WCRSept2017FINAL

September 2017
Newsletter
“We Imagine The Possibilities”
David Brown, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
“At the Greater Omaha Chamber, we do
more than live in this community, we
imagine the possibilities and push it to
greater, harnessing vision, expertise
and the power of ‘we’ to raise our
quality of life.
Hear from President and CEO, David G.
Brown as he talks about the
collaborative approach and specific
efforts the Chamber focuses on to drive
our community forward.”
*See Page 4 for more information
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Champions Run
13800 Eagle Run Drive
11:15-11:45 am—Networking
11:45 am-1:00pm—Lunch & Program
We encourage attendees to please PRE-REGISTER by:
- EMAIL Ashley Smith at livengood@burrowstracts.com
- ONLINE at www.wcromaha.com (Buy Now)
- FACEBOOK (Click “Join” for the WCR Omaha Business Luncheon)
** See Details on Page 4 **

WCR Leadership and Contact Information
GOVERNING BOARD OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Darla Bengtson ........................ 402-676-2842
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Angel Starks ............................ 402-553-5744
VP OF MEMBERSHIP
Denise Poppen ........................ 402-880-7700
REGIONAL GOVERNOR
Jessica Sawyer ........................ 402-679-8166
SECRETARY
Laura Longo ............................. 402-758-6041
TREASURER
Rachel Pierce ........................... 712-355.2040
PAST PRESIDENT
Crystal Archer .......................... 402-215-5483
PARLIAMENTARIAN & BY-LAWS
Therese Wehner ...................... 402-670-0101
WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR
Lindsey Krenk .......................... 402-415-4358
The mission of the Women’s Council of REALTORS ®
We are a network of successful REALTORS ®
empowering women to exercise their potential as
entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
STANDING COMMITTEES
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Brenda Stuart ........................... 402-306-6319
WEBMASTER
Crystal Archer .......................... 402-215-5483
EAT, DRINK, LIP SYNC CHAIR
Lori Bonnstetter ...................... 402-536-0234
EAT, DRINK, LIP SYNC CO-CHAIR
Bridget Vacha .......................... 402-706-6175
GOLF CHAIR
Erin Pearson ............................ 402-560-4170
GOLF CO­-CHAIR & SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR
Denise Poppen ........................ 402-560-4170
HOLIDAY RECEPTION CHAIR
Angela Brant ............................ 402-215-1529
EDUCATION CHAIR
Gabe Kopun ............................. 402-553-5744
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
LUNCHEON RESERVATIONS
Ashley Smith ............................ 402-618-2992
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Jen Monjaras ........................... 402-200-8554
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hanna Oltman .......................... 402-619-5555
TECHNOLOGY CHAIR
Amy Dritley ............................. 402-650-8631
HOSPITALITY CHAIR
Carmen Bunde ......................... 402-850-3829

2017 President’s View
Looking Ahead!
Thank you to all that attended our August Luncheon! A special thanks to Andy Alloway,
Nebraska Realty, Vince Leisey, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real
Estate, Mike Riedmann NP Dodge and Ryan Ellis PJ Morgan Real Estate for taking the
time to participate in the Broker Panel. It has always been one of my favorite luncheons
during the year and they did not disappoint!!
David Brown, President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber will be our speaker for
the September Business Resource Luncheon. David consistently delivers great
information regarding Omaha, it’s growth and vision.
We are also awarding a scholarship this year to a WCR REALTOR® member for the
National REALTORS® Conference and Expo this November in Chicago. Look for an
email with additional information and make sure to fill out the application for this
amazing opportunity!
I hope to see you at our next Business Luncheon, September 14. David Brown draws
a big crowd so PLEASE REGISTER EARLY!
Darla Bengtson
2017 Women’s Council President, Omaha
Nebraska Realty

DAVID G. BROWN
Biography
David G. Brown is president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, one of the largest, most highly
accredited chambers in the nation and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE)
2015 Chamber of the Year.
Backed by 30 years of experience in economic development and chamber administration, David
serves the Chamber mission – to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region
through visionary leadership and collaboration – with bold vision, comprehensive understanding and
contagious enthusiasm. He, Chamber staff and volunteers work on behalf of more than 3,100 member
businesses, encouraging their success by advocating for a strong business climate, creating
opportunities for member visibility and business connections, pursuing investment and jobs for the
region, strengthening leaders and the community, and enhancing the region’s brand and image.
Under David’s steady leadership, the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership has
successfully landed 618 projects, representing 31,697 jobs and nearly $6 billion in capital investment
since 2004.
David began his career in organizational leadership in Michigan in 1983 as president of the Monroe
County Industrial Development Corporation and director of the Port of Monroe. He served 10 years in
Indiana at the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, first as vice president of economic
development and then as president. His next assignment took him to South Carolina where he was
president and CEO of the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce. David assumed his current role
as president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber in October 2003.
David graduated from Dartmouth College with academic specialties in industrial location and
environmental studies. There he played on the 1978 Ivy League championship football team and was
the recipient of the Earl P. Hamilton Award. He has completed courses at the National Development
Council, the American Management Association, Bell Leadership Academy and Gallup University.

Business Success Forum 2017
October 19th— 9AM to 1PM
Registration and Breakfast starts at 9AM Class begins promptly at 10AM
Champions Run 13800 Eagle Run Drive, Omaha
“Extraordinary Success with Buyers in a Changing Market”
Approved 3 hour CE Course # 0901R
National Speaker: Rich Levin
Rich Levin, Founder and CEO of Real Estate Grad School, is one of
the nation’s premier real estate coaches & trainers. His field career
includes time as a top producing real estate agent, a manager of a
company of 700 agents, and owner of the #1 company in his area
from 1980 to 1996.
Since 1996, Rich has trained agents to become top performers. The
agents he coaches strengthen every skill necessary for consistent
high production and a satisfying personal life. Over 70% of Rich’s
clients exceed all previous sales production records, regardless of
market conditions, with consistent growth thereafter.
Registration Includes: breakfast & a chance to win several prizes!
$40 paid in advance
$50 day of event
REGISTRATON ONLY ONLINE AT WCROMAHA.COM or Pay at the Door
For inquiries about this event, please contact:
Megan Bengtson at 402-740-5519 or Megan@DreamsComeHome.com –or– Kellie Konz-Wieczorek at 402-210-6046
or kellie@nebraskarealty.com

Little Free Pantry of Omaha
“Take what you
need,
Leave what you
can.”
Drive by Anna Lemieux’s house near 27 th and Newport Avenue and you will see a box that looks
like a little free library – those cabinets meant for the free exchange of books. If you take a closer,
it looks like a kitchen cupboard with peanut butter, cans of tuna, cereal and canned vegetables.
This was Omaha’s first “little free pantry.”
This non-profit organization was co-founded by Steve and Vicki Holcomb, who are real estate
agents in Omaha and so is Anna! This concept was not to replace the food pantries in the Omaha
area, but, to eliminate limitations for someone who might not be able to get to those sites with
limited hours and have some requirements. Plus, Vicki and Steve just really needed a project!
The Holcomb’s have plans for many more in the Omaha area. They are in the process of getting
permission from the city and homeowners to place more of these in our community. They also
need donations to support their on-going mission, so they can build more and keep them stocked.
Please stop by their table at our September resource luncheon to learn more about their mission.
Brenda Stuart, ServiceOne Home Warranty
WCR Community Service Chair
Please consider giving at
our
September luncheon!

Upcoming Schedule
September
September 14th - WCR Business Resource Meeting @ Champions (11:15am-1:00pm)
September 21st - WCR Board Meeting @ OABR (9am-10am) - Open to all WCR Members
2017 Calendar & Upcoming Events
October
October 19th - Business Success Forum @ Champions (9am-1:00pm) - More on Page
**Check out wcromaha.com to find dates for
Luncheons, WCR Board Meetings, WCR/NAR
Conventions and Special Events.

We Want to Hear From You!! Yes-YOU!!
Did you know WCR has a Hospitality Committee?
Carmen Bunde is at your service if you know of any
happenings pertaining to our WCR friends, be it joyful,
serious, sad, encouraging, etc. Please contact Carmen at
cbunde@pjmorgan.com and she will serve as the voice of
WCR to acknowledge anything that should be with
cards, flowers, etc… whatever seems appropriate. If possible,
share the address of the person or persons being
acknowledged. She looks forward to hearing from you!
THANKS TO YOU…
We were able to present Rejuvenating Women a check for $5,078.48 at the August Luncheon. Thank
you! We could not have done it without all of the support from our tremendous members!

September Spotlight Sponsor
TitleCore National is the region’s leading residential and
commercial title insurance provider. Our title and escrow
teams operate out of 12 offices in the Omaha Metro and
surrounding areas. Our escrow team includes 13 closers,
including bilingual closers, all ready to close for you!
We’re Pavaso certified and our team is qualified to partner with any lender to do E-Closings.
We’ve successfully closed multiple cash transactions with Pavaso and look forward to getting
other lenders on board. Our team will also be E- Notaries soon! We take pride in being the most
innovative and educational based title company in the Omaha area!
We are very aware of wire fraud and the effects it may have in our industry. We diligently train
our staff how to identify signs of potential risk while educating our own customers to recognize
email scam attempts.
We boast centuries of accumulative experience and knowledge to make your transaction a worryfree
experience for everyone involved!
Alejandra Torres
Client Relations
Manager
402.507.0948
Lisa Tavizon
VP of Residential
Escrow Services
402.905.3922

Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you...
Name? Alejandra Torres
Why do you love being a member of WCR?
I work with agents all day long, I truly love all my agents and so to be a part of a leadership team that focuses
on advancing as a female professional is so outstanding.
Who got you involved in WCR?
My team members at TitleCore National.
What is favorite WCR Activity?
I’ve attended the WCR Golf events and of course always a blast. I’m rather excited to see what WCR has in
store for me throughout the remainder of the year.
Where do you want to travel to in the next 2 years?
Greece! I hear the waters are so blue and beautiful there.. something different.J
What is a goal of yours that you want to accomplish this year?
Meet 5 new real estate agents!
What is one local thing that you have wanted to do?
The Market to Market run! That would be such a great experience to say you‘ve ran that course would be phenomenal!
What do you think the future of real estate looks like?
Real Estate is a booming industry. It has grown so much through the years and is becoming more and more
advanced. As new laws come to place and as the industry evolves, selling your home in the future will become
more and more complex, never doubting the decision to hire a valuable, professional realtor.
What is the best business tip you have been given?
Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in life, but how you INSPIRE others along the way.
What do you want to tell your fans?
That you are always enough and we must always be better than who we were yesterday.
What is the highlight of your life?
Celebrating my grandfather’s 90 th Birthday with him. I only see him every 3 years.
Life is so short and precious.
What do you think the secret to life is?
The secret to life, to me, means not letting money rule your universe, life is a beautiful journey, there is so
much to appreciate and love. Always be enthusiastic for the next day!
Thank you for taking the time to let us get to
know you Alejandra and for being active in WCR!

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