Events

Amy Hornocker is the Executive Director of College World Series of Omaha, Inc. (CWS, Inc.), serving as the key liaison between the NCAA and the City of Omaha to ensure the continued growth and execution of the NCAA Men’s College World Series. She leads a dedicated team of five staff members who work year-round to bring the event to life. Beyond the MCWS, her office oversees various community outreach initiatives and a dynamic internship program.

Prior to joining CWS, Inc., Hornocker spent nearly a decade with the Omaha Sports Commission (OSC) as Events Director, where she managed over 30 sporting events, including three U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

A Des Moines, Iowa native, Hornocker began her career in sports as a Cyclone student recruiter in the Iowa State Football office before interning with CWS, Inc. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sports management from Iowa State University.

Hornocker currently resides in La Vista with her golden retriever, Olive.

Renee Rafferty is the Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health and Wellness at Children’s Nebraska.  She brings over 30 years of experience, including more than 20 years in healthcare leadership. Renee has worked across a wide range of clinical settings, including inpatient care, residential treatment, outpatient therapy, substance use treatment, and crisis services.  She is deeply committed to expanding access to behavioral health care and has been instrumental in developing and launching innovative programs.

Dan Kutilek is a graduate of Creighton Prep High School and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, holding a Bachelor's and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation, Dan was drafted into the Army. He served with the First Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Silver Star for bravery, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.

Dan has worked in the Douglas County Engineer’s Office since 1971, currently serving as the Engineering and Planning Manager. His professional experience and history of civic involvement have developed an extensive network of long-standing relationships with Omaha and Douglas County leaders.

Dan will share his experiences in Vietnam. Come listen to his story as we approach this Memorial Day, honoring and mourning the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Eugene Kowel serves as the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office. Appointed to the role in October 2020, Mr. Kowel overseas all FBI personnel, operations, and criminal, national security, and cyber investigations across the Nebraska and Iowa

Mr. Kowel joined the FBI as a special agent in 2005 and was assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force in the New York Field Office, where he led counterterrorism investigations and criminal cases. Mr. Kowel completed deployments to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2009.

He was promoted to supervisory special agent in 2010 in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters and subsequently selected as a Unit Chief.

In 2013, Mr. Kowel was named the supervisor of the Savannah Resident Agency. He oversaw all FBI criminal and counterterrorism investigations and led four task forces in southeast Georgia.

Mr. Kowel was promoted in 2016 as an assistant special agent in charge in the Los Angeles Field Office. He led the violent gang, organized crime, violent crime, and drug trafficking investigative programs in Los Angeles. In 2019 he was selected as the chief of staff and section chief in the Intelligence Branch in Washington, DC. 

Mr. Kowel graduated from the University of Virginia and earned his law degree from the New York University School of Law.  Mr. Kowel served as an assistant district attorney in New York City before joining the FBI. He currently serves as an adjunct Professor at Creighton University School of Law.

John Knicely has been named the 2025 Omahan of the Year by the Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha.  Knicely has been a mainstay on Omaha television networks for many years as a sportscaster and news anchor on WOWT and KETV. He has become a favorite of the Omaha community through his news features of “John at Work” and “Knicley Done, “giving viewers unique behind-the-scenes perspective through reporter-involved segments. 

John served as Sportscaster for WOWT from 1974 to 1981, at which time he moved to St. Louis in the same capacity for KTVI, the ABC affiliate. He returned to Omaha and KETV in May 1984, and made the move back to WOWT in May 1992, this time as anchor of the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

His community spirit is always on display, and he emcees many charity events throughout the year.  He has received numerous awards, including the Journalism Alumni Award of Excellence from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  He is a graduate of that university’s School of Broadcast Journalism.

He and his wife Sue have raised five children and have six grandchildren. He was born in Sidney, Nebraska.

According to Mary Bernier Chairman of the Four- Way Test Committee of the Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha, John was chosen by the 4-Way Test Committee because of his commitment to the Omaha Community. Through his fair and honest reporting, including his news segment “Knicely Done,” he has inspired our community to be and do better.

Knicely will be honored with the award at the Club’s weekly meeting at noon on June 5 at Legends Patio & Grill, 6920 Pacific St. Suite 100, Omaha, Neb. 68106.

Senator Machaela Cavanaugh represents Legislative District 6, Omaha, in the Nebraska Legislature, where she serves on the Appropriations and the Performance Audit Committee. Notably, she made history in 2019 as the first lawmaker to breastfeed her newborn on the floor of the Nebraska Unicameral. Her policy agenda prioritizes funding and services for developmentally disabled individuals, support for human rights including LGBTQ and women’s reproductive rights, childcare and child welfare enhancements, and family leave policies. Senator Cavanaugh led efforts to investigate and end the privatization of child welfare in Eastern Nebraska and continues to advocate for improvements in this area.

In 2023, Senator Cavanaugh supported the LGBTQ+ community with an 80-day filibuster in opposition to Legislative Bill 574 prohibiting gender-affirming care for trans youth. The filibuster’s aim was to slow down and stop LB 574, a bill prohibiting gender affirming care for trans youth.

With nearly 20 years of experience in community engagement and public affairs, Senator Cavanaugh has served in various roles including at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Opera Omaha, and the American Province of the Servants of Mary. Her interest in policy was sparked during her time as a Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Ben Nelson in Washington D.C.

Senator Cavanaugh holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of St. Thomas and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is actively involved in organizations such as the Don’t Legislate Hate PAC, Women Who Run, Inclusive Communities, and the Preschool Advisory Committee at Morning Star Preschool.

Senator Cavanaugh resides in the Peony Park Neighborhood with her husband Nick Brotzel and their children, Della, Harriet, and Barrett. She is the daughter of former U.S. Congressman John Cavanaugh and is dedicated to serving her constituents and advancing progressive policies.

Mike serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Industry. Prior to his time at the Nebraska Chamber, Mike spent 16 years with Anheuser-Busch leading Brewing departments and owning operational efficiency and product costing for the world’s most recognizable beer brands across the US and Canada. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Roger Dixon is the President and CEO of the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA), which manages the operations of CHI Health Center Omaha and Charles Schwab Field Omaha. He also holds the same titles for MECA Tri-Park Complex, LLC, which operates The RiverFront in downtown Omaha.

Dixon joined MECA in 2000 with the goal of building Omaha’s premier arena and convention center. In his over two decades with MECA, MECA’s facilities regularly host top concerts and coveted sporting events, such as the Men’s College World Series, volleyball and basketball NCAA Championships, and four consecutive Olympic team trials for USA Swimming. Under Dixon’s leadership, MECA was also charged with overseeing the construction and activation of The RiverFront. Comprised of three public parks— Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America, and Lewis and Clark Landing— The RiverFront, hosts dozens of events each month and welcomes millions of people annually. The latest project Dixon is overseeing at MECA is the 90,000 square foot expansion of the CHI Health Center’s convention center, aimed at allowing Omaha to compete for larger conventions.

Dixon has been in the industry for nearly 50 years. Before coming to Omaha, he served in management positions around the country in cities including St. Louis, Philadelphia, Miami, and Louisville, Kentucky. Dixon was also an executive with SMG, which manages several major facilities throughout the country.

Dixon is a 1976 graduate of Southern Illinois University.

Jeff is a native of Omaha who graduated from Creighton University in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in environmental science and in 2011 with a master's in bio-science management.  While pursuing his masters's. Jeff joined Pottawattamie Conservation in 2011 as a Natural Areas Management intern.  In 2012 he began work with HDR, Inc. as an environmental scientist supporting a variety of projects through wetland delineations, and habitate and National Environemtnal Policy Act reviews.  He returned to Pott. Conservation as Operations Superviros in March of 2015, became Deputy Director in 2021 and assumed the role of Executive Director in 2024. 

Dr. Michael Smith (UNMC) and Timmy Tamisiea (Launch Leadership) take their combined 30+ years of improv to dispel the myth that this art form is just for the stage. They demonstrate that the skills used to create an engaging, funny scene on stage can create lasting, purposeful meaning in the workplace as well. Building on the concept of "Yes, and..." Applied Improv training will teach anyone how to communicate more effectively, build stronger teams, manage  workload and vastly different personalities, and have fun while doing it.

Mike is an Associate Professor and practicing academic Hospitalist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center since moving back to Omaha in 2014. That Christmas, he was given improv lessons at The Backline Theater as a gift. He initially hid the fact that he performed improv from everyone, especially his coworkers, but began to incorporate the skills of improv into his job as a physician and an educator of future healthcare providers with extremely positive results. In 2018, he developed five workshops for the faculty development department at UNMC. Since then, he has led over 200 workshops and experiences using improv to educate other healthcare providers and professionals across the country in communication, wellness, and leadership skills. He still performs in monthly improv shows with his two regularly performing teams, Dad Jokes and Biscuits. He is frequently a Top Teacher for both medical students and residents.

Timmy Tamisiea is currently the executive director of Launch Leadership, bringing over 30 years of dedication to Launch as a student delegate, volunteer, board member, Curriculum Director. His extensive history with Launch reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering young leaders and fostering personal growth.

As the former Executive Director of The Omaha Comedy Fest, Timmy demonstrated his ability to lead with vision and impact. He helped raise over $50,000, achieved nonprofit status for the festival, brought in nationally renowned acts, and consolidated the event into a neighborhood-centered festival showcasing talent from across the country.

Timmy’s work with the entertainment company, Mi Productions, strengthened his expertise in project management, storytelling, and collaboration. His dynamic teaching background, which includes serving as a professor at The College of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and traveling the country leading applied improv workshops for working professionals, further highlights his passion for mentorship and education.
      

MarQ Manner is a veteran music journalist, promoter, and cultural tastemaker rooted in Omaha, Nebraska’s vibrant arts scene. With over three decades of experience, MarQ has written extensively for publications like The Reader, Omaha Dispatch, and Shout Weekly, covering everything from indie rock to Americana and local festivals.

 MarQ created and provides all content for the Omaha Buzz Substack. Omaha Buzz is a local music blog and review site that covers the live music scene across Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs. With over 1400 subscribers, it serves as a go-to resource for concert calendars, album reviews, and artist spotlights in the region. Omaha Buzz regularly charts on the Substack Rising Music Chart, even reaching the top ten.

 MarQ is currently the store manager of Homer’s Music in the Old Market. He has managed various Homer’s stores in Omaha and Lincoln since 1991. Through Homer’s, he communicates with artists, band managers, and record labels throughout the world. He attends the annual Record Store Day Summer Camp in New Orleans with record stores and record labels from around the country and beyond.

 MarQ has done just about everything in the music business, besides playing an actual instrument. He has—and still does—manage bands and artists, book tours, book concerts, and booked music venues in the past such as The Music Box on Cass Street, The 49’r, O’Leavers Pub, Howard Street Pub and Pizza, and more. He served as the Music Chair for the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards for over a decade. He has also been the stage manager for many festivals, including Maha, Outlandia, and many multi-venue festivals.

Debra Ann Reilly, MD, FACS, grew up in Houston and Buffalo.  Following her Magna Cum Laude graduation from Duke University (with majors in Music and Zoology) she attended The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for her MD degree.  Her surgical training included The University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston for General Surgery, Brooke Army Burn Unit for the Burn Fellowship and back to Galveston for Plastic Surgery.  She has been on the University faculties of the University of California Davis, University of Southern California, and University of Nebraska Medical Center and has worked at 11 different burn centers in the USA and many more overseas.  She is currently working ‘part time’ at Children’s Hospitals in Omaha and at Mary Lanning in Hastings Nebraska.  Her passion has always been for burn care and reconstructive plastic surgery.  She travels overseas frequently to teach Burn and Plastic Surgery in various countries including Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, China, India, Kenya, Peru and Rwanda.   She participates with the American College of Surgeons Project Hope as a visiting professor of Burn Surgery in Rwanda.  Cats, needlepoint, cooking and traveling with friends are her favorite hobbies.

RotaPlast International is sponsored by various rotary groups around the country-the original one from San Francisco.

”Rotaplast” is an NGO funded by donations from Rotary Clubs and private folks.  Their mission is to provide free surgical care Including cleft lip/palate, dentistry, burn scar care.  We also have therapists, nutritionists, pediatricians and family docs who assist with medical management and teaching. In conjunction with local international rotary groups, medical and rotarian volunteers host a 2 week ‘surgical camp’ for the most under privileged patients in countries such as India, Bangladesh, China, Argentina, Philippines.  The more a club sponsors a trip the more club volunteers are able to join a team.  Medical equipment is donated or purchased and flown to the camp by Emrites- a humanitarian partner airline.  

Jasmyn Goodwin is Visit Omaha’s executive director as of August 2025. In this position, she leads Visit Omaha’s work to attract visitors, meetings and events to the city.

Previously, Jasmyn served as the vice president of marketing and communications. This role involved leading the development and execution of Omaha’s destination brand strategy, including overseeing promotional efforts that resulted in a 23% increase in visitation from target markets.

Jasmyn has been an Omaha promoter and storyteller since joining Visit Omaha as the marketing and PR assistant in 2007. During her career, she has managed award-winning marketing projects, including the creative OMAI the Troll campaign—an engaging city-wide scavenger hunt—and the highly praised redesign of VisitOmaha.com, which earned five national awards.

In 2014, Jasmyn played a pivotal role in Omaha taking center stage during the Super Bowl season. During the playoffs, her #OmahaOmaha tweet–based on NFL quarterback Peyton Manning’s now-famous “Omaha” audible–went viral, generating millions of impressions, a significant spike in website traffic and extensive media coverage. The latter included a special Omaha visit from Manning.

Jasmyn also launched Omaha Restaurant Week, an annual celebration of the city’s vibrant culinary scene, under the Visit Omaha brand in 2017.

Jasmyn has served on boards for the US Travel Association, Destinations International, Omaha Community Playhouse and Omaha Sister Cities, and is part of the City of Omaha’s Mayor’s Employee Advisory Board.

Dr. AnnMarie Marlier serves as the Executive Director of the Business Ethics Alliance. Before coming to the Alliance, she spent most of her professional career in higher education administration as an Academic Dean, Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Academic Program Director, and Director of Student Activities, among other positions. Throughout her career, AnnMarie personally developed and directed several academic programs and taught courses at most levels, ranging from pre-GED to doctoral.  When not serving in higher education, AnnMarie built and led curricula and training for corporate, not-for-profit, and consulting organizations.  She also owned two businesses and worked as a Manager for the Disney Stores. 

AnnMarie earned her Ph.D. in Urban Education with a concentration in Adult, Continuing, and Higher Education and a Minor in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her research focused on faculty development, leadership, and organizational studies.  She also earned a Master of Education with a concentration in Adult Education from Carroll University and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Norbert College, majoring in Communications/Media/Theater and English.  

Outside of the Business Ethics Alliance, AnnMarie serves on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative, is the President of Omaha Network for female professionals, is the point of contact for the Nebraska Women in Higher Education Leadership organization, and is working through several belt levels for Taekwondo. Her family includes husband- Don, son- Alex, daughter- Elena, and four-legged Siberian Husky “kids” Winslow and Mayah. 

Jake Hoppe: CEO, Hoppe Development

Jake Hoppe is a leading affordable housing developer focused on innovating new ways to use housing finance tools to create transformative community investments. As CEO of Hoppe Development, he leads a vertically integrated team focused on real estate development, construction, and long-term property management. Hoppe Development delivers affordable housing solutions in partnership with communities and supportive service providers, and is an expert in utilizing financing programs to meet unique affordable housing needs. It has grown to become one of the largest residential developers in Nebraska and has recently expanded to Iowa and Kansas. 

Prior to 2019, Jake worked at the intersection of renewable energy, finance, and technology at venture-backed companies in San Francisco and Boston. He started his career in rural community economic development and investment banking. He has a bachelor's degree in Economics from Carleton College and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Jake lives in Omaha with his wife and two elementary aged daughters. He serves on the board of the Omaha Inland Port Authority, the board of Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, and volunteers with a recently resettled refugee family to support their transition to the US.

Allison Swenson has built a 20-year career at the intersection of artistic and business excellence. She has held positions with Opera Omaha, the Santa Fe Opera, the Glimmerglass Festival, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. 

She is also a trained musician, having studied piano and voice. Allison assumed the role of General Director of Opera Omaha in 2023. Among the 20 largest opera companies in the United States, Opera Omaha produces between three and four operas annually and serves the community with over 200 free events each year. 

Under her leadership, Opera Omaha has outperformed ticket sales and contributions goals, and she has expanded planning timelines to secure international talent and forecast with accuracy. She also produced the most successful gala in the history of Opera Omaha featuring a world premiere performance by renowned countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo. In the 2024-2025 Season, the first she programmed as General Director, 78% of principal artists will make company debuts. Opera Omaha will also welcome The English Concert, the world’s preeminent Baroque orchestra, and launch a new Family Opera Series for audiences of all ages.

Previously, Allison was Director of Development at the Santa Fe Opera, the largest festival opera company in the United States, with an international reputation for artistry and a 65-year record of balanced budgets. Allison served the Santa Fe Opera for 10 years, beginning as General Director Charles MacKay’s Assistant in 2010. As Director of Development, Allison raised as much as $40 million each year in combined annual, campaign and endowment gifts. She exceeded fundraising goals annually, setting a company record in annual support in 2021. She also assisted in securing the largest gift in the Santa Fe Opera’s history, a $25 million contribution that effectively increased the endowment by almost 50%.

Prior to Santa Fe, Allison worked in the Artistic Department of the Glimmerglass Festival. She oversaw all aspects of artistic operations during the season, and managed the hiring process for singers, directors and conductors. She built close relationships with the artists of her generation, many of whom are celebrated on international stages today. She also performed in productions of Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld and Wagner’s Das Liebesverbot.

The child of two music teachers, Allison grew up surrounded by classical music. Her father established a Metropolitan Opera Guild membership in her name when she was an infant, and she studied piano from age four. She sang in state and national honors choirs, received the National School Choral Award, and performed in the world premiere of John Rutter’s Mass of the Children at Carnegie Hall.

Allison received a dual degree in Voice Performance and Integrated Marketing Communications from Ithaca College, where she was a Presidential Scholar and graduated Magna Cum Laude with both degrees in four years.

Derek has dedicated 20 years to Union Pacific Railroad, building a distinguished career in train dispatching and operational support. He began as a train dispatcher, managing operations in various California locations such as Santa Barbara, San Jose, Oakland, Stockton, and Fresno, as well as regions spanning Nebraska and Iowa from North Platte to Chicago. After five years in dispatching, Derek transitioned to the operations support team, focusing on the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, where he contributed to technological advancements in dispatching. Within the operations support team, Derek worked in multiple roles, including CAD Manager and Rules Manager. In 2017, he was promoted to Director of Dispatch Systems and Support, where he oversees the integration between the dispatching center and technology teams to enhance system efficiency. A significant achievement in this role was leading the transition from the 1980 CAD dispatcher system to the modern CADX dispatch system, a project completed in 2021 after 18 months of dedicated work.

Outside of his professional career, Derek is passionate about golfing and watching Nebraska Huskers football. He has had the privilege of attending the Masters Tournament twice. He enjoys spending time at the lake or up in the mountains skiing. Otherwise, just watching his two daughters play volleyball and basketball, as well as riding horses.

Professor Michael Kelly holds the Senator Allen Sekt Endowed Chair in Law at Creighton University’s School of Law where he directs the new Kaiman Center for International Criminal Justice & Holocaust Studies, directs the law school’s summer abroad program in Nuremberg, Germany, and coordinates the international and comparative law program. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Penal Law based in Paris, the Siracusa Institute based in Sicily, and the Foundation for Natural Resources & Energy Law based in Denver. Together with David Satola from the World Bank, he co-chairs the American Bar Association’s Internet Governance Task Force and together they are writing a new book for Oxford University Press with London’s Chris Watson on Internet Human Rights that maps the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to cyberspace. Much of his recent work concerns the war in Ukraine - about which he will discuss with the Rotary group.

H. Dele Davies, MD, MS, MCHM

A renowned academic leader, researcher, professor and pediatrician, Dr. Dele Davies is dedicated to transforming health science education and driving positive change within the community and beyond.

Dr. Davies serves as the interim chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the organization, including six colleges, a graduate studies program, two degree-granting institutes, more than 6,000 professional staff and faculty, and over 4,500 health professions students.

Dr. Davies joined UNMC in 2012, initially appointed as vice chancellor, then was promoted in 2017 to senior vice chancellor. Throughout his career, he has championed initiatives that inspire personal and professional growth, ensuring that students, faculty and staff are equipped with the tools and opportunities to excel.

Dr. Davies has received numerous prestigious awards during his career for his research, teaching, mentorship and community service. Since 2006, he has been recognized annually as a member of the Best Doctors of America. Dr. Davies was named as one of the top 2% researchers in his field based on citation metrics by a 2022 Stanford University Study. He has served on more than 180 committees, advisory boards, government or public health councils and organizations, and has more than 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals related to his research on infectious diseases topics.

View full bio at: go.unmc.edu/dele-davies