The Omaha Chamber of Commerce

[ita]

https://omaha.com/news/local/greater-om ... the-latest

Cindy Gonzalez
After nearly 20 years as head of the Greater Omaha Chamber, David Brown has announced he will retire.

His retirement is to take effect next year, after a replacement is named.

Brown, in a press release, said he was fortunate to have worked with business, civic and community leaders in pushing Omaha’s economy forward.

“We have diligently aspired to elevate greater Omaha as a prosperous region, with inclusive opportunities for all,” he said. “I could not be more grateful to our many stakeholders and partners, and know that greater Omaha’s future is bright.”

[ita]

The Chamber reported on year over year economic indicators as of June 2021. Here's the report:

https://www.omahachamber.org/wp-content ... cators.pdf

The news release references a Collier's report summarizing the huge 1st half of 2021 in terms of commercial real estate sales: https://rejournals.com/colliers-report- ... e-country/.

The report also references NE and IA's rankings under US News' state rankings. Nebraska is 6th. I wonder if this is what Blueprint Nebraska considers when determining if we are a "top 3" state?

Anyway, here are some areas we ranked lower on. We rank in the bottom half for Healthcare and Crime. We also rank mid range for Economy. Healthcare considers affordability, in addition to access and health outcomes. I think we rank lower for Healthcare due to having poorer health outcomes and the cost of healthcare in the state. My understanding is that we are well above average in the cost of healthcare. Under Economy, we are hurt as a state by slow GDP growth and migration, among other things. Also, don't be fooled by the Natural Environment ranking (I thought how are we top 10 and Utah, #3 overall, ranks 47th). They are not looking at mountains, beaches, and other geographical resources. They are considering pollution and quality of air and water. Anyway, some interesting indicators for consideration.

[ita]

Chronicle: Omaha Chamber CEO & President's Exit Interview

Interview with David Brown discussing several local issues including job force shortages, local taxes, building Omaha better for more people, and the Chamber's new focus on public transit and multimodal transportation. It's broken up into 3 segments. He says a lot of the right things, I think, so I hope they can find someone who can carry Omaha into the future as the Chamber is extremely influential in the region.

[Brad]

David Brown is on Grow Omaha this morning.

[Coyote]

David Brown is on Grow Omaha this morning.

It took me a while do, it struck up 1110 on iheart.com

[Coyote]

A $ Billion of redevelopment?

[ita]

Interesting shared message from David Brown and Drew Kamp (CB Chamber President) from the Daily Nonpareil:

Guest Opinion: Infrastructure bill a win for Iowa, Nebraska

For many years you’ve heard complaints about the neglected state of our nation’s roads and bridges. This neglect is due to inadequate funding directed toward the care and maintenance of these critical components of our daily lives. More recently we’ve heard about the growing digital divide in rural America. Fortunately, passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has injected much needed funding to address these longstanding issues.

It cannot be forgotten that this important and necessary piece of legislation became law with bipartisan and bicameral support. Thanks to senators like Chuck Grassley and Deb Fischer of Iowa and Nebraska, respectively, and Representatives like Cindy Axne and Don Bacon of Iowa and Nebraska, respectively, communities like Council Bluffs and Omaha will have access to funds for much-needed infrastructure improvements.

Such improvements include road, bridge, highway, transit, and water projects, as well as megaprojects like a multi-modal bridge across the Missouri River to connect additional development on the riverfront to the urban core of both communities.

They go on about economic impacts the infrastructure bill will have, but I love that both chambers are looking at this new multi-modal bridge that was first introduced in the Omaha's chamber's 10+M transportation plan coming out of the ConnectGO planning initiative. There must be additional planning for this project going on behind the scenes if this is getting a mention.

[Coyote]

Greater Omaha Chamber President and CEO David G. Brown announces his retirement in a few days and will announce his replacement Friday,

[Coyote]

https://www.omahachamber.org/greater-om ... t-and-ceo/

Greater Omaha Chamber Announces Veta Jeffery as President and CEO

Veta Jeffery has been selected to serve as the next President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. Jeffery will replace David G. Brown, who is retiring from that post after nearly 20 years.

Jeffery gained a great deal of experience convening public and private stakeholders while she was the Manager of Community Economic Development for the State of Missouri, having been appointed to the position by Governor Jay Nixon. Governor Nixon formed the Office of Community Engagement following the Ferguson protests. Jeffery’s engagement skills helped rebuild the business community in and around Ferguson and throughout the St. Louis region. She helped to establish workforce development programs to assist underserved communities, and helped to form the Governor’s Fellows Program, a unique corporate/public/nonprofit partnership driving internships for disadvantaged college students in Missouri. She also organized the workforce summer program for youths and developed programming and events for businesses to grow capacity and increase diversity through training and hiring initiatives.



Veta Jeffery, incoming president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber.

[Coyote]

Greater Omaha Chamber brings in St. Louis County Chief Diversity Officer Veta Jeffery as new President
Chamber names successor to longtime Omaha leader David Brown



The Greater Omaha Chamber has selected its new president and CEO. The chamber named Veta Jeffery to fill that role. Jeffery will succeed David Brown who is retiring next month. Brown led the chamber for nearly 20 years and under his tenure, the region's GPD grew by nearly 90-percent. "I'm excited to be able to follow the work he's [Brown] done, but also bring my own individualistic experience as well," Jeffery said. Since 2014, the chamber's nearly 1,000 landed projects have created 47-thousand jobs, and brought in 12-billion dollar's worth of investment in the metro.

[Coyote]

Veta Jeffery profile

KETV's Waverle Monroe talks to Greater Omaha Chamber CEO Veta Jeffery about her plans for Omaha's businesses

[ita]

2022 Annual Report

Chamber's annual report for those interested. Also, there have been 5934 downloads of the Urban Core Strategic Plan. I think I account for at least a dozen of those.

[Mr.Nuke]

And Jeffrey is out after less than a year...
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/les ... a-chamber/

[Coyote]

Omaha Chamber of Commerce announces Veta Jeffrey out as president

The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday President Veta Jeffrey is leaving, without offering an explanation as to why. Jeffrey took the job less than a year ago, as the successor to longtime Chamber President David Brown. Timothy Burke, former President and CEO of the Omaha Public Power District will serve as Interim President.

[Toto]

Good riddance. It was a failed experiment and now we need a business leader in that roll.

[NEDodger]

Something is off here. Apparently the executive council voted her out in a quick meeting on Tuesday? And she’s not commenting on the situation.

[Coyote]

Less than a year into the job, Veta Jeffery is exiting as CEO of Greater Omaha Chamber

Less than a year after she started, Veta Jeffery is abruptly exiting the top spot at the Greater Omaha Chamber. A press release issued Wednesday offered no reason and said a search for a new permanent CEO for the chamber has begun. While the search committee will work swiftly, it is likely to take several months, said Carmen Tapio, chamber board chair who also is president and CEO of North End Teleservices. Tim Burke has been appointed interim CEO, effective immediately. Burke served as CEO of Omaha Public Power District from 2015 until his retirement in 2021. In 2020, he was chair of the Greater Omaha Chamber. “I am excited about the opportunity to assist the Chamber and the business community during this transition,” Burke said in the statement. “The Chamber’s work has always been important, and it is as critical now as it has ever been to build momentum and continue to make progress.”

Just last April, it was announced that Jeffery would replace longtime chamber head David Brown, who retired after 20 years. She started the job in May. Previously chief diversity officer for the State of Missouri’s St. Louis County, Jeffery came to Omaha with much praise from the local business and government community. Prior to the St. Louis position, Jeffery managed Missouri’s community and economic development services, a spot to which she had been appointed by then-Gov. Jay Nixon. She convened public and private sectors and helped rebuild the business community in and around the City of Ferguson following protests and the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teen, by a police officer. At the time of her hiring in Omaha, she said: “Omaha is a beautiful, well-established place that offers business owners the opportunity to thrive. I am excited to lead this business community and workforce development charge and I am equally excited to call Omaha my new home.”

[lpgforms]

Just like with the school district - stop hiring from outside - develop new leaders internally. And stop paying massive fees to search companies.

[ita]

Stephen Osberg, who helped lead the Urban Core Strategic Plan, is no longer with the Chamber. He's now with Paul G. Smith Associates, the group developing Millwork Commons.

[SpecificPacific]

https://omaha.com/business/local/staff- ... 46102.html

Some clarity on the situation surrounding former Chamber CEO

[JDJase]

Former State Senator and 2017 mayoral candidate Heath Mello has been selected as the new CEO and President.

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/for ... s-chamber/

[Coyote]

Greater Omaha Chamber announces Heath Mello as new CEO

The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce announces the appointment of Heath Mello to the role of CEO/President. Mello will assume responsibility for the organization effective Aug. 2, 2023. Mello brings experience in public policy, fundraising, and community leadership to the Chamber, previously serving as vice president of external relations and director of state relations with the University of Nebraska system. Mello served as a Nebraska state senator for eight years and was chairman of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee for four years.

[Coyote]

Greater Omaha Chamber - June 2024



Greater Omaha Chamber with CEO Heath Mello

[Coyote]

Chamber announces 2024 inductees into Omaha Business Hall of Fame

The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce has announced its newest members of the Omaha Business Hall of Fame. The two women and five men (three of them from the same family) are to be formally inducted Aug. 21 during a gala at the Holland Performing Arts Center.

[Louie]

Lol at Lance Fritz. He was summarily hated at UP and he was asked to resign, he did not ‘retire’ of his own volition.