Last week Candy Specht introduced new member Tim Calabro to us. Tim is a Mortgage Officer with First National Bank. He is married to Terri and they have kids. In his free time, Tim enjoys automotive work. He is also a volunteer with many organizations including his church, the Bennington Jaycees, Bennington Chamber of Commerce, and Boy Scouts Troop 13. Welcome Tim!
Last week Warren Whitted III introduced us to new member Andrew Galardi. Andrew is a financial advisor with Renaissance Financial. He was born and raised in Papillion, Nebraska. He currently lives in West Omaha and graduated from UNO in May of 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and triple concentration in Business Finance, Banking and Financial Markets, and Investment Science and Portfolio Management.
Andrew grew up with 3 siblings and a zoo of animals. Some of his favorite childhood pets were bearded dragons, homing pigeons, chickens, and horses. He enjoys a few hobbies such as pickleball and golf. He is also a casual gym goer (emphasis on casual). During the summer of 2022 you could find Andrew at Golf League at Tregaron Golf Course in Bellevue, Young Adult Alpha at St. Columbkille, or the Pickleball courts at Prairie Lane.
Andrew finds most of his enjoyment spending time learning about others. He loves to drink coffee and talk about everything from weekend plans to music to comedy. Don’t be a stranger, he loves to get to know new people. He is a Goal Buddy at Field Club Elementary with Partnership 4 Kids this school year, mentoring and working with the 5th graders there.
Andrew joined Rotary because he loves Omaha and wants to help build the community around him. \ He is excited to serve on club committees, work on volunteer projects, and find other young professionals to join the club! Welcome, Andrew!
Last week Warren Whitted III introduced us to new member Spencer Head. Spencer has bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sociology and a minor in Criminal Justice from Hastings College. He also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a public policy concentration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He and his wife, Kelly, live in Northwest Omaha with their two children Reagan (5) and Theodore (3).
After graduating he worked for Congressman Lee Terry representing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. Spencer's areas of specialization included Healthcare, Social Security, IRS, small business, and Department of Education issues. Spencer went on to serve as a legislative aide in the Nebraska Legislature and eventually spent four years as the Policy Advisor / Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the Legislature. Aside from advising the Speaker, he was responsible for understanding legal and procedural issues for the body and working with all Senators to address issues that may arise.
In 2019, Spencer left the Speaker’s office to begin work in the private sector with the political data and technology company EZPolitix. He devises targeted, meaningful, and effective voter outreach for candidates up and down the ballot, as well as county and state parties, and issue advocacy organizations. Spencer was elected to represent Northwest Omaha on the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education in November of 2020. He also serves on the Board of the Victory Boxing Club and Community Center, is in his second term as the Treasurer of a national political organization that aims to engage young people in the political process, and serves on his church’s outreach and engagement committee. Welcome, Spencer!
Last week Warren Whitted III introduced us to new member Maria Valentin. Maria is the Director of Advancement for No More Empty Pots, an Omaha non-profit focused on food security.
Maria A. Valentin has more than 25 years of experience in community relations, management, diversity and inclusion, and volunteerism. She has served in many boards at the local, state and national levels. She created and implemented strategic programs by collaborating with local and national community leaders, organizations, corporations and government agencies. She has been a lifetime advocate for community development and empowerment across the state of Nebraska and Iowa.
Her community relations goals have always been to develop alliances, partnerships, innovative initiatives and strategic programs with local, state and national non-profit organizations (including foundation organizations), business companies (including Fortune 500 Companies), health care organizations, educational institutions and government agencies. She has been a board, advisory and / or executive training member of many leadership group including Women on a Mission for Change, Midland Latino Community Development Corporation, NAF- Multicultural Human Development Corporation, One World Community Health Center, Nebraska Commission of Women, Nebraska Latino Commission, Board of Counselors of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Heartland Latino Leadership Conference, National Hispanic Corporate Council, Nebraska Urban League, National Council of La Raza, 2008 Class – National Hispanac Leadership Institute and Heartland Workforce Solutions.
In her free time, Maria enjoys volunteering in the community by visiting the elderly, taking communion to the sick, volunteering with the St Vincent De Paul Society, playing her musical percussion instruments, gardening, cooking and spending time with her family (spouse, adult children and grandchild), and friends. Welcome, Maria!
Each week we will feature a different member so you can get to know him/her better! Please complete a form (see Jennifer if you need one) to be featured in an upcoming newsletter. *(now with photos!)
This week's Rotarian is Martie Cordaro
Occupation: President of Omaha Storm Chasers and Union Omaha
Membership: 15 years
Why you joined Rotary: to serve our community
What do you get out of Rotary? relationships, fellowship, giving back, networking
Spouse Name: Sara Cordaro
Children: Gavin (26) Collin (18) Cass (14)
Hobbies: playing drums in a local rock band, collecting Star Wars toys
Beach or Mountains? Beach
Favorite Vacation spot: visiting South Africa or Sicily
Favorite Ice Cream: Vanilla Bean
Movie: Empire Strikes Back
Bucket List: too many to list
If you were not in your current occupation, what would be your dream job? own a vintage toy store or work in the music industry
Something you wouldn't know about me: I once was the youngest member of the National Circus Historical Society at age 5
Our next Rotary Guest Day is scheduled for Friday, October 7th. Now is the time to begin thinking about who you will invite to share your “Rotary Experience.” More details about the day’s agenda will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.
Please note our off-site location for this day: Core Bank Community Room at 17807 Burke Street.
All the proceeds will go to support the Omaha West Rotary Foundation.
Here is where we need your support:
-Sign up a team
-Sign up for a sponsorship - plenty of opportunities (I already covered the "Keg Sponsor" which means FREE BEER to start the event.)
-Sign up to donate a raffle prize
-Sign up to volunteer - I need 6 volunteers. Please contact me via email at ampearson10@gmail.com
Last year we had our most successful golf outing yet and we look to continue that momentum this year! We even had a $10,000 hole-in-one last year! Thanks to Joe Finnegan, they are no longer offering that has a package haha. That was pretty special though. Our goal is 128 players (32 foursomes).
The Fundraising Committee is looking forward to your help in making this a success!
Members of the Ecology Committee have been cleaning up the gardens at Project Harmony. If you'd like to help, please reach out to Charles Shapiro. Thanks to those who helped last weekend!
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