Who Are You?

[ricko]

We all know something about each other from our posts, but I know very little about most of you guys. I know there are a lot of interesting, talented people out there from all walks of life. I'm not trying to be nosey, but I think it would be cool to know some of you guys' backgrounds, where you grew up (city, neighborhood), how you landed where you are, what you studied in school, where you went to school (high school-college), your job, hobbies, interests, passions, married, single, kids, future plans.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Short bio: Grew up in Omaha but left for college. I've lived in four states, currently in St. Louis, working as an urban planner. I'm married and will have my first kid, a daughter, in almost exactly two months from now. My passions include cities, traveling, improv and stand up comedy and, longest of all, cars.

Long bio: I grew up in Millard. Went to Millard West. I left Omaha to go to undergrad at Iowa State and majored in urban planning. I'm not sure where exactly my interest in cities comes from but I guess a mix of traveling, watching Omaha develop around me (when my parents' house was near the edge of town), and building cities in my room for my Hot Wheels cars.

My first job out of undergrad was in a small, rural western Iowa town where I conducted regional planning for a variety of small western Iowa towns. During that time I lived in CB. It was at the height of the recession and that was the first place that hired me. (It was either there or a rural outpost of the California state department of transportation in, IIRC, Bishop where I would start with a furloughed salary). My position there was cut after a couple years and frankly I was relieved. I hated the commute, I didn't find what I was doing to be very interesting, and I didn't really know what I was doing. Although I didn't live in rural Iowa, I came to find that rural life wasn't really for me.

Then Chicago came knocking. After a few months of job searching nationwide, I was offered a position there doing regional transportation planning, which I'm most passionate about, for a large swath of the suburbs. I loved it and I loved living there. I loved the people, the vibe, the culture, everything about it (except maybe the extended winter). One of the most enjoyable things for me was being able to live out my dream at trying my hand at being on Whose Line is it Anyway? by dabbling in improv comedy. I did this for about 4.5 years. It was a good time, but came to find that you have to really commit to it to be any good.

After a handful of years in Chicago I met my now wife. She was from the St. Louis area and wanted to move back there after having been in Chicago since undergrad. I wasn't the most thrilled about this idea, but my dad's side of my family mostly lived in St. Louis so it was a relatively familiar place to me and I fancied her a fair amount, so I went with it. We didn't necessarily need to move here, but I was searching to go to grad school (after putting it off as long as I could to the point that I lost out on jobs to peers with less work experience) and a school in the St. Louis area accepted me and I liked what they were offering, so it kinda fell into place. Been here a few years now.

[chriss752]

Hi. My name is Chris. I'm from St. Louis, but like to keep up to date with things going on in other cities here in the Midwest/Great Plains area. I've been lurking on this website for a few years and decided to join. In St. Louis, I work for a small developer that is presently focused on renovating historic buildings South go Busch Stadium into entertainment venues and bars. Beyond that though, I look forward to contributing here when I can.

[jag42]

A couple St. Louisians on here to start things off! Blues fans by chance? So happy they won the Stanley Cup a couple years ago. I was born and raised in Omaha, and have lived in the area again since 1999. I became a Blues hockey fan during my time in Missouri from 1991-1999 while I was in college and living down there after college a couple years after graduation. Usually got to one Blues game a year during that time and have been to a few since

[Bob from Omaha]

I think the discussion has already happened so I'll simply say that if I'm not the oldest here I am probably one of them.

Born in Omaha is 1958 & left in 2008. Thus I shopped at all the downtown stores, used the tunnels to moved between them, went to Central High 1973-1976, had lunch either downtown or at Skeets, was high school friends with the guy who started Julio's, the guy who started Zio's, and yes, I went to Central with Pete Buffett. Went to UNL 1976-1980 then came back to Omaha & owned apartments, hotels and office buildings in Omaha & CB.

Some of the properties I owned were the ones that are now part of Urban Village along Park Ave. Sold them in the mid 80's. The Ambassador & Elwood at 49th and Dodge, the Austin at 38th and Davenport, the Keeline Building downtown, the whatever it is now hotel at 109th and M (1986-1992), and others.

Interesting trivia. The three apartment buildings south of the Portland were originally the Adelphia Hotel. There was a restaurant in the basement. When we bought it the dishes were still in a closet.

In the late 90's and early 2000's we sold the real estate and bought a wholesale company. In 2008 we moved to suburban Detroit and ran it from there. I'm now pretty much retired and spend my time mentoring startups and consulting.

I know, I haven't lived in Omaha in 13 years so why keep coming to this board? While I enjoy it here in Michigan I will always be an Omahan and a Nebraskan. For what it's worth and I don't know if he still does it, Jeff (Stargazer, duh) has some very impressive telescopes and if you get a chance ask him when he's going to be out and if you can meet him. Amazing views.

[damonhynes]

STL, too. Grew up near Kingshighway and I-70 (Repperzent!). Born 1961, left for good 1971, Omaha since 1975, looking to retire to Houstonish. Cards and Blues since I could talk. Last fam there died 2011.

[zippy]

I grew up just west of Westside and graduated from Prep in 1979. Dropped out of college and worked at several strange jobs until I got into computers, which landed me at Mutual of Omaha in 1985 and then First Data (now Fiserv) in 1989. Still at Fiserv, although it's getting tiresome. I'm married, with 2 kids. Former hobbies include astronomy, golf, and cycling. Now I just read, relax, and enjoy classic rock and old jazz music. My current location is Harvey Oaks.

[schumatt]

I'm Matt, born and raised in Omaha, grew up in the Benson area (yep, I'm a Benson Bunny), went to UNO and studied Management Information Systems when it was just PKI and Scott Hall on the Pacific Campus (or "South Campus" at that time).

I started my IT career at the National Park Service (12 years spanning our offices at 17th & Jackson and on the Riverfront), then on to CSG International (in East Lincoln... er, Elkhorn), and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska in Aksarben Village. In mid-2019, I took a job with Microsoft at our headquarters in Redmond and relocated there. When COVID-19 hit and I spent ~8 months working from my apartment, I took advantage of our new "flexible workplace" plan and applied for permanent remote work. I moved back to Omaha in December 2020, and I was thrilled to be able to buy a condo in my favorite building downtown, Beebe+Runyan.

I enjoy keeping up on what's new in & around Omaha through the forums here, and it was great to have this connection during my time away living in Redmond. Now that I'm back and things are reopening, I love taking advantage of everything downtown. I'm excited to see what becomes of the Riverfront redevelopment, since I consider Heartland of America Park "my" big backyard. I'm also looking forward to getting back to travel for work and for fun!

[Silverspoon]

Im Justin, born and raised in Omaha, but travel to Chicago regularly to see friends and family and just take random vacations with my own family. I grew up on the north side of Spring Lake, 14th and Phelps to be exact. Currently live in the Montclair Trendwood neighborhood, but there isnt a part of Omaha that Im not extremely familiar with as I have gotten around quite a bit. All of my moms side of the family is from 25th and Fort, so I know North O better than I know my home of South O.

I used to be in to alot of underground stuff like after hours bars and parties, and other unruly stuff, but Ive tamed down alot and now concentrate on my two businesses, my family, cars, gaming, urbex, and sports.