YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

We are next-generation leaders
who shape Greater Omaha’s future.

Built for Young Professionals by Young Professionals

Whether you are looking to volunteer, attend an event or just get to know your city better—the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals council and events can help you deepen your connection to the Omaha community.

The Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals develop the next generation of Omaha business leaders through volunteer opportunities and annual events. By creating programs and initiatives for young professionals by young professionals, the council encourages investment in the people that will power Omaha’s future prosperity.

Led by a council, the group connects with Omaha’s leading organizations to develop a metropolitan area that excels at recognizing the contributions of and retaining diverse young professionals.

Program Sponsor

Stay in the Know

Sign-up to receive our monthly Young Professionals newsletter.

Annual Events for Young Professionals.

YP Day at the Capitol

Each February, YP Day at the Capitol provides insight on the policy process, the function of local government and the history of Nebraska’s Unicameral.

 

YP Summit

In March, YP Summit brings together 1,500+ young professionals for a day of education, celebration and connection.

INTRO

Local Omahans introduce attendees—newcomers or life-long locals—to all Omaha has to offer. Hosted twice a year (June and September).

State of Our City

Each October, State of Our City takes you on a deep dive into the topics that matter – curated by Young Professionals for Young Professionals.

One of the many strengths of the YP Council is that we are a very mission-driven group. The YP Council’s vision of Omaha is: A dynamic, inclusive and integrated community where diverse young professionals want to live, work and play. We have one of the most passionate and diverse groups of young professionals working to make our community a better place. I love working alongside our council members to continue to bring the YP Council’s vision of Omaha to fruition.

Rebecca (Martinez) Atkins

2021 YP Council Chair

YP Council

The Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals is led by a council. Our council serves two roles:
  • Be the voice of young professionals for Greater Omaha Chamber initiatives
  • Act as a community advocate on issues impacting young professionals
 
Council members apply and are selected for three-year terms. They meet monthly and represent young professionals at a number of community events. For the past 10 years, council members have helped lead the YP Summit, our flagship event, as well as other events, projects and initiatives.
YP Council
YP Council
Meet the YP Council

Haley Armstrong-  Kiewit  

Katie Cunningham- Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative  

Mark Wong- Impact Merchandising 

Patrick Kilcoyne- United Way of the Midlands 

Krystal Fox- UNMC 

Itzel Lopez- AIM Institute 

Alexis Lorence- Kiewit 

JoDee Goracke- Bellevue University 

Natalie Bahr- Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company 

Keristiena Shenouda- University of Nebraska at Omaha 

Arione Nelson- Blair Freeman 

Fernanda Reutzel- Physicians Mutual 

Kelsey Christensen- Physicians Mutual 

Brenden O’Brien- Election Systems and Software 

Preston Barrett- Omaha Public Power District 

Griffen Farrar- Iowa Western Community College  

Kiley Armitage- QLI 

Brandon Peterson- Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel 

Allison Bartlett- Nebraska DHHS 

Rebecca Flicher- LALA U.S.  

Justin Krug- Workshop 

Makaila McGruder- PHS 

Lucia Rodriguez Alvizo- CHI 

Abby Fogle- Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts  

Vanessa Martinez-Hernandez- Heartland Workforce Solutions 

Phil Friedrich- Northwestern Mutual 

Meray Kim- Mulhall’s 

Tess Kuenstling- UNMC 

Isaiah Washington- Monarch Logistics 

Amanda Sirian- Rooted Synergy Gallery 

Tiffany Sessions- UNL Extension/4-H 

Patrick Roy- State of Nebraska  

Michaela Bradley- LinkedIn / Painted Wolf Studio 

Paola Briones- UNO Office of Graduate Studies 

Alison Ranniger- Citylight Arts Project  

Mohammad Amrollahi- OPPD 

Darius Christensen- Alberio Energy 

Get Involved with YP Council.

The YP Council seeks capable and passionate young professionals, who are interested in volunteering their time in support of annual events and initiatives led by the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals. Applications are accepted each year in late September, early October.

 

Mission: The Greater Omaha Young Professionals serve as a catalyst to develop and retain young professionals in the Greater Omaha area through engagement, opportunity and advocacy.
 
Vision: A dynamic, inclusive and integrated community where diverse young professionals want to live, work and play.
 
Community Agreement: We foster an open culture of collaboration through transparency, assuming positive intent and allowing all perspectives to be heard. We will commit to learning and growing as one team to make the best decision collectively.
  • Support and partner with the Greater Omaha Chamber staff in advancing our mission, vision, purpose and priority areas.
  • Attend 75% of council meetings and communicate absences. The 2022 Council meetings will be held in a hybrid format the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 4:00 to 5:30pm, January through December (July is our volunteering meeting).
  • Come prepared to council meetings having read the full agenda and supporting documents.
  • Serve on at least one committee (development, attraction, retention and operations), who meet monthly aside from main council.
  • To the best of your ability, attend events not limited to YP Summit, YP Day at the Capitol, Intro and other committee events with an engaging attitude that positively represents both the council and Greater Omaha Chamber.
  • Be responsive and communicate with council members via Slack and email.
  • Commit to a 3-year term, beginning January 2022 – December 2024.
  • $100 annual dues (which includes a ticket to attend the YP Summit).

YP Council of Companies

We help companies start and sustain internal young professional groups. The YP Council of Companies (CoC) is an initiative of the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals. We help companies launch successful young professional, emerging leader or employee resource groups (ERGs). We support their efforts to sustain their resource groups long term by providing peer-to-peer networking and learning opportunities.

Want to know more about how to successfully start and grow your young professionals group or ERG?

Get the Guide >>

  • Provide a venue for company groups to share ideas, best practices, discuss common issues and collaborate.
  • Work to convene group leaders at various events to network, build relationships and share best practices.
  • Provide social, networking, development and volunteer opportunities for young professionals.
  • Promote the Greater Omaha area as a great community for young professionals to live, work and play.

Contact us if you are interested in starting a young professionals group at your company or for more information about upcoming Council of Companies meetings.

TBA, Council of Companies Chair

Preston Barrett, Omaha Public Power District

Itzel Lopez, AIM

Katie Cunningham, College Possible

Megan Moslander, College Possible

Tess Kuenstling, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Emily Kenney, Mutual of Omaha

Participating Companies

  • AIM Institute
  • American Cancer Society
  • American Red Cross
  • Baird Holm
  • Bank of the West
  • BCBS of Nebraska
  • Bellevue University
  • BH Media Group
  • Boys Town Emerging Leaders 
  • C&A Industries
  • Caesars Entertainment
  • CLS Investments
  • CHI Health
  • Conagra Brands
  • Core Bank
  • DLR Group
  • Farm Credit Services
  • Fidelity National Financial
  • First Data
  • First National Bank
  • Frankel Zacharia CPAs
  • Gallup
  • Goodwill
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Hayneedle
  • HDR Inc.
  • Joslyn Art Museum
  • Kiewit Corporation
  • Koley Jessen
  • Lamp, Rynearson & Associates
  • Leo A Daly
  • Lincoln Financial Group
  • Lozier
  • Ludus Media
  • Lutz
  • Market Sphere Consulting
  • Methodist Health System
  • Metropolitan Community College
  • Mutual of Omaha
  • NAM
  • National Indemnity
  • Nebraska Credit Union League
  • Nebraska Medicine & UNMC
  • Nebraska Furniture Mart
  • Northstar Financial
  • Omaha Performing Arts
  • OPPD
  • Oriental Trading Company
  • Orion Advisor
  • PayPal
  • Physicians Mutual
  • QLI
  • SAC Federal Credit Union
  • Schemmer
  • Schneider Electric/Telvent DTN
  • Silverstone Group
  • Securities America
  • Security National Bank
  • State Farm Insurance
  • TD Ameritrade
  • Tenaska
  • UMB
  • Union Pacific
  • United Way Midlands
  • University of Nebraska Foundation
  • University of Nebraska-Omaha
  • UNMC
  • US Bank
  • Valmont
  • West Corporation
  • West Interactive
  • Werner Enterprises
  • Woodmen
  • Yahoo!
  • Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
  • Young Professionals in Ag

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