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TeamMates Mentoring Program has much to celebrate in 2021: its 30th year and more than 43,000 students served in 30 years across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming and South Dakota. The mentoring program has seen a great deal of growth and success, but it began as a simple idea inspired by a television news story.
In 2020, metroMAGAZINE explored how the COVID-19 pandemic affected our local nonprofits’ operations and how they continued to serve the community despite unforeseeable demands on staff and resources. Now we look at how they are moving forward in 2021.
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These five women stand on incredible achievements in very different areas, but they have one thing in common: their leadership is pioneering the way for others to follow.
Jill Orton’s two-decade American Red Cross career has been diverse and interesting and she’s had the opportunity to grow as a leader as she helps execute the organization’s life-saving mission to alleviate human suffering.
Educator Jacqelle Lane considers teaching a calling, and she strives to make sure every student in her classes knows they matter. She has also created an anti-bullying and teen suicide prevention platform the goes well beyond the classroom.
Driving change by empowering others—not just with big ideas, but also with genuine concern and attentiveness to their development—is key to success, according to Mary Ann O’Brien, founder and CEO of OBI Creative.
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We Ask You: Q&A…
“What bright spots or new initiatives have come from pandemic-related adversity over the past 15 months?”
In 2005, Mary Vandenack founded Vandenack Weaver, LLC (formerly Vandenack Williams LLC), creating a top-drawer tax, trusts and estates, and business boutique to cater to closely held companies and their owners.
To be there for our customers when they need us. That’s the heart of a commitment made by every Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) customer service representative—a team led by Brenda Wichman, vice president of member and provider services.
Storytelling is weaved into every aspect of Hurrdat’s media, marketing and entertainment work, according to Jill Thomas, director of podcast services, who said the goal is to create memorable experiences that tell a client’s story the way it should be told.
“Opening a zen retreat center has been a dream of mine for years. Living on a hilltop, tucked away in nature, I enjoy the serenity of open fields, lush forests, winding trails and vibrant gardens,” Wendy Moore said. “I would envision hosting retreats that allowed guests to relax and recharge.”
Although hope is rising that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is coming, it's still not over. The last year has been emotionally and sometimes financially draining to nearly everyone, but the people of our community’s hospitals have been on the front lines the entire time. The impact for these healthcare heroes goes beyond managing direct care of COVID-19 patients, and the challenges have evolved along with the pandemic. However, innovation can be the brainchild of crisis, and the pandemic has presented other opportunities including the discovery of resiliency.
