Sarpy County Business Hall of Fame by Suburban Newspapers

The legends and leaders of our time It isn’t by chance that Sarpy County is the fastest-growing county in the state and one of the best places to live in the country. It was by design. The economic engine that drives our growth has been a work in progress for years. In this section of your hometown newspaper, you will read about the inaugural class of Leaders and Legends who have positioned Barenklau Sarpy County to be the premier area for business growth in the Omaha metro. The leadership team here at the Bellevue Leader, Papillion Times/La Vista Sun and Gretna Breeze realized there was a gap in our market in recognition for those who set the table for growth in our communities.

Hence, the idea for the Sarpy County Business Hall of Fame was hatched. I am pleased to report that a partnership with Bellevue University allows us to recognize business leaders and local companies that make a difference in our communities. In addition to their stories being told in this section, their contributions will be immortalized with plaques on a wall inside the Durham Center Building at BU — directly outside the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce office. Those who were chosen as Legends by the newspapers’ leadership team: » R. Joe Dennis was a developer of numerous residential neighborhoods in Bellevue and one of the founders of Bellevue College as well as First National Bank of Bellevue. » Andy Anderson and Tom Doyle were instrumental in the establishment of the La Vista/I-80 interchange, which has led to explosive growth in that part

of the county. » Al Wenstrand was the former executive director of Sarpy County Economic Development Corp. who helped land Caterpillar Claas and was a proponent 20 years ago of building the Highway 34 bridge. » Bob Dreessen of Thompson, Dreessen and Dorner was the engineer for the City of Papillion for 35 years. Papillion’s population more than tripled during that time period — from 5,606 in 1980 to 18,894 in 2010. Those who were chosen as Leaders: » Bellevue University — founded by civic leaders from Bellevue and Omaha – has been a pioneer in adult education and online education, and continues to invest in the community. » C.L. Werner — founder of Werner Enterprises — moved from one pickup to a national trucking presence. Werner also stepped forward by investing in

naming rights when the Triple A baseball stadium was built in Sarpy County. » Gail DeBoer — CEO of SAC Federal Credit Union — who had multiple opportunities to build her company’s new headquarters in different locations but chose to reinvest in Sarpy County. The company has been a valuable corporate partner to many community organizations, including Offutt Air Force Base. » Mike Hogan — local developer/ businessman — who has left his mark in Papillion, La Vista and Bellevue with several retail spaces. He owns Bank of Nebraska across eastern Sarpy County. We salute the Legends and Leaders of economic growth in Sarpy County, Nebraska. We can’t wait to name the second group next year! Shon Barenklau, publisher

legend n.

leader n.

One who inspires legends or achieves legendary fame.

The person who leads or commands a group, organization or country.

Bellevue University lauds honorees On behalf of Bellevue University’s faculty, staff and more than 11,000 students, we applaud the fellow members of the inaugural class of the Sarpy County Business Hall of Fame. We are proud to be among those Leaders recognized by Sarpy County for applying what we have learned — from our educational and business Hawkins experiences — and finding innovative ways to grow our businesses and impact in our community. MIKE HOGAN IN HIS OFFICE. At Bellevue University we under-

stand the sacrifice, commitment and hard work required to take risks, push the envelope of what seems doable and instead create and implement a vision of what’s possible. Within the last decade, we have grown from 2,000 students at two locations to more than 11,000 at nine locations in three states, with a global online delivery system. And we’ve done that by being dedicated to the needs of our students — to help them overcome the incredible barriers of time, money and the self-confidence to complete a college education. Our experience has taught us that the accomplishments of our colleagues in the Hall of Fame — building a one-truck operation into a national trucking pres-

ence, becoming a trend-setting credit union nationwide, creating a major retail development operation that includes one of the nation’s largest retailers and creating community infrastructure such as residential neighborhoods, the Highway 34 bridge and the La Vista/I-80 interchange — require not just a good education. They also demand the ability to be creative, to demonstrate a mastery of your skills, and have an understanding of how to build and maintain effective collaborations. But most importantly, they also require an internal spark to keep pushing forward when your first idea falls through. There is a lot of conversation right now about this country being at a cross-

roads. And regardless of which road we choose, what we will need to fuel our growth and innovation in the 21st century are students — young and old — who can demonstrate the skills that the Leaders and Legends of the Sarpy County Business Hall of Fame have modeled for our community and set the example for generations to come. We are proud to be recognized among those who have helped Sarpy County become a great place to live and a vibrant economic community. Dr. Mary B. Hawkins, Bellevue University president

SAC Federal grows with county By Carrie Kreisler

suburban newspapers inc.

AC Federal Credit Union did not get to where it is today because of luck. A lot of changes have been made and hard work put into making the credit union a fixture in Sarpy County and the surrounding area.

Carrie Kreisler

Leading the way for SAC Federal’s continued growth is Gail DeBoer, president and chief executive officer. DeBoer started with the credit union in May 1988 as an internal auditor. She led that department for seven years and then was senior vice president of operations for 12 See DeBoer: Page 4

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Gail DeBoer President & CEO SAC Federal Credit Union

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DeBoer: Leading credit union to new heights Continued from Page 3 years. Megan Lucas, former president of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, knew DeBoer when she was vice president of operations. “SAC was always part of the chamber,” Lucas said. “Gail carried that tradition forward.” Jim Guretzky was SAC Federal’s president and CEO for 25 years. DeBoer took over for him in January 2007. “When I was named to succeed Jim Guretzky, I was named for one year as the executive vice president,” she said. Jean Howard, who has been on SAC Federal’s board of directors for about 32 years, said she remembers when DeBoer was hired and when she took over as CEO. “She was groomed for that role for a couple of years,” Howard said. Howard was asked to serve on the board, she said, because it was seeking a female member. Howard was a certified public accountant, one of the few women CPAs in Nebraska at the time. Even though the credit union was founded in 1946 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., DeBoer said its roots are really in Sarpy County. It began as Strategic Air Command Credit Union. When SAC headquarters moved to Nebraska in 1949, the credit union moved with it, she said. In 1993, SAC Federal expanded to serving the surrounding community. A few years later it branched out into Cass County in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa. Just last year, SAC Federal added four more counties – Washington and Saunders Counties in Nebraska and Mills and Harrison Counties in Iowa. “Now we can serve anyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in an eight-county area, which is a big change,” DeBoer said. “It’s really allowed us to grow the credit union.” DeBoer grew up in Sarpy County in the area of 50th and Harrison Streets and graduated from Gross Catholic High School in 1973. She and her husband, John, have lived in Papillion for 28 years. They were recently named honorary chairs for Midlands Community Foundation’s 2013 Reflection Ball. SAC Federal’s past, present and future is in Sarpy, and DeBoer said there’s no reason to leave. “The base is here. Our history is really here, which is one of the reasons why we really didn’t want to leave Sarpy County when we looked at a new corporate head-

l e o a d a ly

The new SAC Federal Credit Union headquarters will be built on the southeast corner of 72nd Street and Nebraska Highway 370. quarters,” DeBoer said. She said the credit union is a market leader in Sarpy County, and a lot of its members still are here. One way it supports its members is by sponsoring or being a corporate partner for community events. “The very core of what we are is to give back to the community,” DeBoer said. She said SAC Federal is a “huge supporter” of American Cancer Society Relay for Life events and is involved in all area chambers of commerce, Offutt Air Force Base, mentoring groups, parks and schools. “When we go into a community, we don’t just go in to see how much money we can make, we go in to see what the needs are and how we can participate,” she said. In 2009, DeBoer was named the Bellevue Business Woman of the Year by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. Also that year, DeBoer was selected by Brig. Gen. James Jones as a 55th Wing Wingman at Offutt. But it isn’t just DeBoer who has a known presence in the Sarpy community. Part of the culture of SAC Federal Credit Union is training its employees to want to get involved in the community, DeBoer said. “Her leadership style is to groom and

support and take care of the employees,” Lucas said. “Gail is a really strong leader.” Lucas described DeBoer’s leadership as “natural” and “constant.” She said DeBoer is a forward-thinker who is committed to and enthusiastic about growing SAC Federal. “She’s taken SAC to the next level,” Lucas said. Jim Rockwood, chairman of the board of directors for SAC, said DeBoer’s leadership has guided SAC Federal through changes, such as its branching strategy and reorganization. “She has that vision that helps guide and steer the credit union in the right direction,” he said. Rockwood said opening more branches of the credit union in grocery stores has helped its growth because of marketing, convenience and cost-efficiency. “I just see continued growth,” he said of SAC’s future. One challenge, however, is continuing to grow while still treating the credit union’s employees like family. SAC Federal’s current headquarters is located south of Highway 370 on 39th Street in Bellevue. Because of the credit union’s growth, employees now are spread out in

basements and leased office space. “The goal is to get everybody back in one building,” DeBoer said. She said she and SAC leaders looked in Douglas County for a site for the new headquarters, but she said she really wanted to stay in Sarpy. Ultimately, the site chosen was on the southeast corner of 72nd Street and Nebraska Highway 370. “It was just the best choice,” DeBoer said. The new $20 million building is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2014. When it opens, it will house 150 employees, but there will be plenty of room for expansion. DeBoer said she and the employees are “beyond excited” about the project, and she looks forward to seeing the vision of the building come together. SAC Federal Credit Union has been successful because of what DeBoer describes as a “three-legged stool.” “Focusing on the employees, focusing on providing good products and service and then telling people through our marketing — we needed all three legs to make it happen,” she said.

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Broadening their horizons By Emily Johnson

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ith nine campuses in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota, Bellevue University has grown in numbers as well as services since it opened on Sept. 12, 1966. The university, known as Bellevue College until 1994, was founded to support a military community that was growing because of Bellevue’s proximity to Offutt Air Force Base. At its birth, it had only three full-time faculty and four staff members and all of the classes were held in the administration building, according to the university’s website. The first graduating class in 1968 saw 37 degrees handed out on See University: Page 7

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University: Bellevue leads with online, business and military a flatbed trailer the university used as a stage for the commencement ceremony. Bellevue University has come a long way. It now reaches out to serve more than 11,000 students annually, setting the pace for standards of excellence in higher education. One such recognition is from U.S. News & World Report this year, which ranked Bellevue University No. 1 for Top Online Education Programs in the categories of student engagement and assessment. University President Mary Hawkins said the ranking stems from the strong studentteacher relationships established at the university and the variety and quality of student services available such as academic counseling, a library with live reference section services available through a consortium that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and access to financial advising. “As we’ve looked at broadening our horizons into some other states, going online, even growing into new programs, we’ve maintained that close interaction between the teacher and the student,” Hawkins said. “If you grow out of that or lose it as you grow — then you’re in trouble because you’ve lost what attracted the students to you in the first place.” Hawkins said an important way Bellevue helps strengthen its online development is through its Center for Learning Innovation, where a staff of 35 helps faculty at each of the campuses develop and hone courses and curriculum materials through videos, programs, simulations and learning modules. “I think the culture here is a really important part of why we’ve been successful, and that culture is really focused on student success,” she said. “It’s about providing services and programs that are relevant for students, attending to things like convenience for them, making them accessible. We recognize that the learning that they already have is valuable and that those courses don’t need to be repeated.” Hawkins said a strong board of directors has made Bellevue University successful. “We’ve worked very hard to develop a model that is sustainable so we don’t overspend and we operate with principles of good business practice,” she said. “I think that conservative approach, not spending what you don’t earn, is important because it’s allowed us financial stability to grow and

E m i l y J o h n so n

University president Mary Hawkins says a strong board makes the university more successful. to invest in those new programs, services and opportunities.” John Spivak, a longtime Bellevue University history professor, said that while the university has grown exponentially since he arrived in 1979, it has continued to be a beacon to other institutions with regard to responsiveness to students and an openness to innovation. “We have brand-new buildings and nice offices, but even back when there were four of us in an office for one, we still had a lot of fun,” he said. “I suppose it’s because we had a sense that we were doing something no one else was. Bellevue has been very adaptable to the environment, always finding out what people need and trying to figure out how to deliver it to them.” That tradition of innovation continues today, Spivak said, referring to the university’s online achievements. “We’re always looking at what the best practices are,” he said. “Sometimes, I’m at odds with the institutions because I’m rather old-fashioned, but we have people here who are fascinated with the latest and newest. We’re willing here to try anything to see if it works.” However, even with technical advances, Spivak stressed that the faculty’s dedication to students is the key to the university’s success.

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“Most professors provide students with their home phone numbers, and I don’t think you’ll find that at most institutions,” he said. “People are here to teach and that’s what excites them and motivates them. I think that’s at the heart of the university, that people are here to excite students and see them succeed.” Bellevue University continues to invest in its main campus, as evidenced by the freshly renovated Marjorie H. Durham Student Center, which has all new furniture and technology. “We want to really make it a place for students to spend time,” said Hawkins. “We’ve opened all of the rooms to them and now it’s all student-focused, when some meeting rooms were previously only for faculty and adjunct use.” The university also made efforts to attract faculty by building the Educational Services Building in 2007 and the John B. Muller Administrative Services Building in 2011, which was named after Chancellor John Muller, former university president. The new administration building, Hawkins said, allowed the university to bring the faculty together under one roof for the first time in its history. “It’s really given us a lot of breathing room,” she said with a laugh. “We were really packed in. Now we have two unfinished floors for future growth.” Prior to that, the university had to lease two off-campus buildings. Now, Hawkins said, open workspaces allow faculty and staff to work in a more constructive environment. So much space exists that meeting rooms can hold community events, and the campus is hosting 17 classes for Metropolitan Community College this fall. “That’s a first for us, to have Metro on the campus,” she said. “This has been a pretty major expansion, and that caused our campus to go from 19 acres to 41.” As the campus has expanded, so, too, has the university’s range of academic studies. New programs include an RN to BSN program beginning this fall to help nurses advance in their careers, a new Ph.D. program in systemic change, a new center for entrepreneurship called market capitalism, and STEM, a program that combines professions in science, technology, engineering and math. Hawkins said a large part of supporting the university’s success is an outreach to local employers, employees and professional

organizations. “The employers and some of the organizations we work with are saying they work with Bellevue because we make a difference because of the education we provide,” she said. “I think you have an obligation to give back to the community, and the obligation is actually something that helps both be more rich.” Reflecting further upon the spirit of the community, Hawkins said in serving the military community Bellevue University continues to be a national leader. “I’m really surprised how much the number of military personnel enrolled at Bellevue has grown,” she said. “The close working relationship with Offutt Air Force Base has led to opportunities to develop new programs in partnership with them, and we’ve hired a lot of military people who want to stay in this area because they fall in love with it.” James Biernesser, director of military programs at BU, said the university has regularly ranked among the Top 25 schools for Air Force enrollment. While enrollment figures dipped in 2010 across the board for military institutions due to the recession, Bellevue University currently sits in 14th place nationally. “It’s a numbers game, but all I’m looking for is a qualitative meter just to make sure we’re moving up the ladder and serving the community as we should be,” he said. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security ranked Bellevue University in the Top 25 Most-Attended Schools by Coast Guard members this year. Bellevue University also was named a “Military Friendly School” in GI Jobs’ 2010 and 2011 list of Military Friendly Schools, as well as the fourth “Most Military Friendly School” in the country by AllMilitary.com. Biernesser said Hawkins’ experience as a military spouse has been instrumental in several efforts made in the last few years to keep the university at the top of its game. The university, he said, has shown an ongoing historical and cultural commitment to military concerns since its inception. “There really is a concerted effort to make sure that Bellevue University takes care of their students,” he said. “Are we perfect? Of course not. But we’ll make sure for every student who has a problem, we’ll sort it out.”

ongratulations C.L. Werner!

With one truck truck, you founded a comp company pany tthat hat h has as g grown rown tto ob become ecome a lleader eader iin n tthe he g global lobal ttransportation ransportati and logistics world. However, it is your continued generosity and commitment to making a difference that makes your entire Werner team most proud. From sponsoring Werner Park, to helping establish the Creighton University Negotiation & Dispute Resolution Center, to providing the foundation for the Durham Research â&#x20AC;&#x153;Family Neurodevelopment Disorder Research Labâ&#x20AC;?, as the ongoing list of contributions grows, we thank you for setting the example for everyone to follow.

Definition of the American Dream By Vince Mancuso SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS INC.

ow do you define the American Dream? Success through hard work. A climb up the social ladder. A fuller and rewarding life for family. By all of those standards, Clarence “C.L.” Werner has lived the American Dream. Werner, 75, is chairman emeritus of the transportation and logistics company Werner Enterprises, one of the five largest carrier fleets in the United States. In April of this year, Werner was presented with the 2012 Horatio Alger Award for his commitment to excellence and philanthropy to those less fortunate. Werner Enterprises moved in 1977

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Werner: From one truck in Nebraska to a global presence to its current location near Interstate 80 off 144th Street in Sarpy County because of a favorable tax situation in Nebraska. Twenty years later, the company doubled the size of its headquarters building, which stands next to Interstate 80. The company incorporated in September 1982 and became a publicly held company in 1986. Today, Werner Enterprises is the fifth- largest employer in Sarpy County and has expanded its reach beyond U.S. borders to Canada, Mexico and Asia. Werner learned the value of hard work as a child, one of seven children working on the family farm outside Petersburg, Neb. He, however, wanted to leave the farm. So at age 19 he and his then-wife, Gloria, moved to Omaha and sold his 1953 Mercury to afford a down payment on a gas-powered 1956 Ford F-800 truck. “There was always a way. You just figured out how to do things,” said Gail Werner-Robertson, Werner’s daughter. She said her father’s “can-do” mentality was a driving force behind Werner Enterprises’ success. C.L. Werner was not available for this story. Werner-Robertson recalls her dad working late nights to make sure the business succeeded, serving the company at its inception as salesman, driver, mechanic and bookkeeper from the family’s small home. In 1959 – the year he named his company Werner Enterprises — he acquired two diesel trucks. While the trucks provided better gas mileage for a then-cheaper fuel, it was problematic when a truck broke down. “He’d stay up all night figuring out how to get a truck running,” Werner-Robertson said. By the mid-1960s, the two trucks had grown to a fleet of about a dozen trucks — all painted the signature blue of Werner Enterprises. It also was around this time that Werner set up shop in Council Bluffs. In the early 1970s Werner began fighting for Interstate Commerce Commission authority to haul larger, interstate shipments. Prior to that, Werner-Robertson said her father purchased products, hauled them and then sold the shipments with the cost of transportation included as a way around the issue. When Werner was granted ICC authority, not only was it a huge step for the company, but it also marked a breakthrough as Werner Enterprises entered into an agreement

Werner Enterprises

Freightliner representative Don Mercer, left, and C.L. Werner sealing the deal on the first major purchase of 10 Freightliners in 1971. with home appliance manufacturer Maytag in Newton, Iowa. In the 1990s, Werner Enterprises became one of the first logistics companies to use satellite-based Qualcomm systems, providing location and messaging capabilities for trucks and allowing paperless logs. “As the world supply chain has changed, so has his company,” said Larry Johnson, president of the Nebraska Trucking Association. In 1998, Werner Enterprises entered a pilot program with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that radically changed the safety and driver standards for the trucking industry. “It transformed a tedious, paper-intensive, almost hourly duty drivers had to complete,” he said. Johnson credited Werner Enterprises as

pioneers of GPS systems use. “By adopting that early, his commitment to his customers by providing better visibility — as to where their shipment is and when it’ll be arriving — was absolutely progressive in the industry,” Johnson said. “He’s certainly been a visionary; a Nebraska kid that started with one truck and a dream. It’s kind of cliché, but he’s never forgotten where he started.” Werner-Robertson echoed that sentiment, adding that Werner Enterprises moved to Sarpy County because her father appreciated the residents and employees of the area. “There is just a great depth of qualified people to hire,” she said, repeating her father’s insight into the diverse employee base Sarpy County has to offer. Out of this appreciation for the residents, he supported the area in multiple ways.

The most visible was securing naming rights to Sarpy County’s Werner Park, the $36 million ballpark in Papillion and home of the Triple A Omaha Storm Chasers. “Werner Park was just something he wanted to do for the community,” WernerRobertson said. Martie Cordaro, president and CEO of the Storm Chasers, said his ballclub is proud to be associated with an iconic name in Sarpy County. “I know their philosophy is to take care of their associates and their community,” Cordaro said. “There are a lot of great companies, a lot of great things going on in the Omaha metro, and Werner is definitely one of them.” Another way of giving back is the C.L. Werner Foundation, which his daughter chairs. The foundation, which began in December 2009, is dedicated to helping those in need and donates to well-managed and effective nonprofit organizations in a variety of areas. “His real passions are kids, abused women and families in need,” Werner-Robertson said. Werner-Robertson said her father’s philanthropy goes much deeper than the foundation. In 2007 he was awarded the Autism Action Partnership’s Help is Hope Award and the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Distinguished Service Award later in 2009. Just this year, Werner was one of 12 Americans to be honored with the Horatio Alger Award, which, according to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc., honors “dedicated community leaders who demonstrate individual initiative and a commitment to excellence; as exemplified by remarkable achievements accomplished through honesty, hard work, self-reliance and perseverance over adversity ... have a strong commitment to assisting those less fortunate than themselves and be willing to contribute to the mission of providing scholarships for younger generations.” His desire to give, his daughter said, comes from his belief in faith and in humanity. “He loves to see people working to get ahead, he loves to see people succeed,” she said.

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Dennis: Bellevue High graduate did his part for growing city Continued from Page 12 Commerce? Imagine Bellevue, then, if R. Joe Dennis had never lived here. In the years following the end of World War II, a core of businessmen and visionaries arose in Bellevue whose leadership would transform a village into the thriving city of 50,000 people we see today. In that pantheon, none shines brighter than Dennis. He graduated from Bellevue High School in 1943, and that was the last any classroom would see of him. He knew hard times, enduring adolescence during the difficult years of the Great Depression and touring the Midwest at the age of 12 playing saxophone with various bands. After high school, he signed up with the U.S. Navy and honed his skills as a saxophonist in the Navy Band, along the way performing a few numbers at Eleanor

During the years, Dennis became prosperous building houses and as founder of First National Bank of Bellevue. While this earned him a considerable reputation as a businessman, as many people testified after his death on Dec. 20, 2009, at the age of 84, Dennis also built a reputation as a philanthropist and an angel of assistance to causes large and small. Jack Allen, a former editor of the Bellevue Leader, recalled playing the role of Dennis’ messenger in a tribute he wrote after Dennis’ death. “When Joe would learn of an individual or organization in need or deserving of a boost he would call me to his office and ask that I arrange for the anonymous donation of a television set for a volunteer firemen’s door prize, a roof for an historical building, cash for medical bills,” Allen wrote. Dr. Linda Ford, Dennis’ widow, said her husband was a charismatic man with a fine sense of humor who enjoyed golf and hunt-

‘The banker said he thought Joe was crazy, but he gave him the loan anyway.’ Jeff Renner Roosevelt’s tea parties and pulling musical duty at FDR’s funeral three months after FDR’s election to a fourth term in 1944. But it was as a builder of homes in Bellevue that he left an indelible mark. Jeff Renner, of Bellevue’s Freeman Company, worked with Dennis for decades after Dennis bought the company from Hoyte Freeman after the close of World War II. He said Dennis had an ambition born of growing up poor, and he proved to be a risktaker. “He started very small,” Renner said, “Just a house at a time. But he was ambitious.” Renner remembers Dennis telling a tale of the day he asked a bank for the money he needed to build Fontenelle Hills, a housing subdivision that still stands in the first rank of Bellevue’s neighborhoods. “The banker said he thought Joe was crazy, but he gave him the loan anyway,” Renner said. “And he made it work.”

ing and was constantly noticing people in newspapers who could use a helping hand. He belonged to a different era, she said, a “delightful” era, when business was done on the strength of a handshake. “That’s the kind of man he was,” she said. “He did a lot for people under the radar. He would read a story in the paper, for instance, and send money to people. If friends got into a financial bind, he’d help them. Those things don’t have your name on them. “I have letters that I found in Joe’s personal effects from people he had given money to for their house payment or whatever thanking him.” Bellevue University’s towering new administrative building, already a city landmark atop the hill on Harvell Drive, might not be there if not for Dennis’ energy and commitment that long ago helped the school stay solvent. Founded by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce in the 1960s, then-Bellevue College was unable to pay off the many $10,000

notes it had issued to fund the construction of classrooms. By the mid-1970s the school faced default. Dennis and local investment banker Leonard Lawrence provided a solution by building houses on land owned by the college in east Bellevue, houses we know today as the College Heights residential subdivision. Revenues because of the developer were used to pay off the school’s debt instead. Susan Dennis, Dennis’ daughter, said all this ability to give private charity and to support public institutions stemmed from her dad’s

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passion for hard work. “He was just motivated by hard work,” she said. “He loved to work. We didn’t take vacations because the summer months were the building months. If we got to go on vacation, it was because our mom drove us to the Black Hills. “He loved Bellevue. He stayed here all his life. He wanted to help the community grow and prosper. “He did his part.”

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The shaping of a county By Mike Bell

suburban newspapers inc.

ome people, despite traveling far and wide and having the chance to go anywhere, always return to their roots. When Mike Hogan came home from the U.S. Air Force, he took the first steps toward what would become a bigger Papillion. Hogan, owner of Mike Hogan Real Estate Management, has shaped parts of Papillionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neighborhoods and businesses for more than 60 years. Hogan attended Sacred Heart School, now St. Columbkille School, and then attended Creighton Prep High School. He later graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in business. After three years in the Air Force, Hogan returned home and bought an insurance agency in 1959. Hogan knew he wanted to get into land development, and set his sights on tracts of land in

mike bell

Hogan: Papillion native helped make his hometown what it is today Continued from Page 15

Papillion. Where some saw empty fields, Hogan saw future homes and businesses. Offutt Air Force Base was bringing in a steady stream of military families needing houses, and Western Electric Company was also bringing workers to the area. Building homes was Hogan’s calling. “I like to be a builder,” Hogan said. “It was an idea, to create things. Along the way I could help people. I saw a need and wanted to fulfill it.” He purchased 160 acres of what is known today as Tara Heights and developed it into single-family houses. Hogan then created his own construction and realty company, wanting to keep his developments in house and under close watch. Tara Plaza followed in 1968, which remains a shopping site near 84th Street and Hogan Drive. Hogan’s office is located there. Hogan now owns and manages 12 companies in real estate, shopping centers, apartment complexes, construction and banks, including the Bank of Nebraska. Mike Schirber was Papillion’s city attorney for 35 years and worked with Hogan on many projects through the years. Schirber said Hogan, along with other developers, built the Papillion we see today. Schirber described Hogan as pleasant, both professionally and socially. “He’s a very competent, honest businessman,” Schirber said. “Whenever he had dealings with the city, when he said he was going to do something, it was done.” Hogan said Papillion is different from the time he grew up. He recalled two grocery stores in a town of 900 people. Now, according to the 2010 Census, the population is nearly 19,000. Hogan estimates he has developed and built 1,500 houses in the metropolitan area. Tara Heights alone has 600 houses, not including the apartments. He attested to the growth of the city, and as more people came to Papillion and the surrounding area, the market continued to grow, drawing in big chain retailers like Walmart and Target. Beyond home development, Hogan also was president of the Papillion City Council and developed the then nine-hole Tara Hills Golf Course. Hogan also developed Wolf Creek Shopping Center near 15th Street and Cornhusker Road in Bellevue. Hogan said it is a gratifying feeling to know that he has built so many homes for families. “The unusual thing is some of the people I

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Mike Hogan developed Tara Plaza in 1968. The plaza now features stores such as Absolutely Her, Max Muscle and La Mesa Mexican Restaurant. originally sold those homes to all those years ago are still living there,” he said. Michael Choiniere is president of the Bank of Nebraska, which has one location in La Vista, two in Omaha and another in Bellevue. Hogan founded the bank in 1974, which today employs 60 people. Choiniere has worked with Hogan since 1997, and he said a perfect example of Hogan the businessman was evident when there was a recent electrical blackout at the bank. “Mike’s first question was asking if customers were inconvenienced,” Choiniere said. He described Hogan as a family-oriented man who takes care of his community in a quiet way. When a fire damaged the bank eight years ago, Choiniere said Hogan moved heaven and Earth to restore service for customers. “He doesn’t want a lot of accolades, he’s just very giving. For the last seven years he

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‘The unusual thing is some of the people I originally sold those homes to all those years ago are still living there.’ Mike Hogan throws a party on La Vista Daze that serves 1,000 hot dogs,” Choiniere said. La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig said Hogan’s influence on La Vista and its residents cannot be overstated. While Bank of Nebraska is an institution that has financially supported the community for many, many years, its employees have not forgotten Hogan’s directive of being a part of the community through such civic events as Halloween Safe Night and La

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Vista Daze. Kindig said he has a very personal connection to Hogan. “My wife worked at the bank, and when she was going through health issues, the bank was there to help us, and made sure we had insurance to carry us,” he said. “I believe Mike Hogan the man is more important to me than Mike Hogan the businessman. I owe him a lot of gratitude.” Hogan said with a laugh that he was well older than 65. In spite of being an age where most would retire to enjoy the fruits of their labor, Hogan described his continued work as his hobby. “It’s a lot of work, but you must be very dedicated and not give up,” Hogan said. He advised those who would follow in his steps to focus on their goals with sheer determination. “With enough desire and perseverance, you can obtain what you want,” he said.

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Booming city By Scott Stewart

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he story of La Vista is one of a small bedroom communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pursuit of its own Manifest Destiny. La Vista was founded in 1960 as Sanitary Improvement District No. 4, more commonly known as the House of Nines. The development offered affordable houses sold for $9,999 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with $9 down and a $99 a month payment. As the city blossomed, geography has established four boundaries to its growth: three man-made and one natural. See Anderson/Doyle: Page 19

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Anderson/Doyle: Men had faith in a little town called La Vista Continued from Page 18 To the city’s east is the Papio Creek, dividing La Vista from Bellevue’s zoning jurisdiction. Harrison Street, along with the county line, provides the northern border, while Giles Road — at least until 96th Street, where it is replaced by Portal Road — separates La Vista from Papillion. That leaves Interstate 80 to the west, with the economic impact of 98,400 cars per day at Harrison Street, separating La Vista from Chalco, the unincorporated area gradually coming under the city’s influence. Two legendary leaders were key throughout La Vista’s growth period. Former Mayor Harold “Andy” Anderson led La Vista’s westward charge, while Douglas County Engineer Tom Doyle connected the blossoming city with the rest of the metropolitan area by helping to bring an Interstate 80 interchange at Harrison Street. The two men’s visions now can be seen with the Southport development, which promises to continue to be the cornerstone of La Vista’s economic growth as the city fills out its remaining residential areas. Anderson was sworn in as La Vista’s fourth mayor on Dec. 4, 1984, and during the next two decades saw the city grow westward, annexing several subdivisions between 1999 and 2000 west of 84th, 96th and even 108th Streets. Two Southport subdivisions were annexed in 2005 immediately after he left office. The push west began when Rotella’s Italian Bakery set up shop on the south side of 108th and Harrison Streets, Anderson said. “That really opened up La Vista to the west,” he said. “All it took was one big giant to come out there, and everyone else followed.” Anderson guided the city through approving a keno lottery, another linchpin to success. The city’s share went toward a community betterment fund used to build civic buildings. Included among those projects was the City Hall/Community Center, which opened in 1994 and now features the Harold “Andy” Anderson Council Chamber as a reminder of the former mayor’s legacy. “We did wisely with our money,” Anderson said. “I credit a lot to having dedicated employees.” Collaboration provided a foundation for the city. Another example was the construction of the joint La Vista Public Library and Metropolitan Community College Sarpy Center, which Anderson said attracted growth along Giles Road. “That project of building that college and

that library was one of the best projects that ever got done between two government agencies,” he said. Under Anderson’s leadership, the city also implemented its first land-use plan, establishing a tradition of growth management still practiced at City Hall. He oversaw the paving and expansion of Giles Road and Harrison Street, which allowed the city to capitalize on the Interstate 80 interchange project. Doug Kindig, who succeeded Anderson as mayor, said he has tried to learn two lessons from Anderson: surround yourself with good staff and don’t make any quick decisions so you can understand the impact choices have on the city’s future. “Andy always thought of the city as his family,” Kindig said. “He cared that much about the city.” Kindig said Anderson is intelligent, lovable and knew everybody, which, coupled with his understanding of the city and his vision of the future, made him an effective leader. “His steady leadership and his vision for the future has really been his legacy,” Kindig said. “He was very actively involved in the Harrison Street interchange, which I think really set the course for the city as far as our industrial tract.” La Vista City Administrator Brenda Gunn said the interchange became the gateway to the community. “Andy never takes credit for La Vista’s growth and development, but he truly did have a vision and was committed to making it happen,” she said. “The interstate interchange is a prime example of that vision and it has been the key to La Vista’s growth and ultimate long-term stability.” When that interchange opened on Nov. 20, 1992, Anderson rode on the back seat of an old Ford, among the first vehicles through the interchange. Also making the ride were then Gov. Ben Nelson and Doyle, who spoke with Anderson before planning groups for years to make the interchange a reality. Doyle said idea for the interchange was first discussed in the early 1970s as the final leg of the interstate system was completed while he worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads. The interchange earned a nod from the federal government in 1977, but it met with resistance from Omaha. Under Mayor Mike Boyle, Doyle said Omaha wanted its infrastructure projects completed first so it did not lose potential development. That decision delayed the La Vista project by more than a decade. “They took the position that the inter-

Tom Doyle holds a misspelled sign Nov. 20, 1992, to mark the opening of the Interstate 80 interchage at Harrison Street in La Vista.

Harold “Andy” Anderson holds then 3-year-old Rebecca Burkhardt in 1998. Anderson loved dressing up as Santa for La Vista’s annual holiday celebration. change in Sarpy was the last thing that should be built,” Doyle said. By 1988, Omaha officials realized the interchange was no longer us vs. them and paved the way for construction to begin in 1990. Upon its completion, District 2 State Highway Commissioner Sam Jensen described the project as an “interchange of hope” that weathered the political storm. “It was a political issue as well as an economic issue,” Doyle said. “We worked the system, and we also worked the opinion of (decision) makers out there to point out the need and eventually it came around.” When the interchange opened, Jensen presented a green-and-white sign dubbed the location the “Tom Doyle Interchange” — although the sign was misspelled “Dolye.” The sign was made by the department’s shop foreman, Doyle said. That foreman later proudly showed him a photo in the newspaper, saying he was “very, very careful, went over it and proofread it” so “interchange” was spelled correctly. “They had (my name) wrong inside the picture,” Doyle said. “He said, ‘Well, I guess

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it’s not time to ask for a raise, is it?’” As time went on, Doyle said the economic importance of the interchange is visible with Cabela’s, Embassy Suites, La Vista Conference Center, Courtyard by Marriott and the rest of the Southport development. It took a long time, he said, but it was needed and is something he is proud of achieving. “It provided the anchor for economic development in the area,” Doyle said. “It’s a regional improvement. It’s not just for one county or another county.” By saying “no” to undesired development, the city preserved the prime real estate to become a commercial powerhouse. “The decision by La Vista to implement design standards was a bold initiative, but it was essential to preserving the plan that Andy and the City Council had for La Vista,” Gunn said. “Without these standards, the vision for what the western entrance to the city should look like could not have been achieved.” Anderson cited the Casey’s General Store on 96th Street and Giles Road as an example of what the design standards accomplished. Now retired, Anderson works part time at Casey’s in Johnson, Neb., a location with the chain’s typical metal and concrete appearance. However, the La Vista gas station and convenience store “doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb” because the city insisted the company use brick to fit in with the other buildings in the area. Most businesses that were shown the area, Anderson said, realized La Vista knew what it was doing. “We won a whole lot more battles than we lost,” he said.

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Engineering a plan for a city By Eugene Curtin

suburban newspapers inc.

hen Papillion City Councilman and future mayor Bill Oliver persuaded Bob Dreessen in 1972 to help transform a bean field into a civic park, he could not have known he was lighting a candle that would burn for four decades. It was a meeting of minds. Oliver needed an engineer to volunteer his time to wrestle that bean field into what is today Halleck Park, a jewel of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s park system; Dreessen was interested in gaining experi-

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Dreessen: ‘He’s one of those guys people are always glad they met’ Continued from Page 21 ence in the field of city engineering, a useful complement, as he saw it, to his nascent private practice. Two years later, Dreessen was hired as Papillion’s city engineer, a part-time post he did not relinquish until 2011. The years between his hiring and his departure saw Papillion transformed from a sleepy suburb of some 5,000 people into a thriving modern city, increasingly a center of Sarpy County’s commercial and retail life. It is no great labor to find people in Papillion willing to lay a big chunk of the credit for that growth at Dreessen’s feet. Darren Carlson, community relations coordinator for the City of Papillion, said Dreessen’s impact on Papillion has been “incredible.” He provided statistics showing that Dreessen’s work as city engineer led directly to construction of 5,115 of the 7,214 housing units in Papillion, representing 70 percent of the city’s housing stock. Beyond housing, Carlson said, Dreessen’s handprint embraces just about everything of note in the modern city. Other community projects that bear Dreessen’s stamp include the relocation of Papillion City Hall, improvements to Nebraska Highway 370, construction of Papio Bay Aquatic Park, the Papillion Business and Technology Park, the creation of Eagle Hills Golf Course and expansion of Tara Hills Golf Course, Walnut Creek Recreation Area, the new police station, overall improvements to the downtown area, the rise of the Shadow Lake Towne Center retail complex, a second fire station and creation of the Sumtur Amphitheater. That’s pretty much a “what’s what” of Papillion through the first decade of the 21st century. Looking back over those years, Dreessen remembers 1970 Papillion as a place where optimism thrived, along with the families who were just beginning to realize the city’s potential as a place to raise children. “There was a sense of optimism in Papillion in particular and in Sarpy County in general,” Dreessen said. “There was a sense that we were on a positive path, that we were doing things and solving problems. It was easy to plug into that.” Papillion’s civic leaders played a key role, Dreessen said. He said they proved willing to cast tough votes — votes that were unpopular with the people who elected them but which pushed Papillion forward.

World-Herald N e ws S e r v i c e

Taking advantage of the mild winter and spring, golfers play Tara Hills golf course. The course was a project of Dreessen’s.

“Elected officials have to struggle with a balance between what is in the best interests of the larger community and the immediate passions of neighbors who generally fear change,” he said. “I have a great admiration for politicians who can honestly deal with conflicting views and then vote in a way that is best for the community.” For the past 18 years, Tom Mumgaard has been among those casting the sometimes difficult votes on the Papillion City Council. Mumgaard said he never lacked an understanding of the issues he was deciding, thanks largely to Dreessen’s breadth of knowledge and ability to explain. “He’s a combination of just a wealth of knowledge about Sarpy County and the rules of development, and one of the nicer guys you’ll ever meet,” Mumgaard said. “When I started on the council 18 years ago I was a novice. I didn’t know a whole lot about development in the county but his ability to fit a project into the history of development in Sarpy County, and explain the

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LEADERS & LEGENDS OF SARPY COUNTY 2012!

rules that had to be followed, really opened my eyes.” Steve Engberg is another longtime civic leader who came to trust Dreessen’s guidance. A former police chief and 20-year City Council member, Engberg said there is little in Papillion that does not bear the Dreessen touch. “He has always had a special love for the city of Papillion,” Engberg said. “It was never just business for him. It was about doing the best thing for Papillion while keeping the atmosphere of a community. “He has a practice of greeting people with ‘How are you, my friend?’ and he means it.” Jeff Thompson, who succeeded Dreessen as Papillion’s city engineer in 2010, worked for Dreesen’s private firm — Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner Inc. — from 2000 to 2010. He said he needs just one word to describe his former boss: “Integrity.” “He’s just an outstanding man,” Thomp-

son said. “I was just out of college and looking for employment back in 2000. Bob had just lost a couple of young engineers and he heard through the grapevine that I was looking. “He called me and after a 10-minute conversation offered me a job. I had never met the man, never had a conversation with him, he had never seen my face. He’s just an awesome guy.” Dreessen’s son Doug Dreessen is himself an engineer. “He’s just one of those guys who was devoted to his profession,” Doug said of his dad. “He never did much else when we were kids. He didn’t really have hobbies, he just loved his profession and was driven to be the best at it. “He’s one of those guys people are always glad they met. He’s always got a smile and a story you’ll find interesting. “His employees will tell you the same thing.”

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Teaching Sarpy County to grow By Ron Petak

SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS INC.

or nearly a decade in the 1990s, Al Wenstrand coached Sarpy County and city officials to prepare for growth and success. “You have to build it before they come,” Wenstrand said. “And that’s a hard lesson for some politicians.” Now living and working in Florida, Wenstrand served for seven years as director of

the Sarpy County Economic Development Corp. In 1998, he answered the call of then Gov. Mike Johanns to work alongside him as the state’s economic development director, a position Wenstrand held for the next five years. John Yochum, executive director of Cass County Economic Development Corp., worked with Wenstrand at the SCEDC and said his former boss always has held a passion for the economic development process. “It showed in his leadership style,”

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Yochum said. “The county was fortunate to have him as the front man for businesses looking to come to Sarpy County.” Sarpy County Administrator Mark Wayne said today’s thriving SCEDC can be traced to Wenstrand’s days at the helm. “The SCEDC had no direction, and his leadership made it what it is today,” Wayne said. Lynda Shafer, hired by Wenstrand as an administrative assistant before taking on the role of project manager for the SCEDC, said

her former boss displayed a keen sense of what the future could hold in the county. “He not only prepared for the businesses that were coming, but he prepared Sarpy County for the businesses it wanted to come,” said Shafer, who now serves as manager of leadership development for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Wenstrand’s rise to prominence in economic development circles may have come

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Wenstrand: Working man Continued from Page 24 as a bit of a surprise to many who knew him for his 11 years as a marketing teacher and track and gymnastics coach at Bellevue West High School. A graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Wenstrand earned two degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He taught for two years at Beatrice High School while his wife, Susie, completed law school at Nebraska before moving to Bellevue. A couple years after being named the 1989 National Marketing Educator of the Year by the Marketing Education Association, Wenstrand left the Bellevue West hallways to start a consulting firm with a former student. When the SCEDC needed a person for an advertised half-time position, Wenstrand threw his hat in the mix and was tabbed for the job. Almost immediately, he said, the job turned into a full-time position as he was immersed with tasks, working out of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. “We were seeing projects every two or three months, and it was a wonderful experience,” Wenstrand said recently in a telephone interview. No projects any bigger than BMW looking at 132nd Street and Giles Road in Sarpy County to build its first U.S. assembly plant, bringing with it thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in investment and economic impact. BMW eventually settled on a South Carolina location, but Wenstrand said the lessons learned in pursuit of the German manufacturer were invaluable.

“We got smarter with every one we didn’t land,” Wenstrand said. “You have to have the basics in place, and we didn’t have the sewers, the roads, the electricity ready for BMW. “With every project we got closer to having the infrastructure in place.” Eventually, Sarpy County landed Caterpillar Claas at the Giles Road site, and, today, the facility remains the North American headquarters for Claas of America. Wenstrand learned his lessons well about being prepared during his seven years with the SCEDC and he was tasked with passing along that knowledge to the movers and shakers — including elected officials — about protecting the county’s future through economic development. “It’s a planning process and a matter of setting priorities and understanding what is good growth and the value of that growth,” Wenstrand said. “You have to constantly look to the future.” That meant envisioning a future built on commercial developments, business parks, technology centers, manufacturing plants and distribution hubs that fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Yochum said Wenstrand understood the planning process more than most. “Most people think every deal just happens, but that’s the farthest from the truth,” he said. “It takes vision and planning to bring business leaders and community managers together. “He was so good at the behind-the-scenes work with local officials, getting infrastructure planned and in place for efficient growth.”

Wenstrand spent 11 years as a marketing teacher and track and gymnastics coach at Bellevue West High School.

Shafer said the task of working with county officials as well as city officials with a my-community-first interest was not an easy proposition. “It was challenging work trying to satisfy the different interests,” Shafer said. “Al knew development was coming, and we had to be smart about it and knew he had to keep each community engaged in that.” Yochum said Wenstrand stressed to elected officials from the Missouri River to the Platte River that smart development was good for the entire Omaha area, no matter where a project might originate. “Al was always a big proponent of regional economic development, and that’s why you see today a partnership between Douglas, Sarpy, Cass and Washington Counties,” Yochum said. Wenstrand said working daily at Bellevue West with teenagers eager to grasp the

fundamentals of marketing or fundamentals of running the curve on the 200-meter dash, helped him in dealing with politicians, civic leaders, business leaders and dreamers. “You start with the basics and bring them along slowly,” he said. “You make sure you are fundamentally sound, and working one on one with someone has been my philosophy all the way through.” Though his visits to Nebraska are few these days as he serves as vice president of business development for the renewable energy firm Molecular Power Systems north of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Wenstrand said a recent return allowed him to see the fruits of his labor. “I took a day and drove around Sarpy County,” he said. “Not only did it work, but it worked better than we anticipated. The development in Sarpy County is what we envisioned.”

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