Blair Campus

Board of Directors

Ed Shada
CEO of Project Homeless Connect Omaha and Vice President of the Equipment Finance Group for Great Western Bank

 

Ed Shada has over 25 years of executive leadership for institutions such as Westpac Banking Corporation, Heller Financial Corp., Advanta Financial and Bellevue University. He also launched the first online equipment finance marketplace, PureMarkets.com. Currently, Mr. Shada heads the Equipment Finance Group for Great Western Bank, a $11B NYSE institution. He has been part of the Executive Board of Directors for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Bluffs Arts Council, St. Albert Catholic School Foundation Board, and the International Wine and Food Society. His philanthropic activities include creating partnerships with Creighton University and Toys-For-Tots to launch Project Homeless Connect Omaha and Project Kid’s Connect.

Dr. Tom Svolos
Creighton Department of Psychiatry, Chair and Professor

 

Thomas Svolos, MD, is Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at the Creighton University School of Medicine. Dr. Svolos graduated summa cum laude with a BA in History from Duke University. Dr. Svolos received his MD from the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Svolos is a member of New Lacanian School of the World Association of Psychoanalysis. He serves as Secretary of Lacanian Compass, an affiliated group of the New Lacanian School. Dr. Svolos' scholarly work has been in psychoanalysis and clinical practice in the mental health field, with special areas of interest in the psychoanalytic treatment of patients with psychosis and patients with addictions. He is the author of Twenty First Century Psychoanalysis, which will be published in April 2017 by Karnac Books. He is also the co-author and co-editor of Lacan and Addiction. He has more than 60 journal publications, with translations of his work appearing in eight languages. He is also the translator of 17 texts from French to English.

Dennis Hein
Former Partner and Executive Vice President, Seim Johnson, Audit Partner

 

Mr. Hein carries over 35 years of audit experience. His Industry/Specialty Area of Practice - Closely held companies; Manufacturing/ Distribution; Construction/ Real Estate; Banking and Finance; Insurance; Technology; Attest services - audit, review, compilation; Tax - personal and business compliance and planning; Consulting - Merger and acquisition services - business valuations, due diligence, structure etc. buy and sell sides; start-up consulting, General business consulting.

Mary Ann Borgeson
Commissioner at Douglas County

 

Commissioner Borgeson was first elected in 1994. She became the first female to Chair the Douglas County Board in 1997. She currently chairs the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, the Douglas County Human Resources Committee, Government Awareness Committee and the Region 6 Governing Board. Commissioner Borgeson is on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Association of Counties and Chairs the NACO Health and Human Services Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Counties and Chairs the Health Services Committee and a Member of the Healthy Counties Advisory Board. Borgeson is President Elect for the Women of NACo. She serves on numerous community Boards - to name a few - Aksarben Future Trust, Partnerships In Aging (PIA), R.E.S.P.E.C.T., Nebraska Safety Center Task Force, DVCC, Heartland 2050. Commissioner Borgeson has been a 4 time recipient of the Nebraska Association of Counties President's Award for Leadership in Health and Human Services and Juvenile issues. She was awarded the Hope Medical Outreach Champions Award and Domestic Violence Coordinating Council Outstanding Leadership Award and the recipient of the Public Sector Award from the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

David Jacox
Former Chief Executive Officer, Mosaic

 

David began as a social services worker in 1973 at Martin Luther Homes. He later worked at the Beatrice State Developmental Center but returned to MLH to oversee staff development. In 1980 he became CEO of Bethpage, the position he held when Mosaic was formed in 2003. He held the title and duties of both President and Chief Executive Officer of Mosaic until those duties were split in 2006. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mr. Jacox is currently on the Board of Directors for Immanuel Communities.

John Mark Nielsen, Ph.D.
Executive Director Emeritus of the Museum of Danish America

 

Dr. John Mark Nielsen is Emeritus Professor of English at the former Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. A 1973 Dana graduate, Nielsen earned his Master of Arts degree from Creighton University and his Ph.D. in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 1977 he was awarded a Marshall Fellowship for study in Denmark, and in 1983-84, he was a Fulbright Lecturer in American Literature at several colleges in Denmark. During that time he was a consultant to the National Museum of Denmark in preparing "The Dream of America," a major exhibit on Danish emigration to the United States. In 2000-2001 Nielsen was named a Fulbright Senior Lecturer in American Literature, lecturing at numerous colleges and universities in the south of India. From 2005-2007, he served on the Council for Independent Exchange of Scholars’ committee for review of candidates for North Africa, the Middle East and India. John Mark is a highly respected member of the Blair Community and highly regarded by the likes of Bruce Lauritzen and Mogens Bay. I need his input and guidance on many upcoming social issues dealing with Blair and its companies and citizens. I have met John Mark and talked with him several times and I find him to be a terrific fit with our board. He is a kind hearted genuine individual, like all the rest of you.

Mike West
Principal, Carlson West Povondra Architects

 

As Principal in charge of contract documents and services, Mike oversees design document preparation, CAD and BIM services, consultant integration, quality management and construction contracts and administration. His diligence, team-building skills and attention to detail help CWPA maintain our high standards for quality service and client satisfaction.

Alice L Shada
CAO, Silverstone Group Incorporated

 

Mrs. Shada has been with Silverstone Group for over 30 years in various capacities. She has served on many non-profit boards including the Sr. Center in Council Bluffs, IA, The German American Society, The Allocation Cabinet for United Way of the Midlands, A mentor for the Tom Osborne Teammates program. She has received her MBA Wichita State University.

Charles (Chuck) Olson
CEO for OCI Insurance and Financial Services, Inc

 

Charles (Chuck) Olson is a graduate of Briar Cliff University with a B.A. in Business Administration. Chuck has been in the insurance field for over 30 years in both private practice as well as founding a general agency and currently serves as CEO for OCI Insurance and Financial Services, Inc. He has served at local, state, and national leadership positions for NAIFA, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and currently is serving on finance committee at the national level. In addition, he serves on multiple advisor boards for local and national insurance carriers. He has served on the finance committee for St. Patrick’s-Elkhorn, St. Joan of Arc, and other non-profits. He currently serves on the board of Catholic Business Group.

His Awards, Honor, and Certifications include:

  • Leading with Faith Award
  • Agent of year NAIFA – Omaha
  • Underwriter of year Omaha NAHU
  • Distinguished Service Award NAIFA – Nebraska