Get to know your 2008 Young Professionals Council Board of Directors
Lee Denker
Hometown Papillion
How long you have been in Omaha? Grew up here. Gone 1996-2006. Moved back in July 2006.
Why Omaha? Fond memories, family here, progressive city.
Profession President and CEO of the UNO Alumni Association.
Age 37
Family Married to Julie for 15 years so far. Have three kids - Sadie (12), Sam (9), Sophie (6).
Something unique about you Prior to returning home to Omaha, I spent five years living in Idaho where I was alumni director at Boise State University. Boise State is the home of the famous BLUE football field!
What is your favorite thing about Omaha I appreciate the Midwestern work ethic and that people are not completely self-absorbed. This is a very friendly and philanthropic town
John Heaston
Why Omaha? I am an Army brat born in Frankfurt who finished high school in Omaha. I left and came back to Omaha several times before getting involved in launching an alternative publication. Out of the top 100 markets at the time, only Omaha and El Paso did not have an established alternative/metropolitan newsweekly, even though in 1972 the Omaha Sun was the first weekly newspaper to win a Pulitzer prize for investigative reporting.
Profession publisher and editor of Pioneer Publishing a group of seven publications including The Reader, an alternative/metropolitan newsweekly, and El Perico a bilingual community newsweekly.
Age 37
Community Involvement Active as a board member of the Mildred Brown Foundation, Omaha Press Club, Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards and the Young Professionals Council, and serve as a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Earth Day Omaha Committee, A Time For Burning and Quad Club also an active member of Investigative Reporters & Editors.
What is your vision for Omaha? I believe Omaha will only be able to recruit and retain young professionals in a sustainable manner if it substantially increases its tolerance for diverse cultures and outlooks and builds more bike paths.
Feel free to ask John how the global village was defined by a couple hundred Omahans and a MIT researcher in 1952.
Rachel Jacobson
Hometown Omaha
How long you have been in Omaha? 3 years
Why Omaha? Great career opportunity, Family
Profession Executive Director of Film Streams, Nonprofit cinema
Age 30
What community issues are you most interested in? Promoting arts & culture; diversity & inclusion; equal opportunity for all; public schools; supporting anything small, local & original
How do you like to spend your free time? going to rock shows and art shows, drinking wine with friends, watching movies (though that's my job too nowadays)
Favorite spots in town love the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, La Buvette, Blueline, Slowdown, Pulp, Balthazar (new vintage store that just opened up downtown), Jackson Street Books, Trocadero, Jake's, the Waiting Room, Josephine's, Hiro,and for very special occasions French Café or Flatiron. Um, don't know if I should say this but Film Streams is pretty sweet too!
Family I live with my boyfriend. We have no pets or children but do have a couple plants we've managed to keep alive for sometime.
What is your vision for Omaha? I think we're headed in a great direction (as is evidenced by my long list of sweet destinations above). I'd like to see more of all of that: creative businesses with a heart behind them. I'd also like to see more acceptance of diverse and alternative lifestyles. Right now there's sort of a definition of "normal" here & I don't think that should ever be defined.
How would you describe Omaha? Wonderful, big-hearted, genuine people, big skies, extreme weather, very navigable, manageable.
Most notable milestone opening the Ruth Sokolof Theater
Beth Katz
Hometown Omaha
How long you have been in Omaha? I returned to Omaha in Fall 2004 to start Project Interfaith after completing graduate school at the University of Michigan.
Why Omaha? I returned to Omaha with a vision and commitment to start a sustainable interfaith organization for our area. I believed that conditions in Omaha made it ripe for this sort of venture to be launched.
Profession Executive Director, Project Interfaith
Age 29
What is your vision for Omaha? My vision for Omaha is to continue nurturing or, when necessary create, the components in it that will enable it to be proactive, dynamic, democratic, integrated,authentic, and self-critical. We need to ensure that it has the infrastructure and support necessary to allow it to be responsive and inclusive to the needs of all its residents -especially young professionals- and to grow in a sustainable, responsible way. I would like to see our community place greater value on diversity, innovation, and more aggressively work to promote a shared sense of ownership and respect among all its residents. Employers play a critical role in achieving this vision. They can offer incentives for workers to be creative, balanced and involved in the community and I would like to see ethics integrated at all levels into the practices of business and organizations. I also would like to make the leadership of the community more accessible by its constituents and one that not just values but seeks feedback and thoughtfully integrates this feedback into its practices.
Ralph Kellogg
Profession Finance Director, YWCA
Craig Moody
Hometown Sioux City, IA
How long you have been in Omaha? eight years
Why Omaha? My Dad suggested I find employment after college graduation. A brief search culminated in a move to Omaha.
Profession Undecided
Age 32
What community issues are you most interested in? Greening Omaha, sustainable economic development, and keeping Omaha on track to be one of the coolest towns in the U.S.
Favorite spots in town Elmwood Park, Filmstreams, Slowdown, Dundee, The Donut Stop
Family married to my amazing wife Emily, dog named Blue, feline named Jingles
Favorite quote "there is no limit to what a man can do if he doesn't mind who gets the credit"
Most notable milestone - termination from current employment/start of sabbatical on July 18, 2008
What is your favorite...
Local restaurant M's Pub
Lunch spot Amsterdam
TV show The Daily Show
Movie Godfather, Good Will Hunting, The Graduate,
Place to shop Salvation Army
Michelle Moyes-Dill
Hometown None, moved around as a kid
Why Omaha? I have friends that are like family, there is something to do every weekend and it's just a great friendly place
Profession Non Profit
Age under 40
How do you like to spend your free time? Boating, running, biking, home improvement projects, gardening, volunteering, enjoying a good cold beer with friends, experiencing new restaurants... anything but watch TV.
Favorite spots in town Darrios, Trovatos, Goldbergs, friend's homes
What does Omaha offer young professionals? The ability to stand out and be seen.
Hometown Wilcox, Nebraska - Population 380
How long you have been in Omaha? Since February 2001
Why Omaha? I moved here on a better salary offer in my career path
Profession Corporate Services
Age 30
Family Happily married since May 2008 to my husband Dan. We live in house in West Omaha that was built in 2004 with our two orange tabby cats.
What does Omaha offer young professionals? Omaha offers all the conveniences and attractions of bigger cities, with less of the hassles. In Omaha you set your own pace with no pressure to conform to a pace that's already been set. Omaha offers a great seamless living. You can live anywhere in Omaha and not have to change where you live just because you may change jobs. Commute times are reasonable and short in comparison to much larger cities. Housing costs make it realistic for even a single young professional to own their own brand new home or trendy condo. Salaries are highly competitive in relation to the overall cost of living in Omaha. This leaves more expendable income for entertainment. Restaurants, bars, and concert venues are in abundant supply and much more affordable than larger cities. Because Omaha is right in the middle of the country, a plane ticket in to destinations any direction within the country costs virtually the same price. This makes traveling and vacationing, even on a whim, more realistic.
You know you are in Omaha when...you can walk into a country bar that features a mechanical bull for entertainment and hear Top 40 dance and hip-hop being played as the musical entertainment!
What is your favorite...
Local restaurant: Jams and Blue Sushi
Hangout: Nomad Lounge Downtown
Lunch spot: Jimmy Johns (The Secret is the Hellman's Mayonnaise!)
Place to shop: Village Pointe
Sean Olson
Hometown Grundy Center, IA
How long you have been in Omaha? 13 years
Why Omaha? I moved to Omaha in 1996 for a job at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Athletic Department. My wife and I have come to love this city and what it has to offer.
Profession Convention Center Sales Manager at Qwest Center Omaha
Age 36
How do you like to spend your free time? When I have free time I like to spend it watching my kids play in their sporting or school activities. I also like to play golf and watch sports on TV. We like to travel when we have the time.
Family Wife Michelle - married for 12 years; Daughter - Kelsey, 7 years old; Son - Zachary, 6 years old; Dog - Lilly; Cats - Simon and Oliver
What is your vision for Omaha? Omaha is on the verge of something really incredible in the next few years. With the new downtown baseball stadium, proposed streetcars, new economic development of North Downtown and a possible new convention hotel, the downtown area is ready to explode. This new development along with Midtown Crossing, Aksarben and potential development in South Omaha and North Omaha are exciting and should be something that anyone living in this city should embrace. I can't wait to see where we are at in the next 5-10 years. The vision for Omaha that I see is one where people talk about what is happening in this city and want to either come and visit or be a part of it by moving here.
What is your favorite...
Restaurant Kobe Steak House
Hangout Brewsky's
Lunch spot Indigo Joe's
TV show Real Time with Bill Maher
Movie American Pie
Place to shop Best Buy
Thing about Omaha Qwest Center Omaha
Stephen Pedersen
Hometown Omaha, Nebraska
How long you have been in Omaha? All my life but for 4 years.
Why Omaha? I returned to Omaha to re-engage myself in the local music scene, to secure a great legal job and be close to family and friends.
Profession Attorney/Musician
Age 33
Favorite spots in town Blue Line Coffee, Donut Stop, Dario's, La Buvet, assorted rock clubs.
How would you describe Omaha? Like a Cotton Candy Cloud floating on top of a warm blanket with a really great Eames pattern
Favorite quote "If I'm addicted to anything, its sparklers."
You know you are in Omaha when a stranger asks where you went to grade school and is able to immediately rattle off 3 of your closest friends
Athena Ramos
Hometown Bellevue
How long you have been in Omaha? All of my life.
Profession Health education management
Age 28
What community issues are you most interested in? Developing community leadership, human rights, education, and immigration issues.
How do you like to spend your free time? Reading books, writing, going to school, and exploring new places with family and friends.
Favorite spots in town Durham Western Heritage Museum, Old Marke, Joslyn Art Museum
Family info 2 kids (Jonathan & Nicholas) and 2 cats (Johnny & Benjamin)
Favorite quote "10% of life is what happens to you. 90% is what you make out of it."
Most notable milestone Being named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Omahans in 2005
What is your favorite...
Local restaurant M's Pub, Malara's, Flat Iron
Hangout La Buvette, Nomad, Mick's, Bar 415, España
Lunch spot G.I. Forum, Greek Islands, and the Taco Trucks in South Omaha
TV show Grey's Anatomy. Laverne & Shirley,
Movie Saturday Night Fever, Sweet November, Casablanca, Serendipity
Place to shop New Realities, Urban Outfitters
Mike Robinson
Hometown Camden, NJ
How long you have been in Omaha? Almost 10 years
Why Omaha? Transferred to play last year of football at UNO, then attended graduate school.
Profession Director of Development, Family Housing Advisory Services
Age 30
Family Married to Natasha for 6 years. Have two kids - Isaac (5) and Leah (due date 8-30-08).
Something unique about you I am an only child that loves to make things happen regardless of the predicament.
What is your favorite thing about Omaha I am blessed to constantly meet individuals on a daily basis who are down to earth so to speak. I love my hometown, but the east coast involves so much hustling and bustling that you can forget to appreciate life.
What is your favorite...
Local restaurant Blue Sushi
Hangout The Parlimanent
Lunch spot Chef Mike's
TV show The Office
Movie The Pursuit of Happyness
Place to shop Wherever the wife wants to go
Thing about Omaha One word: PEACEFUL
Jeff Slobotski
Hometown Omaha, NE
Why Omaha? Omaha is quickly developing into a first class city in which to live, work and call my home.
Profession Manager, Marketing & Sales - Truist
Age 30
Favorite spots in town Slowdown, Nomad Lounge, P.U.L.P Gallery, the Old Market shops, Standing Bear Lake
Family Married, 2 boys (3 ½ and 1 year old)
Favorite quote I came into this world with nothing and all I'm going to leave with is my conscience.
What is your favorite...
Local restaurant Jams
Hangout Nomad
Lunch spot PepperJack's Grill
TV show 24
Movie Once
Place to shop Urban Outfitters
Thing about Omaha The city is filled with friendly, helpful and outgoing people
How long you have been in Omaha? I've lived in Omaha my entire life, minus the time spent traveling.
Umang Talati
Hometown Eustis, FL
How long you have been in Omaha? Since 1996
Why Omaha? Well, honestly, I originally came here to go to school at Creighton University. I had no intention of making the frigid Midwest my new home...but low and behold, the great people, the atmosphere, and the ability to do great things and impact people really anchored my willingness to stay in Omaha a few years. Now, I can't see myself living anywhere else. Not only have I invested myself in the community, but I have invested a lot in developing the kind of community I wish to live in. In Omaha, we as young professionals are able to create the community we wish to live in. One can live in an urban setting, one can live the suburban lifestyle, and one can live both if they so choose...Omaha is what you make it... I made it home!
Profession Nebraska Bar Candidate for July 2008
Age 29
What community issues are you most interested in? Sustainable economic development, inclusion and strategic approaches to diversity, corporate philanthropy, and community development
How do you like to spend your free time? Cooking, eating at new places and my old favorites, dancing, working out, playing cards and other games, volunteering, and traveling
Favorite spots in town NICO, The Max, Heartland of America Park, Hindu Temple of Omaha, Old Market-farmers market, 24th St. South Omaha, Dundee, Benson Downtown, 24 Hour Fitness
Family Recently married
Favorite quote Where there is life...there is hope!
Most notable milestone Graduating with distinction from law school and masters program from Creighton University
You know you are in Omaha when...you have been involved enough in the community that when you go out anywhere in the city and people come up to you and say hi and carry on a conversation and ask about your family and stuff...and you have no idea who they are!
What is your favorite...
Local restaurant Lo Sole Mio
Hangout Old Chicago
Lunch spot Indian Oven and Three Happiness Express
TV show Real world...I know I need help (or) Food Network generally
Movie all worth at least one viewing
Place to shop Westroads
Thing about Omaha The culture of giving in Omaha to many charities...
Jenny Zimmer
Hometown Sioux City, IA
Why Omaha? Since August 2000
Why Omaha? I had spent a few years here during college and really liked Omaha. I found a great job and saw a huge potential for design and development in downtown.
Profession Architect, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
Age 34
What community issues are you most interested in? Urban Design, Sustainability and Transportation
How do you like to spend your free time? Enjoying local art, music, food and film
Favorite spots in town Little Italy (my home), Old Market and South O
What is your favorite...
Local restaurant Dixie Quiks
Hangout Downtown
Lunch spot Indian Oven
TV show Project Runway
Movie The Graduate
Place to shop the internet
Thing about Omaha A newfound appreciation of creativity
Kirsten Case Penrod
Hometown Denver, CO
How long you have been in Omaha? 11 years
Why Omaha? I have made a great life for myself here and can be a part of what is going on in our city
Profession Manager Leadership & Workforce Development, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
Age 36
How do you like to spend your free time? Reading, home improvement projects, gardening, with friends and family and when I can traveling.
Favorite spots in town My front porch, Dundee, Benson, Old Market
Family Husband-Kevin, daughter Hannah and step daughters Sydney and Grace, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 1 turtle to keep things interesting.
You know you are in Omaha when you can make things happen with just two phone calls!
Favorite quote What would you do if you knew you would not fail?
What is your favorite...
Local restaurant Ahmad's
Hangout Crescent Moon or Dario's patio
Thing about Omaha the People!
To serve on the Young Professionals Council, candidates must be 40 and under and currently employed by a Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce member company.
Nominations for new board members are accepted every fall.
For further information, contact Kirsten Case-Penrod at (402) 978-7945