OMAHA, Neb., Sept. 6, 2019 – The Greater Omaha Chamber has launched the 2019-2020 session of its Omaha Executive Institute (OEI), welcoming a cohort that adds a wide range of executive-level talent to the region.
“Leaders are learners, and this year’s OEI class is no exception,” said Lynda Shafer, the Chamber’s leader “leader.” “From program directors to publishers, the class is diverse, skilled and equipped to meet OEI’s goals of broadening knowledge and creating community connections.”
OEI is offered exclusively for senior-level executives (who are new to their positions and/or new to the community) and their spouses. Over the course of eight monthly sessions, participants explore the community’s issues, challenges and opportunities to better understand the environment in which they are now doing business.
“Omaha Executive Institute really opened our eyes to the community: What is Omaha about? What’s the history of the community?” said past program participant Chuck Nelson, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Data Management, First National Bank. “It helped bring Omaha to life for us.”
Chuck’s wife, Pam Nelson, added, “We met some people, but more importantly, it encouraged us to connect to the community.”
Meet the 2019 OEI Cohort:
| FirstName | LastName | Title | Company |
| Aaron | Austin | SVP, CHRO | CHI Health |
| Janice | Austin | ||
| Mike | Brookes | Director of Intelligence | U.S. Strategic Command |
| Wendy | Brookes | ||
| Courtney | Burnette | Director, iCASD | UNMC iCASD |
| Shannon | Cotsoradis | President & CEO | Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative |
| Jessica | Dennis | VP, Finance | First National Bank of Omaha |
| Shawn | Dennis | Occupational Therapist | Kindred at Home |
| Liz | Durham-Ruiz | Director of C4 Systems | U.S. Strategic Command |
| Rich | Ruiz | IT Specialist | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Naomi | Hattaway | Program Director | Habitat for Humanity of Omaha |
| Mike | Hilt | Dean, College of Communication, Fine Arts & Media (CFAM) | University of Nebraska Omaha |
| Sacha | Kopp | Senior Vice Chancellor | University of Nebraska Omaha |
| Claudio | Laterreur | SVP, CIO | Valmont Industries |
| Mike | Lucas | Superintendent of Schools | Westside Community Schools |
| Clark | Ponthier | SVP Supply Chain | Union Pacific |
| Lisa | Ponthier | ||
| David | Ridgeway | EVP/Chief Lending Officer | ACCESSbank |
| Daphne | Ridgeway | ||
| Todd | Sears | President and Publisher | Omaha World-Herald |
| Brenna | Sears | Owner | Bravenity |
| Mart | Sedky | VP Human Capital | Omaha Public Power District |
| Kristi | Thornton | SVP/Omaha Retail Market Manager | West Gate Bank |
| Randy | Wood | President, Global Agricultural Irrigation | Lindsay Corporation |
| Candace | Wood | Aerobics Instructor | Armbrust Family YMCA |
To learn more about Omaha Executive Institute, visit the OEI webpage or contact Lynda Shafer at lshafer@omahachamber.org.