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.
My name is Dumka Edwin Kponee, originally from Ogoni, Rivers State, Nigeria. I am an entrepreneur, environmental advocate, and community-minded individual with a strong passion for service and the well-being of society. For more than five years, my wife and I have owned and operated a commercial cleaning business, where we are committed to providing dependable services while helping businesses maintain clean, healthy, and welcoming environments.
My commitment to community and environmental advocacy is deeply rooted in my experience as a member of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). Following the execution of ten Ogoni leaders, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, in 1995 under the military government of Sani Abacha, I fled Nigeria as a student and was resettled in the United States as a refugee in 2000 because of my involvement in speaking out against the environmental pollution, corporate ecocide, state oppression, genocide and economic marginalization of the Ogoni people. As a member of MOSOP-USA, I continue to care deeply about environmental protection, human dignity, and the well-being of communities. These experiences have strengthened my belief that meaningful change begins when people are willing to serve, speak up, and work together.
I am drawn to Rotary because I believe in its mission and vision of service above self. I am passionate about giving back, volunteering, building relationships, and making a positive difference through meaningful contributions. I look forward to learning from fellow Rotarians, serving alongside them, and contributing my experiences, skills, and commitment to causes that strengthen our community.
Meet Joie Mora. Joie is a coffee fiend, comic con attending, bookworm and music nerd! Originally from San Diego, CA her husband’s s job has taken them and their fur babies throughout the Central time zone! Wanting to do more in the world, her friend Benjamin told her about his experience in Rotary in San Diego. That brought her to Suburban Rotary. Welcome aboard!
The next meeting of the Rotary Book Club is Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Bonefish Grill in Regency. The book selection is "The Coming Wave" (Technology, power, and the 21st Century's Greatest Dilemma) by Mustafa Suleyman.
To get to know Yearlings better, they were asked what might they might tell their 16 year-old self today to prepare for the future. Answers ranged from investing more, relaxing, practicing more patience, and not changing a thing...because it all works out in the end.
Our speaker Erick Carrillo discussed talked about the services his department offers. He reminded the club that there are many services offered by the Department of Labor. For example Nebraska ReEmployment Services where veterans are given priority. His emphasis today was on Registered Apprenticeships. This program provides businesses and opportunity to get employees who might have the right skills the right training for the job. His group helps identify the business needs, finds an educational partner to provide training, like a community college, and even has funding options to help pay for employee salaries while going through training. The businesses the group works with is varied from manufacturing, IT, health care, and more. Close to 100 occupations are currently part of the program, 223 employers and the amount of apprenticeships is growing with over 5,000. A bill was also passed last April to make the agency independent from the federal government.
September is Rotary's Basic Education and Literacy Month, a reminder that one of the most lasting gifts we can give is the opportunity to learn. Whether supporting local schools, promoting literacy, mentoring students, or investing in youth leadership programs, Rotarians help open doors and create opportunities every day.
This month also gives us an opportunity to remember and celebrate a person who dedicated her life to helping others. On September 20, Rotarians from across the district will gather to honor the life and legacy of Nicki Klein. Nicki was often the person behind the scenes who helped district leaders, clubs, and events succeed. Her commitment to Rotary and to the people of District 5650 left an impact that will be felt for many years.
As we honor Nicki's legacy, we are also working to ensure the district has the support structure needed for the future. District leadership has completed a draft job description for a new District Administrator position, and we expect to begin advertising for the role soon. The goal is not to replace Nicki, because no one can, but rather to build on the strong foundation she helped create and provide continuity for future district leaders and clubs.
Serving as your District Governor continues to be one of the highlights of my Rotary journey. So far, I have visited 29 clubs, with nine visits remaining. Those remaining visits include the opportunity to speak with two of our Rotaract clubs. Everywhere I go, I see clubs finding ways to strengthen belonging, serve their communities, and create meaningful impact.
I hope many of you will join me at Fusion 5650, our District Conference, October 23-24 at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland. District Conference is our opportunity to connect, learn from one another, celebrate our successes, and be inspired by the incredible work happening throughout our district. If you have not yet registered, I encourage you to do so and be part of the experience.
Thank you for all you do to strengthen Rotary, support your communities, and help create opportunities for others. I look forward to seeing many of you on the road, at Nicki's memorial, and at Fusion 5650 this fall.
Yours in Rotary, Gretchen Bren District Governor, Rotary District 5650
Consider visiting another Rotary club for a make-up! Rotary.org has a club finder for locations around the world. Please see the District website at rotarydistrict5650.org for details on local clubs. Visit one of the following Metro-Area Clubs!
Monday: Omaha Millard Rotary, 12:00 pm, German American Society, 3717 South 120th St.
Tuesday: Omaha Morning 7:00 am, First Watch Aksarben, 1222 S. 71st, Ste. B, Omaha. NE 68106
Tuesday: Omaha Night, 5:30 p.m. at La Voltaire, 569 N. 155th Plaza (first and third Tuesdays) Omaha, NE http://www.omaharotarynight.org/
Wednesday: Omaha Downtown, 12:00 pm, Field Club of Omaha, 3615 Woolworth Ave., Omaha, NE 68105
Wednesday: Council Bluffs Centennial: 7:00 am, Hy-Vee Community Room 1745 Madison Avenue
Thursday: Western Douglas County, 12:00 PM Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation 20272 Veterans Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022
Thursday: Council Bluffs, 12:00 pm, Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 South 6th Street
Friday: Omaha West, 12:00 pm, Charlie's on the Lake, 4151 S 144th St., Omaha, NE 68137
Email Deb for make-up/attendance credit to omahasuburbanrotary@gmail.com.
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