For 30 years now, the Chamber’s Omaha Executive Institute has been introducing Omaha to newly-arrived or newly-appointed senior level executives and their spouses. Some participants have logged more miles to get here than others. The 2017-2018 class has a decidedly diverse and international flair with several members originating from afar.
Javier Fernandez EVP, CFO
OPPD
Mexico
Javier Fernandez grew up, attended college, and began his career in finance in Mexico City, Mexico. MBA studies brought him to Yale University and then, after graduation, to Portland, Oregon, where he spent a total of 15 years working in investment banking and later, for a public utility, a precursor to his leadership role at OPPD.
Immediately upon moving to Omaha, he says he and his wife “experienced firsthand what ‘Nebraska Nice’ feels like to anyone coming from afar. A good example: We loved our life in Portland, but in our 15 years there, we got acquainted with one neighbor. Less than a week into our new house, almost all the neighbors had stopped by with baked goods, cards and flowers welcoming our family to the neighborhood. They even organized a party to get to know us a little better. All these positive experiences more than offset the negative 25-degree winter and the 50mph wind.”
“OEI was a great way to get to know the community I now serve and to engage with other executives who have also chosen Omaha as their new home. My wife and I have gained friends. We have gained a new sense of where home is. I am grateful for OEI and for the Chamber.”
Karoly Mirnics M.D., Ph.D.
Director Munroe-Meyer Institute/Hattie B. Munroe Professor of Psychiatry, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Serbia
Dr. Karoly Mirnics arrived in Omaha in 2016, 30 years after earning his M.D. from his hometown University of Novi Sad School of Medicine. His academic and professional pursuits took him to Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, where he earned his Ph.D.; the University of Pittsburgh, where he completed his postdoctoral fellowship and established his own lab; and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he taught and researched for ten years.
“I did not plan to move at all, but the headhunters convinced me to take a look. I was sold on Omaha after the first visit – an amazing community, genuinely nice people. The transition was easy, and I’ve never regretted the move.”
“OEI received great reviews from colleagues from the previous classes. I learned a lot about the city, its history and how it functions – and it was a great networking opportunity with community leaders. I loved how it was run, and I very much appreciated the opportunity to not only listen but discuss critical issues.”
Zeljka Korade, professor of pediatrics, biochemistry & molecular biology
UNMC
University in Croatia
Zeljka Korade moved to Omaha a year and half ago with her husband, Dr. Karoly Mirnics, and their two kids. She initially came to the U.S. to pursue her PhD degree. Stops along the way included Ames, IA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Nashville, TN.
“I was presented with a great job opportunity in Omaha,” she says. “The high schools of the area were exceptional, and the local community was sincerely welcoming. Within a week, each of our neighbors came to welcome us. We did not experience this in the places we lived previously.”
“I joined my husband in the program. I gained an insight into the life of the Omaha community, history, and values, and met many outstanding business people and community leaders. In addition, I formed new friendships. I would strongly recommend these seminars for newcomers to the city. The people of Omaha are caring and inclusive in all aspects of community life.”
Jessica LoVecchio-Peters, IT project manager
Berkshire Hathaway Media
Canada
Jessica LoVecchio-Peters says she has been lucky enough to move for business starting at a young age: “My path starts in Toronto, then Seattle, then Salt Lake City, and finally I’ve landed in Omaha. My husband, Damon, was recruited to be chief marketing officer of a local tech company, Proxibid, and we thought, ‘We’ve never been to the Midwest, let’s give it a shot!’”
“The CEO of Proxibid, Ryan Downs, nominated Damon and I to be a part of OEI, and we are beyond grateful he did. OEI was an opportunity for us to network, get involved in the community, and ultimately helped me land a job at a local company. … It was great to feel a sense of community immediately moving to Omaha, we automatically felt welcomed by a like-minded, diverse group of people.”
João Rebequi, Regional VP South American Region
Valmont
Brazil
João Rebequi, his wife, Fernanda Guimaraes, and their two daughters moved to Omaha from their home in Brazil one year ago. With Valmont since 2013, João is now responsible for the company’s Latin American operations.
“Deciding to move to another country with your family is not easy at all – leaving our relatives, friends, culture and home behind,” Fernanda says. “Our priority though was giving an international experience to our daughters and ourselves. The opportunity to live abroad as a family is what definitely weighed the most.”
“OEI helps strengthen the relationship between executives and the community, and expands the perception of a city that really has a lot to offer in so many different aspects,” Fernanda says. “We are thankful for the whole experience. It’s really helped us in our adaptation and to understand how things work here.”
Vibhu Sharma, CFO
Mutual of Omaha
India
Vibhu Sharma move to the U.S. from India at the age of 6, and over the subsequent 45 years, has lived in Oklahoma City, Dallas, Minneapolis, Zurich, London and now, Omaha.
“I have lived in cities large and small with vastly different cultures,” he says. “What drew me to Omaha was an opportunity to work at Mutual of Omaha and to live in Midwest. The people at Mutual and Omaha are welcoming and friendly, and have integrity, values and a strong Midwestern culture. That was something my wife and I were looking for.”
“We have really appreciated OEI. It has allowed us to meet interesting people who also have recently moved to Omaha from other parts of the U.S. and abroad. We’ve had the opportunity to understand the framework of Omaha, its history, politics, areas, civic organization, education, and much more. Some of my colleagues, who have grown up in Omaha, feel I know more about Omaha than they do, given my exposure to OEI. My wife and I would highly recommend OEI to others.”
Omaha Executive Institute (OEI)
The Greater Omaha Chamber’s Omaha Executive Institute (OEI) is offered exclusively for senior level executives, who are new to their positions and/or the area, and their spouses. Over the course of eight monthly sessions, participants gain a meaningful understanding of Omaha by exploring the community’s issues, challenges and opportunities. The program is offered once a year. Enrollment is limited to 35 individuals. The 2018-2019 session begins in August.