Personnel

Nebraska Sports Council Honors Dave Mlnarik for 30 Years of Service

Executive Director Dave Mlnarik was recognized for his 30 years of service with the Nebraska Sports Council (NSC). The tribute to Dave took place at the Council’s Board meeting on April 29. Board President Rob Trebilcock and long-time Board member JoAnne Owens-Nausler commented on Dave’s leadership and service with NSC, remarking on the tremendous growth he has been a part of and the countless lives he has positively impacted. “Dave Mlnarik, we honor you as the someone and we acknowledge the something as the biggest, best, and wellrun State Games in the United States. You and our amazing staff have done a tremendous job maintaining, sustaining, and ensuring the longevity of The Cornhusker State Games,” Owens-Nauslar said. Dave started with the Nebraska Sports Council in 1991 as the Cornhusker State Games torch-run coordinator. He later became promotions director in 1992, assistant director in 1998, and began his current position as executive director in 2004. The Nebraska Sports Council is a nonprofi t organization with a mission to provide quality competition for athletes of all ages and abilities while promoting healthy and active lifestyle choices. NSC directs the Cornhusker State Games, the WellPower Movement, the Pumpkin Run, and the Lincoln and Omaha Corporate Games. For more information, visit NebraskaSportsCouncil.com or contact Ashley Kramer at (402) 471-2544 / Ashley@nebraskasportscouncil.com.

Berry Law Hires Chad Collins as New COO

Berry Law recently announced the hiring of Army Veteran Chad Collins as its new Chief Operating Offi cer after a nationwide talent search. In fi lling the executive role, Mr. Collins will work closely with CEO John S. Berry, Jr. to drive operational efficiency and align firm operations to enable an aggressive growth strategy. As a former Army Major and legal operations leader, Chad has extensive experience in organizational leadership, strategy, and operations management. “The work at Berry Law is centered around an amazing mission and is often life-changing for our clients,” Collins said. “I couldn’t be more excited to join this dynamic team.” Leveraging more than a decade of experience in professional services administration—most recently as director of administration for Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s Austin, Houston, and Nashville offi ces—Collins will oversee fi nance, operations, and human resources functions for Berry Law. He holds an MBA from the University of San Diego and a Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Before beginning a career in professional services administration, Collins spent more than seven years as an offi cer with the United States Army, serving with the 101st Airborne as a platoon leader in Iraq and company commander in Afghanistan. He left active duty as a Major in 2011. Berry Law was founded in 1965 by legendary attorney John S. Berry, Sr. With more than 250 years of combined legal experience and 300 years of combined military service, the team at Berry Law is well equipped to handle the most serious legal needs. For more information, visit berrylawfi rm.com or contact Emily Schweitzer at (402) 466-8444 / marketing@jsberrylaw.com.

24 Strictly Business JUNE 2021

Rachael Sikes Announced as New Financial Advisor for Thrivent

Thrivent is pleased to announce the addition of new financial advisor, Rachael Sikes. Rachael previously served as a fi nancial services representative for TD Ameritrade. She worked there for two years and took on roles of a broker, worked the trading desk, and handled more complex strategies with clients. Rachael is committed to helping individuals and families achieve their fi nancial goals. At Thrivent, she provides fi nancial guidance so her clients can plan for their future with confi dence and develop a strategy for protecting themselves against possible fi nancial risks. She will offi ce at the 11602 West Center Rd. location. “I am in this fi eld because of my passion to help people succeed fi nancially, emotionally, and spiritually. This is more than a J-O-B for me. It’s a calling, and I want to help people develop a healthy relationship with money,” said Rachael. Thrivent and its subsidiary and affi liate companies serve more than 2.3 million clients, offering advice, insurance, investments, banking, and generosity products and programs over the phone, online, as well as through fi nancial professionals and independent agents nationwide. For more information, visit Thrivent.com. To contact Rachael directly, call (318) 540-2425 or email rachael.sikes@thrivent.com.

Jessica Steele-Codr, Tremale Berger Named Top Winners of Toastmasters Speech Contest

Jessica Steele-Codr of Omaha and Tremale Berger of Los Angeles, CA placed fi rst in their respective speech categories during the District 24 Speech Contest, held over Zoom and livestreamed to YouTube for public viewers on April 17. Jessica won the Humorous speech category with “Zoom It Up a Notch,” a priceless “informative” speech filled with the best Zoom tips that an excessively upbeat social-media influencer could offer. The Humorous contest category ends at the District level. Meanwhile, Tremale fi nished fi rst in the International speech category, captivating the audience with his speech, “A Warm Place,” an emotional account of the struggles he faced on his journey to fi nd love—and a reminder that love heals all. Tremale will advance to the Regional Quarterfi nals for the next round, where a video recording of his presentation will be judged against other speeches from across the Midwest and central Canada. The fi rst- and second-place winners of that contest will advance to the International Speech Contest Semifi nals. Other District 24 contestants in the International category featured Mitchell Nickerson of Grand Island (second), Kristin Malek of Lincoln (third), and Ash Banaszek of Omaha. Humorous category contestants also included Carol Sullivan of Norfolk (second), Debra Morton-Chale of Auburn (third), and Rebecca Fegan of Bellevue. Toastmasters International empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Toastmasters District 24 includes more than 60 clubs and 1,000 members across Nebraska and Council Bluffs, IA. Learn more at d24tm.org.

Jessica Steele-Codr

Tremale Berger

RENZE Announces Promotion of John Kestner and Hire of Tim Grutsch

RENZE of Omaha has announced a promotion and new hire to join their company. John Kestner has been promoted as the new graphics department manager with Tim Grutsch joining the team as prefl ight designer. John previously worked as senior prefl ight technician for RENZE and has been with the company for six years. In his new position as the graphics department manager, he will be in charge of all in-house graphics production. John earned his degree in commercial art and electronic imaging and graphics from Metropolitan Community College. Tim will work with graphic design, Photoshop retouching, and prepare fi les for printing in his position as prefl ight designer. He has a wide range of experience in design, as he previously worked as senior designer at Dotzler Creative Arts and was an instructor at The Creative Center for 32 years. Tim earned his degree in commercial art from the Fashion and Art Institute. RENZE is a 126-year-old leading provider of exhibits, branded environments, event graphics, and point-of-purchase solutions. Find out more online at www.renze.com or contact Mike Compton with further questions at mcompton@renze.com / (402) 690-7733.

John Kestner

Tim Grutsch

Monthei Named Outlook Enrichment’s First Visually Impaired Executive Director

Paulette Monthei has been named the new executive director of Outlook Enrichment, a nonprofit providing resources and support to those with vision loss so they can remain independent. Born legally blind, Monthei marks the fi rst executive director in the organization’s history who is visually impaired, as is each member of the nonprofi t’s staff. Monthei joined the Outlook Enrichment team as program manager in July 2020. She led the execution of Outlook Enrichment’s cultural, recreational, adaptive technology training and education programs. She also implemented new, inclusive programs to help people with limited vision live more fulfi lled lives. In her new role, Monthei will continue leading programs, in addition to fostering relationships with Outlook Enrichment’s many participants, collaborators, and supporters, inviting them to empower their blind and visually impaired neighbors in their journeys beyond vision. Monthei holds a bachelor’s degree in social work, specializing in disability law, from the University of Iowa. She also earned a master’s degree in public administration from Bellevue University. She has participated on numerous boards and committees serving the disabled. Currently, Monthei serves on the Nebraska State Independent Living Council, the Aging & Vision Loss National Coalition’s Public Policy and Funding Committee, and the Aging & Vision Loss National Coalition’s Access to Quality Services Committee. For more information about Outlook Enrichment’s programs or resources, please visit outlooken.org or call (531) 365-5051.

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Center Sphere Welcomes New Omaha Market President, New Director of Network Support

Center Sphere recently welcomed two new members to their team—Martina Miemeyer as Omaha market president and Jen Monjaras as director of network support. In her new role, Martina will be taking over from the previous Omaha area director Lona Anderson (who moved into a corporate role) and will be the local resource for Omaha members to ensure they see success with their time in The Network! Jen brings a wealth of knowledge to her role and provides a critical link to helping members with their Center Sphere experiences, answering questions, helping plan events, and handling communications materials.

Martina’s prior experience comes from various roles that involved developing the next generation of leaders and helping individuals, businesses, and organizations to grow. She is passionate about coming alongside people to help them achieve their goals both in life and in business. Martina grew up in Stromsburg and now calls Papillion home. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. After more than 12 years of teaching high school and sponsoring various student leadership organizations, Martina transitioned out of the classroom and turned her focus to personal/professional development through strengths-based coaching. Her greatest passion and mission is partnering with her husband, Todd, to raise their four amazing children, Audriana, Evan, Lillian, and Brielle.

Jen’s background includes sales, business development, client services, and marketing, all of which have enriched her impact in her past professional roles. Her business acumen, combined with obsessive attention to detail and a passionate, client-centered approach, allow her to consistently exceed expectations. A native of North Platte, Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Bellevue University, where she also played softball. She and her husband live in Omaha and enjoy spending time with their adorable children, Larsen and Camila, and their friends and family.

Martina Miemeyer

Jen Monjaras

Gumaer Marks 1 Year with Strictly Business

May 1 marked Diane Gumaer’s one-year anniversary as a writer for Strictly Business. Diane’s role includes communicating with clients and writing more than 100 press releases and several feature stories for the publication each month. Coming from a 35-year background in writing and communications, she enjoys putting her skills to work for a company that she believes truly makes a difference to businesses in the Lincoln and Omaha communities. Diane recently moved to McCook to follow a new job opportunity for her husband but continues her role on the Strictly Business team as a remote employee.

“Working for Strictly Business to partner with local businesses in content marketing is a super-rewarding job,” Diane said. “I have worked in a variety of communications roles throughout my lengthy career, and none have made me feel more like I am making a real difference.”

Strictly Business is a reliable news source and effective advertising tool, publishing original content in print, online, and on social media. To learn more, visit strictlybusinessomaha.com. To contact Diane, call her directly at (308) 655-1056 or email offi ce@ strictlybusinessomaha.com.

NBA Elects 2021-22 Board of Directors

At its May 5 annual meeting, the Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA) elected its 202122 Board of Directors, chairman, and chairman-elect. Kirk Riley, president, CEO, and chairman of the board of Waypoint Bank in Cozad, was selected to serve as chairman for the coming year. Riley has more than 40 years of experience in banking, has served in leadership roles in various banks and joined Waypoint as executive vice president in 2004. He succeeds Chris Hove, president and CEO of Nebraska Bank of Commerce in Lincoln, as NBA president.

Selected as chairman-elect for the coming year is Stephen Stull, president and CEO of Farmers State Bank in Dodge. Stull received his degree in administration and fi nance from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and served at various banks in the state before he and his father and brother organized an investment group to purchase Farmers State Bank in 2011. Stull will assume the chairmanship of the NBA in May 2022.

Curtis Heapy of Western Nebraska Bank in Curtis and Ryne Seaman of Cattle Bank & Trust in Seward were elected to serve in at-large positions on the 2021-22 NBA Board. Appointed to represent their respective institutions—the eight largest Nebraska fi nancial institutions as of June 30, 2020—are Nicholas Baxter, First National Bank of Omaha in Omaha; Cory Bergt, Wells Fargo Bank in Lincoln; John Kotouc, American National Bank in Omaha; Kim Hammes, Bank of the West in Omaha; Zachary Holoch, Cornerstone Bank in York; Joseph Sullivan, U.S. Bank in Omaha; Dan Svehla, Union Bank & Trust in Lincoln; and Chris Wiedenfeld, Great Western Bank in Omaha.

Kirk Riley

Stephen Stull

Wesley Siebert Joins Principal Financial, Approaches 15 Years in the Industry

Wesley Siebert, BSP has joined Principal Financial Network of Nebraska as a fi nancial representative, principal securities registered representative, and financial advisor. Throughout his 14 years in the industry, Wesley has focused his career on two primary groups: Closely held business owners and their employees and individuals looking to prepare for retirement. For his business owners and employees, this work often focuses on 401(k) Plan, Group, and Voluntary Benefits. He understands that often, the topic of fi nances is a stressor for individuals, families, and businesses. Wesley wants to help his clients ease that stress and establish well thought out goals and a path towards achieving them. For his pre-retirees, these conversations usually focus on how to prepare for when “Every day is a Saturday.” He utilizes a process-based approach that is not driven by products but rather a series of conversations and clear communications to create goals while establishing the strategies, paths, and resources needed to accomplish them. Wesley holds his FINRA 7 & 66 securities registrations as well as his Life & Health Insurance License. He attended the University of Nebraska Omaha where he studied French. Wesley was a LILI (Life In Leadership Institute) in 2019. Principal® Financial Network of Nebraska is a group of local offi ces representing Principal. To learn more, go online to www.principal. com/nebraska or contact Wesley at (402) 401-2411 (direct) / (402) 214-8698 (mobile) / Siebert.Wesley@Principal.com.

Open Door Mission Honors Pat McKernan at Special Retirement Luncheon, Celebration

Open Door Mission held a special luncheon on May 26 to honor long-time volunteer, advocate, and Mission team leader Pat McKernan. Past graduates, staff, and community members stopped by to wish Pat well and swap favorite memories. Pat had the chance to say a few words. When asked what he wanted his legacy to be, he said: “I’ve always believed you can teach a person to rise up and live the purpose God has for you. I hope the people who have come through our doors felt like we came alongside them and showed them God-given talents they didn’t know they had.” It was back in 2006 when Candace Gregory, president/CEO of Open Door Mission, presented Pat McKernan the Volunteer of the Year Award. Pat was a well-known businessman in the community giving his time and rallying other men to volunteer their time, talent, and fi nancial support for the Mission. Pat then joined the Board of Directors, continuing to advocate within his circles of infl uence. Gregory approached McKernan in 2010 about doing more for the Mission if he would join Open Door Mission’s team as the Men’s Ministry Director.

“Pat brought not only a professional skillset to the team but a complete understanding of the 12 Steps due to his own life experiences," Candace said. "Pat has become a father fi gure to many who have been fatherless with his compassion and tough love."

Open Door Mission offers 917 safe shelter beds to those experiencing homelessness, serves 4,747 meals to feed the hungry, and empowers more than 1,000 people living in poverty to remain in their own homes through homeless prevention resources. Learn more at opendoormission.org.

BBB Honors Students of Integrity in Region via 2021 Scott Mecham Scholarship Awards

On April 26, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) announced the winners of the 2021 Scott Mecham Student of Integrity Award Scholarships in BBB’s Metro Omaha/Southwest Iowa service region—including Justine Buman of Harlan, IA, Ciara Noelle Stueve of Bellevue, and Spencer Gordman of Elkhorn. The scholarships aim to promote ethics and integrity among young people and motivate them to continue incorporating moral values into every aspect of their lives, with decisions based mainly on the content of a required essay about a situation in which the students were personally involved that tested their ethical philosophy. Each of these graduating students won a $2,000 post-secondary scholarship from BBB’s Education Foundation. “These Students of Integrity personify all of the best aspects of ethical behavior and fi ne character in their personal choices and actions,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty. “Unlike many other scholarships; grades, fi nancial need, and ethnicity are not factors in selecting the recipients. Justine, Ciara, and Spencer are receiving these scholarships because of their commitment to honesty and accountability inside and outside of the classroom.” Justine will be graduating from Harlan Community High School and will attend the University of Iowa College of Nursing, “not for the potential salary, but for the possibility of helping people.” She wants to be responsible for doing service as noble as keeping hope alive and providing physical and emotional comfort for the people in their most considerable time of need. Ciara is graduating from Bellevue East High School and will attend the University of Nebraska Lincoln for a degree in emerging media arts to pursue a career in game design and animation. She wants to be a creator that can “bring stories to life so that someone will fi nd meaning in them.” Spencer is graduating from Elkhorn High School and will study business at the University of Kansas Lawrence, as part of the KU Honors program. He plans to pursue a career in business but in “an unorthodox way,” as he sees himself creating a business or joining a startup that revolutionizes an industry. Better Business Bureau provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profi les on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit BBB.org for more information.

Justine Buman

Ciara Noelle Stueve

Spencer Gordman

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know and Who Knows You!

At Strictly Business, we strive to recognize local professionals for their significant awards, promotions, achievements, and/or efforts in partnership with other organizations and the Omaha community. If you know of someone who meets these criteria and wish to include their news in our publication, please call (402) 466-3330, email editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com, or submit your news online via strictlybusinessomaha.com.

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Carmen Tapio of North End Teleservices Named Enterprising Woman of the Year

North End Teleservices, LLC, is proud to announce that President and CEO Carmen Tapio has been selected as a winner of the 2021 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards, an annual tribute to the world's top women entrepreneurs. Widely considered one of the most prestigious recognition programs for women business owners in the U.S. and globally, awardees all must demonstrate that they have fastgrowth businesses, mentor or actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship and stand out as leaders in their communities. The awards are held by Enterprising Women magazine, the only national and global magazine for women entrepreneurs. Tapio represents North End Teleservices in the "over $5 million and up to $10 million in annual revenues" category. Her current role as CEO of North End Teleservices (NET) is the culmination of her passion for business and community by creating jobs and changing lives in Northeast Omaha. Tapio believes that a rising tide lifts all boats, focusing her energy and efforts on advancing the lives of others by creating pathways to fully participate in the economy, enabling choice and legacy building. Her leadership approach has translated into numerous personal and business accolades including NET being named Small Business of the Month, Business Excellence Small Business of the Year, Business Excellence in Innovation and Business Excellence in Leadership by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and Best Corporate Culture by the Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals. In 2020, NET was named #677 on the Inc. 5000's list of fastest-growing privately-owned companies. It is currently the largest African American owned business in Nebraska. A champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in business and her community, Tapio currently sits on the board of directors for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Lending Link, and Spark CDI. She is also an Executive Committee member of the Chamber board, council chair of the Council for Opportunity, Diversity, and Equity (CODE); co-chair of the CEOs for CODE cohort; and council chair of the Diversity Subcommittee for the economic recovery Thrive initiative. She is the 2023 incoming chair of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and the fi rst African American woman to serve in this leadership capacity. North End Teleservices, LLC is an omnichannel global provider of outsourced contact center services to government and commercial sectors. NET is a certifi ed woman-owned, minority-owned, HubZone business that serves as an extension of their clients' brands and their service delivery model. Working with small and large B2B, B2C, and government agencies, NET customizes contact center operations to meet every client's specifi c needs. To learn more, visit www. northendteleservices.com.

JUNE 2021 Strictly Business 27

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402-817-3929 • ARSOLUTIONSINC.COM Centris Federal Credit Union Promotes Diane Cruz, Rick Seamann, Heidi Weeks

Centris Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the promotion of Diane Cruz to assistant vice president, Retail Financial Services; Rick Seamann to vice president of Indirect Lending; and Heidi Weeks to vice president of Mortgage Services. Diane Cruz began her career with Centris in 2012 as a vault teller at the credit union’s 36th and L Street branch. She has been progressively promoted through several retail positions, including branch services representative, fi nancial services Diane Cruz representative, lead services representative, and financial sales manager. In 2020, Cruz was promoted to financial sales manager II, overseeing the Centris corporate headquarters branch and eCommerce teams. In her new role as an AVP, Cruz will manage the contact center and eCommerce teams. Cruz is an Army veteran and currently represents Centris on the Nebraska Credit Union League’s Credit Unions for Kids Advisory Cabinet. Rick Seamann joined Centris in September 2014. He brought with him a wealth of Rick Seamann knowledge about auto lending, having used the same indirect platform vender that Centris worked with. He also brought experience from the dealer side of the business, having worked in dealerships and being part of lending teams in the dealer space for many years. This expertise allowed him to excel in the roles for the Centris Indirect Lending area. Since December of 2015, Seamann has been assistant vice president of Indirect Lending. Heidi Weeks joined Centris Federal Credit Heidi Weeks Union in 2010 as a mortgage service representative. She has since held the positions of lead mortgage service representative and mortgage production manager. In October 2017, she was promoted to assistant vice president and led the Mortgage Department’s production team, managing all aspects of its day-to-day business. Centris Federal Credit Union, founded in 1934, is one of Nebraska’s largest federally chartered community credit unions. Centris serves Douglas, Sarpy, Lincoln, McPherson, and Pottawattamie counties and has 15 offi ces in Omaha, Grand Island, North Platte, and Tryon, NE and Council Bluffs, IA. Their mission is to be a trusted life-long fi nancial partner. Learn more online at centrisfcu.org.

28 Strictly Business JUNE 2021

MOWBC Welcomes Three Board Members, Appoints Reynolds to Shadow Board VP

The Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center (MOWBC) recently welcomed three new members—Desiree Nguessan, Theresa Bradley, and Charlene Pierce—to its Board of Directors and announced that board member Sheena Reynolds has been selected to shadow the board’s vice president, in preparation for taking on that leadership role in two years. Desiree owns Women Are Rubies Boutique and is founder of the nonprofi t Small & Anointed Christian Entrepreneurs, and now is serving as cochair of events for MOWBC. Theresa owns Lady Bradley’s Salon and will serve as the membership chair on the Board. Charlene Pierce is a business banking offi cer for CharterWest Bank in Elkhorn and will serve as an Adhoc member working with several committees. Finally, Sheena is a long-time board member and owns Reynolds Business Consulting. She will shadow the board’s vice president for the coming two years before serving in that role herself. Sheena brings extensive experience on the MOWBC board and in leadership, business consulting, policy writing, programming, event planning, motivational speaking, and more. MOWBC Board members help to direct the mission of the organization: to empower women to become economically self-suffi cient. The Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center provides targeted education, workshops, job training, strong relationships, and resources to provide opportunities for women to achieve business, professionalism, and personal growth toward becoming economically self-suffi cient. For more information, visit mowbcf.org, call (402) 763-0540, or email info@mowbcf.org.

Sarpy Chamber Congratulates Annisa Visty on Position at La Vista Community Foundation

Annisa Visty said a bittersweet goodbye to the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce at the end of May to pursue her dream job as the new executive director of the La Vista Community Foundation. Annisa has become well known to Sarpy Chamber members for her pragmatic, no-fuss attitude. So, while she would like to make this announcement with as little fanfare as possible, the Chamber staff feels compelled to engage in just a little bit of fussing to recognize Annisa for being a valuable, hardworking, and respected member of the team. Annisa began her career at the Sarpy Chamber 11 and half years ago. Since joining them in 2009, she has served the organization with a strong dedication to their mission of providing education, advocacy, and leadership to the local business community. She began her tenure with the Sarpy Chamber as an offi ce manager and grew into the roles of director of special events and left as vice president. “We will miss having Annisa in the offi ce every day but, at the same time, we are so excited to see her take on her dream position at the La Vista Community Foundation. We know fi rsthand what an asset she is to the community, so we are excited to see all she’ll accomplish as a long-time employee of this organization,” said Sarpy Chamber President Karen Gibler. Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce proudly serves the communities of Bellevue, Gretna, La Vista, Offutt, Papillion, Springfi eld, and Greater Sarpy County as the primary business resource. To learn more, visit sarpychamber.org or call (402) 339-3050.

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