiting for death benefits or insurance. These funds help keep food on the table and bills paid during an incredibly difficult time.

According to 2024 FBI statistics:

* 457 officers were shot in the line of duty
* 52 officers died from gunfire
* 49 officers were killed in vehicular-related assaults or accidents
* 43 officers lost their lives through other tragic means

Despite these sobering numbers, these brave individuals continue to serve and protect our communities every day.

If you would like to support this important mission, visit 👉 www.givebluehope.org

Donations are IRS tax deductible | IRS Tax ID #92-1886839

A huge thank you to Curtis DeBerg for sharing his story and inspiring all of us to make a difference. 💙

10/08/2025

MBA Monthly Speaker - Give Blue Hope, Curtis DeBerg

* Date and Time

Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM Central Time (US & Canada) (UTC-06:00)

* Location

Security National Bank
3500 Farnam St
Omaha, NE 68131

* Additional Info

https://www.givebluehope.org

* About this event

The Midtown Business Association invites you to hear the inspiring story of Curtis DeBerg, founder of Give Blue Hope, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting the families of fallen law enforcement officers.

With over 34 years of service as an EMT, police officer, corrections officer, and personal protection agent, Curtis brings a heartfelt and firsthand perspective on sacrifice, service, and resilience. After retiring from law enforcement due to injury, Curtis turned his personal journey into a mission to help others—offering hope and financial support to grieving families of officers killed in the line of duty.

Come listen to Curtis share his story, the vision behind Give Blue Hope, and how we can all play a role in supporting this meaningful cause. Your presence matters—and your support can make a difference.

Let’s stand together and help Give Blue Hope.

Give Blue Hope assists the immediate family of the fallen Law Enforcement Officer/First Responder who has been feloniously assaulted and killed in the line of duty. Help with one time donations, monthly recurring donations, pledges and Corporate contributions

10/06/2025

🚨 You're Invited: MBA Networking Happy Hour! 🚨

Kick off the new quarter with the Omaha Midtown Business Association at our upcoming Networking Happy Hour – hosted by
The Meadowlark Lounge! 🍸

📍 The Meadowlark Lounge | 3302 Leavenworth St., Omaha, NE
📅 Wednesday, October 15th
⏰ 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Come mingle with Midtown Omaha’s business leaders and professionals. Whether you're looking to grow your network, spark new collaborations, or just enjoy a great cocktail with great company — this event is for you!

🎯 Let’s connect, collaborate, and keep building a strong business community.