As part of the Greater Omaha Chamber’s commitment to building a stronger, more competitive regional economy, we’re excited to share an important update regarding one of our top strategic priorities: Brain Gain.
Brain Gain is our long-term effort to grow and retain a talented workforce that fuels business success, community vitality, and economic prosperity. This priority is embedded in our strategic plan and reflects our shared vision for a thriving, inclusive future.
To better align our efforts, bring clarity of purpose, and improve structural efficiency, we are unifying our talent initiatives under a refreshed and expanded banner: WorkforceExcellence. This evolution includes an expanded focus on untapped talent pipelines—ensuring greater access to career opportunities that strengthen our regional workforce. As part of this effort, CODE is evolving into a broader workforce initiative that strategically aligns with employer needs while continuing to drive impact through representative workforce solutions.
At the same time, our Young Professionals (YP) program will remain a standalone initiative, continuing its unique focus on workforce development for emerging leaders and providing critical resources for the next generation of Omaha’s workforce.
Workforce Excellence will serve as our central framework to drive progress in three interconnected areas:
• Talent Recruitment – Attracting new talent to the Greater Omaha region, with a focus on strategic growth industries.
• Talent Retention – Strengthening our efforts to retain emerging and experienced professionals, especially graduates of our local institutions.
• Workplace Excellence – Supporting employers in creating environments where people want to stay, grow, and thrive.
Team Structure
This work falls under Economic Development and is led by Dell Nared Jr., who will be overseeing the strategy and implementation of Workforce Excellence. Other key members of the team include Merrick Brtek, who will be focused on employer engagement and workforce development initiatives, and Janique Hayes, who will be supporting recruitment efforts and talent pipeline strategies. Their collective expertise ensures that we are well-positioned to drive impactful workforce solutions for Greater Omaha.
In addition to these core focus areas, Workforce Excellence will deepen our focus on untapped talent pipelines—ensuring opportunities for all are central to achieving true Brain Gain in our region. We are proud of the progress we’ve made through our existing workforce programs, and with this unified approach, we’re adding new energy, ideas, and partnerships to help every business in our community succeed in the race for talent.
We look forward to engaging with you through upcoming Workforce Excellence initiatives and will be sharing more soon on how you can participate and benefit.
Together, “WE” can build A Greater Omaha!