1. List, in order of importance to you, the nonprofit organizations/volunteer commitments with which you are currently involved or have been involved in the past. Include timeframe and a description of your roles/responsibilities for each area of involvement. (limit 2000 characters)

    Temple Israel

    Temple Israel is a Reform Jewish congregation in Omaha, Nebraska. I’ve served as a trustee since 2017 and as Vice President since 2020. I Co-chaired our Senior Rabbi Search Cmt., successfully hiring the next spiritual leader for the congregation.

    I previously served as Chair of the Social Justice Cmt., helping organize congregation-wide social action events, partnering with area nonprofits like Nebraska Appleseed and Food Bank for the Heartland, and testifying in support of expanded SNAP benefits in the Nebraska Legislature.

    In 2018 I received the G’muilut Chasadim Award for Social Justice from Temple Israel.

    Jewish Federation of Omaha

    Since 2017, I’ve served in several roles including on the Strategic Initiatives Committee and as a Co-Chair for the young giving group, Ben Gurion Society. I’ve helped fundraise, organize events, and offer strategy to major initiatives and programs.

    The Federation recently honored me with the Bruce Fellman Memorial Young Leadership Award, given annually to a young man under 45, who has demonstrated personal commitment, dedicated involvement, and exemplary leadership qualities in rendering service to the Jewish and general community.

    Tri-Faith Initiative

    I volunteered with Tri-Faith in several capacities, including on the Communications Committee.

    Jews United for Justice, Washington, DC

    The Jeremiah Fellowship gives Jews who are committed to racial, economic, and social justice the opportunity to explore how Jewish values, culture, and community can support and further their goals. I met regularly for community organizing skill building sessions, study, and reflection.

    I learned critical leadership skills while taking part in JUFJ’s successful Paid Family Leave campaign.

  2. **Select one or two of the organizations identified above and tell us WHY you invest your time and effort with the organization(s). (limit 3000 characters) ***

    My values are intrinsically tied to my Jewish faith. Specifically, I want to make a positive impact in the world around me and be a part of a vibrant and diverse community with my family. My involvement at Temple Israel affords an opportunity to make an impact both in the Jewish Community and broader Omaha communities.

    A core part of my Jewish identity is the concept of repairing the world, and advancing social justice. Temple Israel allows me to not just be a part of, but lead, efforts to make a positive impact. We have addressed issues related to Hunger, created an initiative to address Racial Justice, and more recently to protect reproductive rights.

    Growing up Jewish, I also value the presence of a strong Jewish community. I want my children to have a place they can feel safe as Jews, grow and learn, express their faith, and be a part of something larger than themselves

    Finally, I’ve valued the opportunity to build new leadership skills, often complementary to professional experiences I have running my business. I was a Vice President and part of the Executive Committee as we handled the Covid-19 Pandemic. I’ve learned new ways to build consensus and enact change. And I’ve seen the amazing ways a supportive and positive group of leaders can come together, even if they don’t always agree, to make decisions and improve their community.

    These same reasons lead me to invest more time with The Jewish Federation of Omaha as well as the Tri-Faith Initiative, broadening both the impact I can make and the people and ideas to which I expose myself.

  3. **What are two current challenges that prevent Greater Omaha from being a more vibrant place to do business, work, and live? Why? (limit 3000 characters) ***

First, I think it is difficult to look at the policy agenda pursued by our state legislature and not worry about the effects passing these policies will have on building and maintaining a vibrant community. The Chamber and many individual businesses have now opposed regressive policies, like the anti-trans bill, LB 574, currently being considered, not just because they are extreme but because they hurt the ability to recruit a diverse and talented workforce. They send a signal that Nebraska (and greater Omaha) is not a welcoming community in which to live. This ultimately hurts the ability to build a competitive business; and all the more causes harm for those individuals targeted by these hateful policies. Nebraska has long been a conservative state, but one that is rooted in practical consideration and caution. This extremist lurch threatens not just the targets of a specific piece of legislation, but the broader vibrancy of the community, and the long term success of Greater Omaha.

Second, I think Omaha needs to continue to embrace and foster diversity. I have been impressed by the ways in which the newly remodeled Gene Lahey Mall and related projects have brought a diverse array of Omahans from all walks of life together in a shared space. It’s turned several blocks of underused area into Omaha’s best shared space. However, to build on this success Omaha has a long way to go. As diverse as the city’s population is, Omaha is incredibly segregated. Entrenched by decades of housing policy and development decisions, Omaha needs to continue to build shared space, not just in the Old Market and downtown core, but throughout the city. We need to continue to develop in underserved communities to make more of our neighborhoods vibrant, diverse, and walkable. We need to see integrated and creative strategies that involve not just our parks but our civic services, our cultural institutions, and our systems of transportation. We need public transportation that is appealing to a cross section of citizens and effective beyond Dodge street. We need support for biking and multimodal transportation beyond a singular bike route. My work on hunger as well as more directly with Racial Justice has shown just how entrenched and systemic these problems are in Omaha, but also how great the possibilities and potential for change can be.

  1. **What is your vision for the future of Omaha (in 5yrs and/or 25yrs)? What will your role be in creating this future? (limit 3000 characters) ***

    My hope and vision for Omaha’s future is lasting progress towards its biggest issues, and I will play a roll in helping make that happen. My vision is that on both a state and local level we aren’t fighting against regressive policy, but are strengthening protections for those most vulnerable and entrenching our belief that diversity and inclusion add to the vibrancy of our city. That we aren’t on the verge of nearly losing our only protected bike lane but instead can travel throughout the city on foot, bike, and bus (or trolley). A city where the success of downtown attracts a new generation to the urban core, and serves as a model for building diverse, vibrant, walkable neighborhoods throughout the city.

    My first steps are to build on the social justice work I’ve pursued with Temple Israel and join broader coalitions to work for homes for the unhoused, food for the hungry, protections for groups that face historic persecution. I see making my community more walkable and bikeable, with both better transportation policies but also denser development to have more destinations we can seek out in shorter time frames.

    I want to cultivate relationships more broadly in Omaha so I can add to bigger projects and be a part of making a bigger impact. I run a Graphic Design agency that works exclusively with nonprofits and mission driven organizations. I believe in using creativity and problem solving to address the issues facing our communities, and I know that to effect broad change you have to build broad coalitions. You have to bring people together, and to do that I need to continue growing my own network in Omaha, continue building connections, and hopefully through that impacting a more vibrant Omaha in which my children will live, work and thrive.

  2. **Please share an example that demonstrates your respect for people and their differences. How have you worked to understand the perspectives and lived experiences of others? (limit 2000 characters) ***

As a designer that works with diverse nonprofit organizations I am constantly working to understand the perspectives of others; understand where people are coming from, what motivates them, how to better serve their needs. My company has worked with incredible organizations that serve diverse constituents with varied needs. These include the USA for UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), White House Historical Association, the Anti Defamation League (ADL), the Aspen Institute, World Central Kitchen, and American University; My team is called on to help these organizations better achieve their goals, and we can’t do that without understanding their audiences. We survey and interview individuals, test our designs, and hold focus groups to ensure we are respecting their specific differences, nuanced needs, and individual or collective understandings.

Further, I have made a personal commitment to improve my understanding and respect for other people and their differences. This commitment led me to complete a Community Organizing Fellowship with Jews United for Justice, and more recently to complete Racial Equity Institute’s local DEI training. Finally I led the creation of Temple Israel’s Building Racial Stamina training in which we brought a facilitator from DC to train a dozen participants in the unique approach to fostering diversity in Jewish institutions.

  1. Provide a brief description of your career history beginning with your current job. List company, position(s) held and time frames. (limit 1500 characters)Resumes are not accepted in place of response.*

    Friendly Design Co, Omaha, NE & Washington, DC - Managing Director & Founding Partner 2012- Present

    Friendly Design Co is a strategic design studio, and certified B Corp, that builds impactful brands and websites with organizations who repair our world and strengthen our communities. We believe design can do more than look good—it can do good too. Design should accomplish objectives, meet long-term organizational goals, and foster change. We achieve this by working side by side with passionate individuals, great organizations, and the communities they serve.

    As a founding partner and Managing Director, I’ve helped lead Friendly for the past 10 years with a specific focus leading our Business Development, Operations, Finance, and HR.

    American University, Washington, DC - Adjunct Instructor, Graphic Design 2013-2016

    American University, Washington, DC - Assistant Dean of Marketing & Strategy, Washington Semester Program, 2011-2012

    Yellow Dog Productions LLC, St.Louis, MO - Designer 2006-2007

  2. **Describe how you have grown in your career and have developed as a leader in your profession. What do you consider to be your most significant accomplishment? (limit 2000 characters) ***

    My most significant professional accomplishment has been running my own business, Friendly Design Co, for the past 10 years; the incredible people we’ve hired onto our team and worked with, and the impact we’ve had through our work.

    I see entrepreneurship as an extension of the creative process and we embrace and experiment with new ways of working. We’ve remained fully remote since the Covid-19 pandemic and the past year we instituted a 4-day work week, completing 100% of our work in 80% of the time.

    We’re also increasingly concerned with the impact of our business and have multiple processes in place to act on those passions. We are members of 1% for the Planet, pledging 1% of our revenue as donations to environmental organizations. We are certified as a B Corp, proving that we area committed to making a positive impact on our employees, communities, and the environment. We are certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous social and environmental measures—passing an assessment that involves a thorough review of our company's legal structure, policies, and practices to guarantee that it meets all of the highest global standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

    Finally, I’m proud that our work is recognized as some of the best in our business, with multiple Webby nominations and Anthem Award wins. The Webbys are the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, and the Anthems are the Webby’s offshoot that celebrate purpose & mission-driven work.

  3. If applicable, list the names of and your involvement in professional or business associations. Include dates and role(s). (limit 1500 characters)

    AIGA - The Professional Association for Design, Member AIGA Nebraska