Events

About John W. Ewing Jr.

I am a proud son of Omaha, born and raised on the city’s north side. I know personally the difference affordable housing can make and remember, age 15, when my parents were able to buy our first home. My initials are still in the cement at that house in north Omaha, and I’m happy to say my parents still live there. I am the oldest of three children, the husband of Dr. Viv Ewing, and father of two wonderful daughters and a grandson.

I am a graduate of Northwest High School and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where I hold two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Business and a Master of Science in Urban Studies. I served the Omaha Police Department for 25 years, from 1981 to 2006, and retired at the rank of deputy chief. I am an associate minister with Salem Baptist Church. In 2006, I was elected five times to the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office and served the people of Douglas County for 18 years, having been elected four times to the post. I became the city of Omaha’s 52nd mayor on June 9, 2025.

I am a proud advocate of Omaha and am committed to advancing key initiatives that will enhance the lives of all Omaha residents.

• Head Coach, Omaha Mavericks (NCAA Division I – NCHC) - 2017-Present
• Associate Head Coach, Omaha – 2016-17
• Head Coach, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) – 2015-16
• Assistant Coach, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology – 2012-15

• Holds a program record of five straight winning seasons and a record of 95-73-9 since 2020-21
• Three-time finalist for the NCHC’s Herb Brooks Coach of the Year over the past five seasons (2020-21, 2022-23 and 2024-25) 
• Over the past three years, six former Gabinet-coached Mavericks made their NHL debuts, and the Edmonton Oilers hired one former Omaha assistant
• Led Omaha to become one of 12 programs nationwide with 95 wins since 2020-21
• Helped the Mavericks beat 11 nationally ranked opponents in 2023-24 and earned their second NCAA Championship berth in four seasons during a 23-win campaign (second-most in program history) 
• Coached Omaha to its first-ever appearance in the NCHC Frozen Four Championship in 2024
• Simon Latkoczy became the first-ever Maverick to win NCHC Goaltender of the Year under Gabinet’s leadership in 2024-25
• Four of Gabinet’s former players have been awarded the NCHC Postgraduate Scholarship 
• Eleven Mavericks have been named to an NCHC All-Conference or Rookie team since Gabinet became head coach
• Named the first former Maverick hockey player and third head coach overall in program history on April 5, 2017, after one season as associate head coach (2016-17)
• Was the youngest NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey head coach at the time of his appointment

• Led NAIT to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Championship after going 36-0 in 2015-16, only the second time in 51 years that a team finished undefeated in the conference
• Was named ACAC Coach of the Year and was the first rookie head coach to lead his team to an undefeated season in Canadian college hockey history

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Business Finance, Omaha (2004)
• Resides with his wife, his son and his daughter in Omaha, Neb. 
• Native of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in 2001 NHL Draft
• Played in 131 games at Omaha under the then-head coach Mike Kemp over four seasons (2000-04) and ranks in the top 15 for all-time points by a Maverick defenseman with 47 (6G-41A)
• Played professionally from 2004-2012 in North America, Finland and Sweden
• Grandfather Clare Drake was inducted for his legendary coaching career into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame (1989) and Hockey Hall of Fame (2018) 

I am President and CEO at Midwest Laboratories.

Midwest Laboratories is a trusted name in the analytical lab testing industry, delivering science like no one else in the world. At Midwest Laboratories, we serve the analysis needs of our clients in the Agriculture/Environmental, Human Health, and Animal Health Industries.

My core competencies include innovation, teamwork, and dynamic service, which I apply to foster a culture of trust and excellence among our staff and partners.

I continue to work at building a "People First" Community where our employees, clients and guests are treated with the utmost respect and we work together to answer questions and resolve issues and support each other as best we can.

My Christian Faith is important to me and provides me the proper place to lead and live every day. I believe prayer is essential to running a business. Living my Faith everyday is the only way to live.

I am a book author, with my latest work, “Leaders Look Within,” published in May 2023. My second book is in the final phases of editing and should be released Fall, 2025.

Ben Doody became the executive editor of the Omaha World Herald on April 28, 2025.  The veteran journalist and newsroom leader brings his passion for news, sports and digital journalism to the paper which has served Nebraska readers since 1885. He was formerly managing editor at digital sports information service Heavy and longtime leader at several Connecticut newsrooms

Jewel Rodgers is the 2025–2029 Nebraska State Poet, a 2025 Academy of American Poets Fellow, and a 2025 AIRIES Fellow. She is also a three-time Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award nominee for Best Performance Poet and a three-time TEDx speaker. In addition to her poetry, Jewel is an interdisciplinary performer, spatial practitioner, and youth coach. Her ultimate goal is to continue exploring her passions while inspiring others to do the same.

A veteran of the 82^nd Airborne and Old Guard of Arlington National Cemetery, Fletcher came to notice as the brash young spokesman for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the Space Shuttle Test Flight Program and was subsequently chosen as one of the “100 Most Eligible Bachelor’s in America” in 1982.

During the 1990s, he focused his attention on Media and Crisis Management and served clients worldwide – including Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, Duke Energy, former Ukrainian President Petro Porochenko, among others.

After the birth of his two sons at the turn of the century, Fletcher moved to Hollywood and managed a famed production company that assisted in the production of such films as the Bourne Trilogy and Spiderman 2.

In 2015, he returned to Omaha to write and raise his family. Today, he is the gardener, dishwasher and dog walker for former Omaha City Councilwoman Colleen Brennan to whom he is also married.

Eric L. Ewing is a native of Omaha, NE. He is married and has three successful adult children and four grandchildren. He retired from the United States Navy, where he worked in Healthcare for 20 years.

• Associate Degree in General Studies from Vincennes University
• Undergraduate Degree in Workforce Education from Southern Illinois University at
• Carbondale
• Graduate Degree in Management from Bellevue University
• Graduate Certificate in Life Coaching from Bellevue University
• Graduate Certificate in College Teaching from Capella University.
• Currently working on his PhD in Post-Secondary Education from Capella University.

He has worked in higher education as an Academic Dean, Manager of Academic Advising, and Adjunct Professor for Bellevue University, Metropolitan Community College, and Omaha School of Massage and Healthcare of Herzing University.
 He is currently serving in the non-profit community as the Executive Director for the Great Plains Black History Museum.

 He currently serves on the following Board of Directors and Representative:
• Nebraska Museum Association
• Preserve Omaha
• Nebraska Arts Advocacy Network Representative
• Urban League of Nebraska Guild
• Arts, Culture & Preservation Committee for We Make Omaha
• Co-Chair of the 100 Black Men of Omaha’s Annual African American History Challenge.