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Visionary

Sponsored by:

WINNER Ashley Kuhn

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President, Blair Freeman Group Ashley Kuhn has helped to start one of the now largest real estate development companies in Omaha. During her time at White Lotus Group, she oversaw over $700 million in real estate development, grew the staff from 1 to over 450 and led the acquisition of the majority ownership in a construction company. She cofounded a 100% woman-owned/100% Black-owned construction and owners representation company, Blair Freeman. After becoming the only Black woman Class A contractor in the state of Nebraska, she has been leading the initiative known as NEXT Step Fund with the help of local philanthropy, around supplier diversity and the engagement of MBE and WBE contractors and suppliers on construction jobs throughout Omaha. Ashley believes in giving back through service. She currently serves on the board of directors for Greater Omaha Chamber (executive committee), Lozier Foundation, CREW Metro Omaha (past president), Union for Contemporary Arts and Omaha Girls Inc (president-elect). She is a Girls Inc. mentor and voting member of I Be Black Girl (IBBG). She is married to Kristopher Kuhn and has three beautiful children, Jayla, Alivia and Kristopher II.

Wendy Goldberg • Tri-Faith Initiative, Executive Director & Co-Founder Wendy Goldberg is a founding board member and the Executive Director of Tri-Faith Initiative. For more than 15 years she has worked with clergy, lay leaders, social sector and nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and local educators to make interfaith cooperation a social norm. Wendy leads from her value of courageous living. She is deeply passionate about how we can understand ourselves and our neighbors better, adapting to meet the needs of our community. Wendy is chair of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce’s Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity, and Equity (CODE) Advisory Council, on the advisory board of The Journal of Interreligious Studies, a LeadDiversity and Racial Equity Institute’s Racial Equity Workshop alum, and a 50 Over 50 honoree.

Julie Kalkowski • Executive Director, Financial Hope Collaborative at Creighton University For the past 30 years, Julie Kalkowski has consistently been able to create positive changes in Omaha through an inclusive, collaborative approach that connects people to the financial mainstream. It is an approach that has benefited the community, employers and especially, families who are struggling financially. Graduates from the Financial Hope Collaborative at Creighton University are increasing their incomes, paying off debt and experiencing better health due to reduced financial stress. She lives in Omaha with her husband, Paul Farrand, and they have two wonderful daughters.

Parlay Consulting Firm, Founder & CEO Beth Morrissette started Parlay Consulting Firm to strengthen Omaha’s diverse organizations’ ability to serve our community rather than being an employee or volunteer of only one. She believes that nonprofits, government entities, and for profit companies should have best-inclass leadership, talent, and guidance. Beth leverages her and her team’s expertise into experiences to develop healthy, high-functioning organizations from the boardroom to the frontlines. She parlays her work experiences into her service on the board of education for Westside Community Schools.

Joni Wheeler

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Vice President of Talent and Enterprise Solutions Joni Wheeler is executive vice president of talent and enterprise solutions at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE). She is passionate about people leadership and transformation and is able to follow her passions in her role at BCBSNE and as the founder of Ignite Nebraska. Ignite Nebraska is a paid apprenticeship program lighting the way to life-changing careers. Joni is dedicated to creating a more equitable world where future generations, including her own children, Destiny and Isaiah, and grandchild, Isaiah Jr., can thrive, free of the challenges of today.

Life is a journey and I believe that nothing in life is wasted. People come into your life and you show up in other people’s lives when they need you the most and when you need them the most. If you’re paying attention, then you understand that. ~ Carmen Tapio ~

I have always had women leading me and that has made a difference in my life. I think the most important thing we can do when we mentor women is give them a voice. ~ Dr. Maryanne Stevens ~

Put Your whole heart in your work.

In 1937, Rose Blumkin had a revolutionary idea: sell cheap and tell the truth. 85 years later, that’s still the guiding principle behind everything we do at NFM. NFM congratulates the winners of the Omaha World Herald’s Inspire Awards. www.nfm.com

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