Josh Jones, Principal/Director of The Career Academy, joins Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in the AOI Podcast Studio for the first BusinessLNK podcast of 2026. Josh and Jason talk about the continued growth and success of The Career Academy (TCA), which partners with Lincoln Public Schools and Southeast Community College to offer career and technical education course offerings, how they look at success established at TCA and how local businesses can get involved to help transform how students in Lincoln prepare for college and their future careers. TCA recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025.

David Kamran, Administrative Director of Industry and Workforce Partnerships, Southeast Community College, joins Luke Peltz, Vice President for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development in the AOI Podcast Studio on this edition of BusinessLNK. David and Luke talk about David's role with Southeast Community College (SCC), how higher education connects with employers and the workforce, what programs offered at SCC help bolster local workforce efforts and the best ways for businesses to get involved with not only the Lincoln campus, but also the Milford and Beatrice SCC campuses.

To get in contact with David, his email is dkamran@southeast.edu.

Jenna Vitosh, CEO and Founder of Chloey Wealth and Founder of Arrive Business Center, joins Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in the AOI Podcast Studio. Jenna and Jason talk about how Jenna came to her journey as an entrepreneur, how Arrive Business Center helps women take important steps throughout their business careers and why their south Lincoln location continues to grow.

Jenna and Jason also discuss 402 Days, an upcoming event held April 2-5, 2026 that focuses on celebrating women-owned small businesses--for more details, visit arrivebusinesscenter.org.

Penny Johnston, Director of Marketing at AOI and Nicole Sorba, Market Sales Director at AOI, join Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the history of AOI, how they have adapted to the needs of businesses and their office space over the past 40 years of operation and their respective career journeys that have led them to AOI. AOI celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2025 and continues to provide solutions for the built environment through construction, furniture and prefabricated interior construction projects.

Steve Maly, CEO & Founder of Maly Marketing, stops by the AOI Podcast Studio to talk with Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Steve and Jason talk about the journey Steve has had as a business owner and why he started Maly Marketing, what projects they are working on in the Lincoln area and how they hope to grow in the year ahead. Maly Marketing and the Lincoln Chamber, along with Visit Lincoln, were able to start the Taste 27th project in Fall 2025, highlighting the different restaurants in the North 27th Street corridor of Lincoln, which features food and dining experiences from all over the world.

Cassie Smidt, Owner of STATUS HAYMARKET, joins Becca Fowler, Investor Relations Specialist at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about her journey as an entrepreneur and small business owner. STATUS HAYMARKET specializes in sustainable high-quality, luxury bags, accessories and more, located in Lincoln's Historic Haymarket District. Cassie and Becca talk about how and why she started STATUS HAYMARKET in August 2024, her lifelong love and interest in fashion and why her boutique isn't your average boutique.

On the second 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 Brian Olson into the AOI Podcast Studio. Olson, Advisor and Coach with Leadership Resources, talks about business growth and the services Leadership Resources provides, his background and centrally, the unveiling of the Lincoln Young Professionals Group Strategic Plan. Mia and Brian discuss the process of getting the Strategic Plan together, a three-year blueprint for growth and sustainability for Lincoln YPG.

For more details on Lincoln Young Professionals Group, head to lincolnypg.com.

Ava Thomas, President of the Midwest Region of Lee Enterprises and President & Publisher of the Lincoln Journal Star, joins Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about an exciting new holiday-themed event for 2025.

Ava and Jason talk about an upcoming initiative launched by the Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Union Bank & Trust called "Community Claus", which will showcase local businesses and focus on supporting them during the busy upcoming holiday shopping season. The event kicks off on Saturday, December 6, which will also support local nonprofits in the Lincoln area.