Previous Nebraska lawmaker Heath Mello hired as major govt of Omaha business chamber

A previous Nebraska state senator and Omaha mayoral candidate, Mello most recently has served as a lobbyist and vice president of external relations for the University of Nebraska program.

For the duration of his 8 many years in the Legislature, Mello served 4 several years as chair of the Appropriations Committee. He also served on the Nebraska Retirement Methods Committee.

Chamber associates said in a information launch that Mello delivers a breadth of working experience in general public policy, fundraising and neighborhood management that really should aid him expand small business and economic growth in Omaha and japanese Nebraska.

“He is passionate about our neighborhood and has devoted his occupation to making sure it is a terrific put to live, to prepare our subsequent-generation workforce, and to do business enterprise,” said Carmen Tapio, chamber board chair. 

Tapio served on the search committee alongside with Tim Burke, interim president and CEO of the Chamber, and Derek Leathers, chairman and CEO of Werner Enterprises.

“Heath Mello has been a good buddy and strategic companion throughout his time at the College of Nebraska, and he’s verified his determination to our point out and communities all over his profession,” reported Ted Carter, president of the NU method. “We are lucky that Heath will keep on to simply call Omaha property and that he will carry on to shape and affect the bigger Omaha region.”

A graduate of Gretna Significant University, Mello acquired a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the College of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He has served on a variety of condition and regional boards and councils, such as as chair of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Field Training Coverage Council and as a member of the Nebraska Advisory Committee for World-wide Management Coalition. He was a commissioner on the Nebraska Instructional Telecommunication Commission.

Mello ran for Omaha and was defeated in 2017 by incumbent Mayor Jean Stothert.

He follows interim CEO and president Burke, who crammed in temporarily immediately after Veta Jeffery abruptly exited the CEO/president article significantly less than a yr right after she started off. A push release at the time available no motive.

Jeffery, a former chief range officer for the Point out of Missouri’s St. Louis County, changed longtime chamber head David Brown, who retired after 20 many years.