Omaha Interview: La Kesha Johnson, Owner Imperial Printing*

OmahaNebraska.com here with …

La Kesha Johnson with Omaha printing equipment in the background

La Kesha Johnson.

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and how you came to own your business.

I discovered that I was a creative person back when I was working in the corporate world. I worked at Bank of the West corporate building and as a creative person, that was something that was just like, no, I can’t do this.

So in 2019, I started to explore YouTube for business ideas. One morning, Youtube suggested a video of a guy screen printing T-shirts in his garage. I watched that video at least 20 times, and I was like,”Man, all I wear is T-shirts and hoodies!”

In late 2019, I bought my first piece of equipment: a heat press. Then a few months later, COVID happened and the bank sent us home to work. So from 2020 to 2023, I spent a lot of time just trying to teach myself the entirety of the screen printing process. Everything was closed, so I couldn’t take classes or anything. But in 2023, I decided it was time to invest in some in-person training with my mentor in Texas.

I ended up landing my first big order in August of 2023. So I decided to jump ship because at the time the bank was in the middle of a transition.

I ended up quitting the corporate job September 6, 2023.

What kind of things do you print?

I specialize in screen printing. T-shirts, hoodies, anything you can wear.

I also do what’s called digital printing. Some people may know that as DTF (Direct to Film). So that’s basically just me doing a transfer. I offer embroidery as well.

I also specialize in signage: tablecloths, backdrops, retractable banners.

So a lot of people tend to come to me to get both as a package in one place.

What kind of kind of companies have you worked with before?

I do a lot of nonprofit work. At least 50% of the jobs I get are from local nonprofits.

The other portion of my work comes from a combination of small businesses like coffee shops. I also get a lot from con­­­­tractors.

What types of apparel have you printed?

The bulk of my work is T-shirts but I also do a lot of hoodies when it gets cold.

I do a lot of zip hoodies and jackets. I occasionally get hats.

Is there a question you wished I would have asked?

My most favorite thing about what I do has nothing to do with the printing.

I love when I get to meet people in person, walk into their establishment, and see

the excitement on their face. It makes me so happy to see people get so excited to see their new apparel!

Another one of my favorite parts about the process is doing the test print. That moment where I get to see that image coming together for the first time, it’s just so great, and I love it.

I get to give back. I get to directly see the impact that I’m making on these businesses and the people that get to wear this apparel. So, that makes me excited!

Call Imperial Custom Printing in Omaha at (402) 290-5538 today for your custom apparel printing needs!

Imperial Custom Printing
Screen printing shop in Omaha, Nebraska
(402) 290-5538
https://imperialcustomprinting.com

* This is a paid advertisement.

Omaha Interview: Katie Bassett, Vice President of Parks, MECA

Katie Bassett holds the Rising Star Award from NEBRASKAland Foundation for the Riverfront

This is OmahaNebraska.com with…

Katie Bassett. I’m the Vice President of Parks for MECA.

Please tell me a little bit about what you do at MECA and then about the Riverfront and the award.

Absolutely. I help support the teams that maintain the space, secure it, activate it, and really make the Riverfront the vibrant place that it is. I also oversaw the design and construction of the Riverfront from MECA. So really, I’m a facilitator and supporter of everyone who’s worked here.

That’s quite a job.

No, it’s been fun. We’re really honored to be curators of such a destination place in Omaha and a place where everyone feels welcome and everyone feels like they can come here and find something for them here, whether that is a playground or the performance space or an event that we’re putting on.

So many wonderful things to do down here and then across the city.

Yeah, definitely, definitely.

Is there a question you would have liked me to ask that I didn’t?

I would say we’re honored to get this award here. Just being kind of that place that people recognize for the state of Nebraska, a place that visitors come here and probably didn’t know that it was here but are surprised and impressed once they get here, and it’s something that they remember for the state of Nebraska and for the city of Omaha. We’re a beautiful park space with also a highly activated park space. We’re working on our end-of-year wrap up, and our events team put on over 700 free events this year. We’re seeing millions of visitors on an annual basis. So we’re happy to activate in the heart of downtown Omaha and are honored to receive this award.

Thank you.

The Riverfront
https://theriverfrontomaha.com

Omaha Interview: Jennifer Creager, Vice President of the NEBRASKAland Foundation

 

Jennifer Creager at Gene Leahy Mall

This is OmahaNebraska.com with…

Jennifer Creager, and I’m Vice President of the NEBRASKAland Foundation.

Tell us a little bit about the NEBRASKAland Foundation.

It was established in the ’60s by Governor Frank Morrison, and it was intended to promote all things about Nebraska. It was a precursor to the tourism efforts and really the Department of Economic Development. Our objective is to be a cheerleader for the state and amplify attractions and economic development projects that make Nebraska a better place.

There are so many wonderful places to visit in Nebraska and things to do and see, but they don’t get enough spotlights, so it’s wonderful that you do that.

Yeah, so the Omaha Riverfront is one of our five awards for the year. We purposely picked locations around the state. Last week we were in Kearney, we gave the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney an award, the Willie Cather Center in Red Cloud, we were there. I think tomorrow we’re giving the redeveloped riverfront in Norfolk an award, and then there’s a sculpture garden in Bartlett that will be our fifth.

So many places to put on your next trip.

Yeah, that’s right. And I think it’s a really nice complement to the Passport Program, which has been good at elevating small businesses. We haven’t done an award for about five years, so we felt like it was time to get back out there and make sure people are aware of all these really great opportunities in Nebraska.

If people want to learn more, where should they go?

NEBRASKAlandFoundation.org. We are getting ready to update the website because it’s very outdated. We want to put up pictures of all the award winners.

Thank you.

Omaha Event: The RiverFront Receives the 2025 Rising Star Award, 9 December

Today, the RiverFront received the 2025 Rising Star Award from the NEBRASKAland Foundation at Gene Leahy Mall.

Jennifer Creager and Katie Bassett pose with award at Gene Leahy Mall

Congratulations!!

The Nebraskaland Foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes Nebraska and celebrates the state of Nebraska and what it has to offer. One way it does that is through the Rising Star Award. “The Rising Star Award is a major emphasis by the NEBRASKAland Foundation. The award recognizes outstanding new tourism attractions or significant expansions to existing attractions and efforts in economic and social development. ” (https://www.nebraskalandfoundation.org/rising-star-award)

Again congratulations to the Riverfront for a job well done and always in progress!

Nebraskaland Foundation
https://www.nebraskalandfoundation.org/

Omaha Events:Holiday Markets and Craft Fairs

Midwest Fest Holiday Market – Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront

5 December, Friday
Fri 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

6 December, Saturday
1:00 PM – 8:00 PM

7 December, Sunday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront
Omaha, NE 68102

More at:
https://theriverfrontomaha.com/events/#calendar
https://midwestfest.com/faq-holiday-market/

Holiday Maker Market – Radial Arts Center

5 December, Friday
Fri 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

6 December, Saturday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Radial Arts Center
5915 Maple St.
Omaha, NE 68104

https://www.radialartscenter.org/exhibitions/holidaymakermarket-2025-sat

Omaha Holiday Market – Aksarben Village

6 December, Saturday
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

7 December, Sunday
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Aksarben Village
(Mercy Rd from 67th St to Aksarben Dr)
Omaha, NE 68106

Cost: Free admission
https://omahafarmersmarket.com/holiday-market/

 

Omaha Interview: Don Dotson of Delmich Office Cleaning *

OmahaNebraska.com here with …

Don Dotson, Delmich Office Cleaning

Don Dotson. I’m the owner of Delmich Office Cleaning.

Please tell us how you got into the Omaha cleaning business.

When we started in 2006, we purchased the assets of another company. Delmich combines the names of our two kids, Delana and Michael. My wife and I own the business, and we operate in Omaha and Lincoln. We have about 35 employees, and we don’t use subcontractors. We specialize in cleaning commercial buildings up to 75,000 square feet.

What did you do before owning a cleaning service?

I worked at a company that built boats. Then we bought another boat company and merged with a company in Florida, and I traveled back and forth every week for two to three years, and that got old, so I decided to buy a business. I asked a business broker to find me a company that makes money instead of losing money, and he mentioned a commercial cleaning company in Omaha. I thought, “It’s a cleaning company; how hard can that be?” I found out that it’s much harder than it looks.

How did you manage during COVID?

Actually, during COVID we did really well. We had been cleaning a lot of event spaces like the DC Center, Field Club of Omaha, and Soiree Room, and they shut down for a while. The business offices didn’t need cleaning as often because people were working at home.

So you accommodated your customers during that time?

Yes. But because we used to do air ducts, we had the equipment to fog and disinfect vents and buildings. When COVID came, there was a high demand for commercial cleaning companies that could disinfect offices. We were working not only in Omaha and Lincoln, but also Sioux City, St. Joe, Des Moines, and western Nebraska. When somebody came down with COVID, they needed us to disinfect the whole place before they opened, and they paid us great money. They’d call us at 9 p.m. and say, “We need to have this place open by 9:00 in the morning,” and they were in Sioux City. We’d pack up and go there, disinfect the whole place, and come back to Omaha. We actually made more money during COVID than we did before the pandemic.

What type of offices do you clean?

We focus mostly on cleaning professional offices, medical offices, and daycares. For some of our customers we clean office buildings that are 75,000 square feet and for others we just clean one bathroom once a week.

Three things make us different from other commercial cleaning companies in Omaha.

First, we don’t have contracts. If somebody wants a contract, we can accommodate them, but we don’t need a contract.

If a client ever feels we’re not meeting their expectations, we’ll work diligently to resolve it. In the rare case we can’t align perfectly, we part ways amicably with no obligations on either side.

Second, we don’t hire subcontractors. Our employees are background checked and E-verified, and the same cleaners come in each time.

Third, we encourage our customers to speak directly to the cleaners. If they want things done a certain way, they can tell the cleaners about it or write it in our communication book.

Call Delmich Office Cleaning in Omaha at (402) 934-9770 today to find out why they’re “The Official Cleaners of Clean.”

Delmich Office Cleaning
2436 N 84th St.
Omaha, NE 68134
(402) 934-9770
https://www.delmich.com

Text “DELMICH OFFICE CLEANING, The Official Cleaners of Clean”

* This is a paid advertisement.