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Meet the 2021 Award Winners
The Bloc would like to thank all the nominees, nominators, and all of the community partners and supporters. There were over 1,500 nominations across Nebraska. Only the nominees who stood out in their categories received the award but all the nominees are leading the way in our community and deserved the nomination. Lastly but not least, thank you to the Judges Committee for going above and beyond to strengthen the awards processes.
The Lifetime Award Recipient
 Carmen Tapio Company & Title: North End Teleservices CEO |
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2021 Award Recipients
 Lazaro Spindola Company & Title: Executive Director at Nebraska Latino American Commission Category: Community |  Honorable Tanya Cook Company & Title: Policy Lead at NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS Category: Community |  Walter "Ted" Carter Company & Title: University of Nebraska Systems President/CEO Category: Community |
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 Jona Van Deun Company & Title: President at Nebraska Tech Collaborative Category: Business |  Sen. John McCollister Company & Title: Nebraska State Senator Category: Community |  James Freeman Company & Title: Retired Senior Director of Inclusion and Director of Multicultural Affairs | the University of Nebraska at Omaha Category: Community |
 Renee Franklin Company & Title: Executive Director of Elementary Learning Centers Category: Nonprofit |  Jim Reiff Company & Title: Executive Director of The Nebraska Enterprise Fund Category: Business |  Paul Strawhecker Company & Title: President, Paul J. Strawhecker, Inc. Category: Business |
 Rosey Higgs Company & Title: Nonprofit Association of the Midlands | Director of Programs Category: Nonprofit |  Chris Hove Company & Title: Chief Executive Officer at Nebraska Bank of Commerce Category: Business |  Mick Mines Company & Title: Nebraska Lobbyist | Bromm Nielsen & Mines Category: Business |
 Carolina Padilla Company & Title: Intercultural Senior Center | Executive Director Category: Nonprofit |  Carole Patrick, PhD Company & Title: VP of Development at Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Category: Healthcare |  Eric Ewing Company & Title: Executive Director for the Great Plains Black History Museum, Native of Omaha, NE Category: Community |
 Good, Darrin Company & Title: President, Nebraska Wesleyan University Category: Community |  Aileen Warren Company & Title: University of Nebraska Medical Center | Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Human Resources Category: Community |  BC Clark Company & Title: METRO OMAHA WOMENS BUSINESS CENTER-MOWBC | Founder & President NEBRASKA ENTERPRISE FUND-NEF | Director of Training & Client Development Category: Business |
 Diva Mejias Company & Title: The Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | President Category: Community |  Paula Steenson Company & Title: Paula Presents! | Founder and owner Category: Business |  Carol Cleaver Company & Title: Attorney Category: Business |
 Honorable Vernon Daniels Company & Title: State of Nebraska | Hon. Judge Category: Community |  Doug Durham Company & Title: Don’t Panic Labs | CEO & Co-Founder Category: Business |  ELI RIGATUSO Company & Title: SpeakingOfHappy.com | Founder Category: Community |
 Sandy Spady Company & Title: Greater Omaha Chamber | Member Services Representative Category: Business |  Marcy Browning Company & Title: Duet | Development Director Category: Nonprofit |  Jeff Huber Company & Title: Home Instead, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer Category: Innovation |
 Tamara Morris Company & Title: Hamilton Community Foundation | Executive Director Category: Nonprofit | Dr. Chelsea Chesen Company & Title: Private Practice | Owner Category: Healthcare |  In Memoriam of Janice Marie Jansky Company & Title: Nebraska Methodist Health System | Director of Investments Category: Business |
 Welton Juilfs Company & Title: Changing Spaces Category: Community |  Nicole Edmundson Company & Title: SilverStone Group, a HUB International Company | Account Specialist Category: Business |  Meg Damme Company & Title: Fresh Start Home | Program Coordinator Category: Nonprofit |
 Jim Warren Company & Title: Sarpy County Commissioner, District 5 Category: Community | Annabelle Keene Company & Title: Eastern Nebraska Medical Reserve Corps | Volunteer Category: Nonprofit |  Harold Sargus Company & Title: Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) | Procurement Consultant/Director of Continuing Education Category: Business |
 Judy Martin Company & Title: Midlands African Chamber | Advisory Board Member Category: Community | Carmen Tapio Company & Title: North End Teleservices | CEO Category: Business |  Phyllis Ericson Company & Title: Retired CEO Category: Nonprofit |
 Ian Vickers Company & Title: Global Partners in Hope | CEO Category: Nonprofit |  Scott Hazelrigg Company & Title: NorthStar Foundation | President Category: Nonprofit |  Dr. Ali Khan Company & Title: the University of NE at Omaha | Dean of the College of Public Health Category: Healthcare |
 Candace Gregory Company & Title: Open Door Mission | President/CEO Category: Nonprofit |  Erica Mascarello Company & Title: Walk Your Paws, While You Work | Owner Category: Community |  Kirk Anderson Company & Title: Marksman Indoor Range | Co-Owners Category: Business |
 Christine Anderson Company & Title: Marksman Indoor Range | Co-Owners Category: Business |  Tony Boldt Company & Title: Nebraska Furniture Mart | President/CEO Category: Business |  Yesenia Peck Company & Title: Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)| Diversity manager Category: Community |
Honorable Wadie Thomas Company & Title: State of Nebraska | Hon. Judge Category: Community |  Karen Gibler Company & Title: Sarpy Chamber of Commerce | President Category: Community |
2021 Up & Coming Trailblazers
This year, due to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we have granted 10 additional Awards to "Up & Coming Trailblazers" in the community.
 Brian Hastings Company & Title: President and CEO at University of Nebraska Foundation Category: Nonprofit |  Rob Wegner Company & Title: Palmer Public School | Teacher/Activities Director/Coach Category: Community | Travis Sturgill Company & Title: Hall County Sheriff's Office | Investigator Category: Community |
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 Alexander Dunn Company & Title: Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill | Managing Partner & Owner Category: Business |  Jeremiah Dane Larsen Company & Title: Jeremiah Dane Coaching | Founder Category: Healthcare |  Jacqueline Miller Company & Title: Creighton University | Assistant Professor Category: Healthcare |
Brian Craig Company & Title: Charge Knowledge | Vice President Category: Innovation |  Marjorie Maas Company & Title: SHARE Omaha | Executive Director Category: Community |  Washington Garcia Company & Title: the University of Nebraska at Omaha | Director, School of Music Category: Community |
 Dr. LaShaune Johnson Company & Title: Creighton University | Associate Professor Category: Community |  Dr. Vidhya Selvaraj Company & Title: Omaha Insomnia and Psychiatric Services | Chief Medical Officer Category: Healthcare |
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