Omaha Jaycees 2008 TOYO recipients

SPN’s very own Jeff Slobotski has been recognized by the Omaha Jacyees as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Omahans” for 2008! The Omaha Jaycees since 1933 have been honoring ten men and women between the ages of 21 and 40 each year who strive for excellence and have a strong commitment to both community…

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SPN’s very own Jeff Slobotski has been recognized by the Omaha Jacyees as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Omahans” for 2008! The Omaha Jaycees since 1933 have been honoring ten men and women between the ages of 21 and 40 each year who strive for excellence and have a strong commitment to both community service and personal and professional development.

The 2008 TOYO recipients are:

  • Megan Addison, co-coordinator for Middle School Learning Center Initiative, Omaha Community Foundation
  • Vickie Brady Ahlers, partner, Baird Holm LLP;
  • Jeff Beals, vice president, Coldwell Banker Commercial World Group;
  • Jeffrey DeMare, MD, pediatric intensive care physician, Children’s Hospital;
  • Gary Grote, executive vice president, Omaha State Bank;
  • Sherrye Hutcherson, division manager of human resources, Omaha Public Power District;
  • Jason Lauritsen, vice president of human resources, Union Bank and Trust;
  • Kristen Ostenso, major gift officer, Alegent Health Foundation;
  • Susan Schnase, director of development, University of Nebraska Foundation; and
  • Jeff Slobotski, manager of corporate sales, Truist.

Congrats to Jeff and to all of the recipients! For more information on TOYO or the Omaha Jaycees, visit the Jaycees website. Full bios for all of the winners are below…

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Megan Addison

addisonMegan Addison is Co-Coordinator for the Middle School Learning Center Initiative with the Omaha Community Foundation. MSLCI is a collaborative effort that provides school-based after school programming for middle school youth. Megan uses her experience and management skills to build partnerships supporting the initiative. Her experience includes working with at-risk youth in northeast and southeast Omaha and with families recovering from prostitution. Megan received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Megan is an at-large board member and fund development committee member for the Junior League of Omaha and is a graduate of Leadership Omaha Class 28. She is involved with Building Bright Futures After School Mentoring and Tutoring Task Force, Greater Omaha After School Alliance, the South Omaha Care Council and Camp Fire USA.

Vickie Brady Ahlers

ahlersVickie Brady Ahlers is a Partner in the Health Care Section of Baird Holm LLP. She represents health care clients with respect to a variety of issues, including regulatory, transactional and contracting issues, HIPAA, medical staff and allied health professionals issues, and organizational compliance. Vickie has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and a juris doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law. Vickie is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Latino Center of the Midlands, serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Organ and Tissue Donor Coalition and is President-elect of the Wellness Council of the Midlands Board of Directors. Vickie is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and the Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys and serves on the Board of Trustees at Countryside Community Church. She has also served on the Nebraska Aids Project Board of Directors and the Friends of Planned Parenthood Board, been named a 2006 Midland Business Journal’s “40 under 40”, and is a graduate of Leadership Omaha Class 26.

Jeff Beals

bealsJeff Beals is Vice President of Coldwell Banker Commercial World Group, a commercial real estate company. He teaches at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Business Administration and is co-host of Grow Omaha, a weekly radio show on 1110 KFAB. Jeff is a published author and professional speaker and has his Bachelor’s Degree in News-Editorial and Master’s Degree in Political Science, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jeff has been politically appointed to the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau and is a former Vice President of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Millard. Jeff is also a member of the Public Relations Advisory Board at Millard Public Schools and is a member of the UNO Library Friends board of directors. Jeff is a recipient of the 2007 Midland Business Journal’s “40 under 40” award. His book, Self Marketing Power: Branding Yourself as a Business of One, won First Place in the “Business: Marketing and Advertising” category for National Best Books 2008 Awards, and was a finalist in the “Business” category in the 2008 Indie Excellence Awards in Books. Jeff’s radio show, Grow Omaha, won a 2008 Silver Award from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.

Jeffrey S. DeMare, MD

demareJeffrey DeMare, MD is a Pediatric Intensive Care physician primarily employed at Children’s Hospital. He is primarily responsible for caring for critically ill children and also serves as the Medical Director of the Children’s Advocacy Team providing medical expertise for the work-up and care of patients with suspected child abuse or neglect. He is also the Medical Director for the ECMO team, coordinating the delivery of prolonged cardiopulmonary support for children with complete cardiac or pulmonary failure. Jeffrey has his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Creighton University and attended Creighton School of Medicine for his Medical Doctor’s Degree. He has Board Certification in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care with training from the University of Texas-Southwestern. Dr. DeMare sits on the hospital’s ethics and peer review committees as well as the Douglas County 1184 Team which reviews all high risk cases of suspected abuse and neglect. He is an active participant in medical mission work in Central America helping to offer corrective surgery for patients with congenital heart disease and education for local physicians. Jeffrey is a Class 30 graduate of Leadership Omaha and recipient of the 2007 Midland Business Journal’s “40 under 40” award. His restaurant, “Doc and Eddie’s BBQ” was named “Best BBQ” by the Omaha World Herald in 2007.

Gary Grote

groteGary Grote is an Executive Vice President at Omaha State Bank. Gary is responsible for the commercial loan division. His primary duties include business development, underwriting and sales management for business loans and deposits. Gary also serves on the executive management team, which involves making strategic decisions regarding the overall direction of the bank. Gary graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. Gary serves as Vice President and is Chairperson of the Sales Committee for the Omaha Community Service Foundation, which conducts the Cox Classic presented by Lexus of Omaha. He is Vice President of the Pastoral Council of St. Vincent DePaul Parish, and formerly served on the boards of Campfire USA, New Cassel Foundation, The Ollie Webb Center and Hugh O’Brian Youth Nebraska Leadership Seminar. Gary is involved in the Nebraska Bankers Association and is a graduate of the 2002 – 2004 NBA Leadership Program. Gary is also a 2001 graduate of ICAN’s Focus Program. Additionally, he is an instructor for the Kansas/Nebraska Schools of Banking and coaches youth sports.

Sherrye Hutcherson

hutchersonSherrye Hutcherson is the Division Manager of Human Resources for Omaha Public Power District. She is responsible for leading labor relations, compensation and benefits, succession planning and organization development, diversity and inclusion, human resource information systems, human resources compliance, and recruiting and retention functions. Sherrye graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and from Creighton University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Sherrye is Vice Chair of the Urban League Board of Directors, serves on the YWCA board, a member of the Omaha Network, and is a 2008 Co-chair for the ICAN’s Women’s Leadership Conference. Sherrye is the Chair for the TalentLink Human Resources Executive Roundtable and is the creator of the OPPD Women’s Network, which which provides mentoring and support for professional and personal development while also focusing on the topics that are important to women employees within OPPD. Sherrye is a recipient of the 2006 Midland Business Journal’s “40 under 40” award and is a graduate of Leadership Omaha’s Class 20.

Jason Lauritsen

lauritsenJason Lauritsen is Vice President of Human Resources for Union Bank and Trust. Jason is responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s human resources including recruiting, employee relations, benefits, and payroll. Additionally, Jason serves as a member of Union Bank’s senior management team where he helps set the strategic direction for the organization. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Jason currently serves on the board for Habitat for Humanity Omaha, and is chair of the Personnel Committee. He is a member of the BRANCH board, a committee of the Nebraska Children’s Home Society. In this position, he is responsible for supporting their key project, HomeGrown, every year. Jason is the founder of the Human Capital Roundtable, a forum for human capital leaders to share practices and ideas. Additionally, Jason is a speaker with Talent Anarchy, a former member of the Young Professionals Council and a graduate of Leadership Omaha class 27.

Kristen Ostenso

ostensoKristen Ostenso is a major gift officer for the Alegent Health Foundation. She is responsible for fundraising in support of all Alegent Health hospitals and initiatives with an emphasis on Mercy Hospital and the Oncology service line. Kristen handles identifying donors’ passion for healthcare and offers them an opportunity to save lives. Kristen graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology-Zoology and has a certificate in fundraising management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kristen is President of Nebraska Friends of Foster Children, chair of the Youth Leadership Council Bluffs program and Past-Treasurer of Wings of Hope Cancer Support Center, which gives emotional support and guidance for those coping with cancer and where she is currently involved with fundraising efforts. Kristen is also a provisional placement director and a HIP Kids community coordinator for Junior League of Omaha. She is active on the boards of the Child Saving Institute Guild and St. Albert Catholic Schools Foundation.

Susan Schnase

schnaseSusan Schnase works for the University of Nebraska Foundation as Director of Development for UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service, Criss Library, and Service Learning Academy. Susan is responsible for connecting individual, corporate, and private foundation donors with opportunities to support these programs in ways that will be meaningful to them. Susan has Bachelor’s Degrees in both Speech and English from Hastings College, and has her Master’s Degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University. Susan is a certified Tester/Observer for Midlands Pet Therapy, an organization that forms a network of individuals and their pets to bring happiness and cheer to places such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes and the like. Susan is an instructor for puppy obedience classes at the Nebraska Humane Society, is a Class 30 graduate of Leadership Omaha, serves on the UNO Library Friends Executive Board, and volunteers for the Women’s Fund of Greater Omaha. Susan is also the advisor to UNO’s Kiwanis/Circle K student organization and was an “Our Omaha” presenter for the Omaha Chamber’s Young Professionals Council.

Jeff Slobotski

slobotskiJeff Slobotski is the Manager of Corporate Sales for Truist. He is responsible for the domestic and international sale of Truist’s philanthropic software. Jeff graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Banking. Jeff is the founder of Silicon Prairie News, a website highlighting Omaha’s entrepreneurs, innovators, and creative class. Jeff also founded Packs of Promise, an organization addressing the issue of homelessness by providing backpacks filled with new supplies during the winter months. In addition, he was appointed by Governor Heineman to the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission, serves as a board member for the Omaha Chamber’s Young Professional’s Council and volunteers at CORE Community Church. Jeff is also involved with Word Made Flesh and the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

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