Speakers

Matt Schulte and his wife, Kristin, moved to Lincoln from Chicago in 2011 to serve as the Executive Director of Youth for Christ Lincoln area.  He has grown up knowing and believing in the mission of Youth for Christ. He has a passion for pointing teenagers to Christ and desires to see ministry flourish in every high school, middle school, and detention center in the Lincoln area. Matt loves spending time with his wife and four children, reading, and playing family board games. 

 

Steve Dunbar is retired from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a professor of mathematics but he remains active with research and education.   His interests are in applications of mathematics, especially to biology, economics and politics.

Kristie Pfabe is a math professor at Nebraska Wesleyan University.  She has special interests in the mathematical training of elementary school teachers and in applications of mathematics to civic life.

Both Steve and Kristie have attended conferences on gerrymandering that were organized by the Metric Geometry and Gerrymandering Group, a Boston-based team of mathematicians and computer scientists.  This group aims to engage the scientific community in cutting-edge research in redistricting, to train scholars to act as expert witnesses in redistricting cases, to educate the public on this issue and to build a diverse community of mathematically inclined people to increase accountability in the redistricting process.

Holden Meier is the Group Sales Manager at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts. He is responsible for managing advertising sales, coordinating the sale of tickets to groups of 10 or more patrons, and distributing targeted discount rates to Nebraska businesses, organizations, and partners.

He graduated from Knox College (IL) in 2016 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Theatre Performance. Prior to his current position at the Lied Center, Holden worked as a Sales Representative for Sandhills Global, as an Admissions Counselor at Nebraska Wesleyan University, and as a Literary Intern at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center (CT).

Holden is a proud representative of Nebraska’s Home for the Arts, and loves that this position allows him to provide greater access to the arts to the state’s families, students, and professionals.

Rod Fowler grew up on a small farm near Tama, Iowa, which is between Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. As a child he helped his family raise cattle and make hay. During this time he learned a love for Midwestern values found in the heartland.

At an early age, Rod had a desire to work in broadcasting which eventually lead him to work at a small radio station. It was just the spark he needed and Rod enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames. At that time, WOI-TV was only one of two TV stations owned and operated by a state university. During his college days he worked part time for WOI and was a D-J on a rock and roll radio station.

After graduation, with a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, Rod remained at WOI-TV as a full time reporter/anchor. When the opportunity arose for him to make a move within the company, he jumped on it. In 1995, Rod was offered the anchor position at sister station KLKN-TV. "The reason I wanted to come to Lincoln was because of the people and community pride here," says Rod. "The Midwest is home for me. I love the country and the people".  Rod and his wife, Laurie, and two daughters and are proud to call Lincoln their home. "It's a growing community that still has Midwestern feel and value," he added.

Rod has served two terms as president of the Cornhusker Kiwanis organization and helps raise money throughout the year for local charities. 

rfowler@klkntv.com
Facebook-Rod Fowler Channel 8 Eyewitness News
Twitter-RodFowlerKLKN

Helen has a BA in Human Resource Management and Economics from tje University of Nebraska and an MA in Management with emphasis in Leadership from Doane College. Helen also studied International Economics and British Political Economy at Oxford University. She finished her Ph.D. in 2014 in Human Sciences with emphasis in Leadership Studies at UNL.

She has over 25 years experience in the Human Resource Field and has worked in many areas including Training, Benefits, Payroll, Recruitment and Diversity.

Helen became a Certified Diversity Trainer through the Society for Human Resource Management in 2001 and qualified for administering the Intercultural Development Inventory in 2006.

She has been an active member of the Lincoln community. She is a Fellow of Leadership Lincoln and a former Board member of Clinic with a Heart Board, YWCA, Food Bank of Lincoln, Lincoln Journal Star Diversity Council, Lincoln/Lancaster County Women’s Commission, Child Guidance Center Board, and Adult Basic Education Advisory Board at Southeast Community College. Helen was instrumental in the development of the Interpreter Training Program at SCC, and has helped address employment and healthcare needs of refugees and immigrants by her involvement in our community.

In 2000, Helen became the first ever Diversity Coordinator for Bryan Health System. Helen created a nationally recognized hospital diversity initiative. In 2007, Helen re-signed her full-time position due to health reasons and began teaching part time at Bryan College of Health Sciences and co-facilitating the Leading Edge at Doane College.

While Helen’s life has been filled with challenges, and changes, Helen used her experiences to help others. From her first volunteer role as the Ombudsman for the USS Raleigh, which she received a Letter of Commendation from the Admiral of the Navy, to her efforts in helping Bryan Health System’s nurses from the Philippines learn how to live successful lives in the United States, to helping refugees settle in Lincoln; Helen has been a dedicated friend to many.

Because of her work and dedication, she was one of the recipients of the 2001 KZUM Cultural Awareness Award, in 2002 was recognized by Lincoln Journal Star as one of twenty Leaders under age 40 whose work was positively impacting Lincoln. Then Mayor Coleen Seng gave Helen a ‘Key-to-the-City’ in January 2004, before Helen’s keynote address at the Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast. This was to honor Helen for her work and commitment to make the dream of Dr. King come true for all people. And in October 2005, Helen was awarded the Prestigious YWCA Tribute to Women Award for her dedication to eliminating the barriers for refugees and immigrants to gain access to quality healthcare. Helen has been recognized for her outstanding teaching by the UNL Parent Association for (2012 & 2013), and by the UNL College of Ag and Natural Resources (2013); and she has also been recognized for her outstanding service by the Doane College Alumni Association (2013).

Because of her work which exemplifies the ideals of Rotary, Helen was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow by Lincoln South Rotary Club at the 2019 Rotary District 5650 Conference.

Experience Overview from LinkedIn:
Marketing, management, fundraising, and event planning experience in manufacturing, non-profit, and service industries

Steve grew up on a diversified farm in Southwest Iowa.  They raised row crops, alfalfa, cattle and hogs.  He went to college at Colorado State University and has a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business as well as a teaching degree from Buena Vista University. 

Steve has worked in the swine industry, taught high school business classes, coached wrestling, managed an assembly lines in a factory, been a freelance writer, and worked for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and is now the executive director with the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) and We Support Ag (WSA)

Steve lives on a small farm south of Lincoln, NE with his wife, Renae, and two sons where they raise row crops, cattle, hogs, and Vizsla hunting dogs.

In April 2016, Jeffrey Bliemeister was selected as Lincoln's Chief of Police.

Jeff Bliemeister has over 20 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career in 1996 with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office (LSO) holding positions of deputy, sergeant and chief deputy under Sheriff Terry Wagner. During his time with LSO, he was involved with the patrol division, field training of officers/supervisors, division sergeant, tactical response unit, criminal investigations, narcotics, special services and training and personnel.

Jeff has a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Nebraska Wesleyan and a Master's degree in Management from Doane College. He is a Leadership Lincoln Fellow, serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club, and volunteers at the Hope Spoke and Sheridan Lutheran Church.