Celebrating Nebraska 2025 50 Over 50 Honorees: How Servant Leaders Build Thriving Communities

There's something profoundly moving about being recognized alongside extraordinary people who've dedicated their lives to serving others. When I received word about being selected as one of Nebraska's 2025 50 Over 50 honorees, my first thought wasn't about personal accomplishment: it was about the incredible company I'd be keeping.

This recognition, organized by The BLOC, celebrates Nebraskans aged 50 and older who are making significant contributions across five critical areas: nonprofit work, innovation, business development, community service, and healthcare. But more than individual achievements, these awards illuminate something beautiful about our state: we're home to servant leaders who understand that true success is measured by the communities we strengthen and the people we lift up.

The Ripple Effect of Servant Leadership

As I've worked with executives and leaders throughout Omaha, I've witnessed firsthand how servant leadership creates exponential impact. It's not about commanding from the top: it's about empowering others to reach their highest potential while building something bigger than ourselves.

Dr. Mary Hawkins, President of Bellevue University and fellow 2025 honoree, exemplifies this beautifully. As a Bellevue University master's student myself—and a proud parent of a Bellevue grad—I've seen her impact up close. Since 1995, she's been creating pathways for working parents, military spouses, and individuals balancing education with life's demands. Her approach doesn't just educate students; it strengthens entire families and communities by making opportunity accessible where it's needed most.

This is servant leadership in action: meeting people where they are and providing the tools they need to thrive. Whether you're leading a university, running a business, or serving on a nonprofit board, the principle remains the same. We succeed when we help others succeed.

Why Age Brings Wisdom to Leadership

The 50 Over 50 recognition program challenges something I see too often in our culture: the assumption that innovation and impact diminish with age. In my coaching work, I've discovered the opposite is true. Leaders who've accumulated decades of experience bring something irreplaceable to the table: perspective.

We've made our mistakes. We've learned from failures. We understand that sustainable success isn't about quick wins: it's about building systems and relationships that endure. This wisdom becomes particularly powerful when channeled through servant leadership principles.

When you've been around long enough to see multiple economic cycles, leadership transitions, and community challenges, you develop what I call "strategic patience." You know when to push forward aggressively and when to take a step back and build consensus. You understand that the most impactful solutions often require collaboration across sectors and generations.

The Ethics Alliance Connection: Character in Action

As a board member of Omaha's Business Ethics Alliance, I can tell you that ethical leadership isn't just about avoiding wrongdoing; it's about proactively building cultures where integrity thrives. Under Executive Director Ann Marie Mailer's leadership, the Alliance carries forward a uniquely Omaha tradition—businesses, educators, and community partners linking arms to make ethics a competitive advantage. I'm honored to serve alongside Ann Marie and our board to advance this mission. Learn more at businessethicsalliance.org.

The 2025 50 Over 50 honorees represent this commitment to character-driven leadership across every sector. In healthcare, they've placed community well-being above personal convenience. In business, they've built companies that create opportunities for others. In nonprofit work, they've addressed needs that market forces alone couldn't meet.

This interconnected approach to ethical leadership is what makes Omaha special. We have business leaders who serve on nonprofit boards, healthcare professionals who mentor young entrepreneurs, and educators who partner with industry to solve real-world problems. It's an ecosystem of servant leadership that strengthens our entire region.

Learning from Extraordinary Colleagues

What humbles me most about this recognition is the opportunity to learn from the other honorees. Innovation leaders who've challenged existing systems to create better solutions. Community leaders who've organized grassroots movements that enhanced quality of life for thousands. Business leaders who've grown our economy while maintaining strong ethical standards.

In my coaching practice, I often tell clients that we become like the five people we spend the most time with. Being recognized alongside leaders of this caliber isn't just an honor: it's a masterclass in servant leadership. Each honoree represents a different approach to the same fundamental question: How do we use our experience, resources, and influence to make our communities stronger?

The Multiplication Effect of Recognition

The October 25th celebration in downtown Omaha serves a purpose beyond honoring individual achievements. It creates what I call a "multiplication effect": bringing together leaders from diverse sectors creates opportunities for cross-pollination of ideas, collaborative partnerships, and mentorship relationships that wouldn't otherwise exist.

Young leaders in the audience see that impact and influence can actually increase with age and experience. Established professionals discover new ways to channel their expertise toward community benefit. Organizations find potential board members, collaborators, and advisors who bring both wisdom and passion to their missions.

This is how servant leadership scales: through connection, collaboration, and the intentional sharing of knowledge and resources.

Practical Applications for Your Leadership

Whether you're 30 or 60, leading a team of five or five hundred, these principles apply to your situation:

Start with service. Ask yourself: How does my leadership create value for others? What problems am I uniquely positioned to solve? How can my success enable others to succeed?

Embrace your season. Every stage of leadership brings unique strengths. If you're early in your career, bring energy and fresh perspective. If you're more experienced, offer wisdom and strategic patience. Both are needed.

Build bridges. The most impactful leaders I work with are connectors. They introduce people who should know each other. They bring together resources and needs. They create partnerships that multiply individual efforts.

Think systemically. Individual achievements matter, but sustainable impact comes from strengthening the systems and communities where you operate. Ask: How does my work contribute to something bigger than myself?

The Omaha Advantage

One of the reasons I'm passionate about working with Omaha leaders is the collaborative spirit that defines our business community. We compete fiercely in the marketplace, but we also understand that a rising tide lifts all boats. The 50 Over 50 recognition program embodies this spirit perfectly: celebrating individual excellence while acknowledging that our greatest achievements happen in community.

As leaders, we have a choice: We can focus solely on our own advancement, or we can embrace servant leadership and help build the kind of community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. The 2025 honorees have chosen the latter, and our entire region is stronger because of their commitment.

Moving Forward Together

Being recognized alongside these extraordinary leaders isn't the end of anything: it's a call to greater service. It's a reminder that leadership isn't about position or title; it's about impact and influence used in service of others.

As you consider your own leadership journey, ask yourself: What would it look like to lead with the wisdom that comes from experience, the humility that comes from service, and the vision that comes from caring deeply about the communities we're privileged to serve?

The path forward isn't about individual accolades: it's about creating the conditions where everyone in our organizations and communities can do their best work and live their best lives. That's servant leadership in action, and that's how we build thriving communities together.

If you're ready to explore how servant leadership principles can transform your organization and amplify your impact in the Omaha community, I'd love tocontinue this conversation. Together, we can build leadership that doesn't just achieve results( it creates lasting positive change.)