Omaha Organization Development Network upcoming events

Bridging Divides (27 May 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 12:45:00 GMT

Bridging Divides

Facilitated by Carol Horner, Synchronicity, Inc.

Today, probably more than ever, we face polarization, politization, and destructive conflict in our relationships, teams, and our organizations.

The Spiral of Accountability™ takes the complex dynamic of human self-talk and human interactions and simplifies it into a visual representation that allows the readers to identify, name, and understand what is going on with them and the people around them. It then shows a pathway toward improving their reactions.

The Spiral of Accountability is a valuable tool in bridging divides our relationships, in our teams, and within our organizations. It provides guidance in pursuing understanding between individuals and groups. It promotes curiosity between and among differing identities. It helps OD professionals facilitate individuals, teams, and leaders that are experiencing polarization and destructive conflict.

Participants will walk away with a tool for their conflict management tool box and increased confidence and (hopefully) desire to help bridge the divides in our organizations and society.

Speaker/Facilitator: Carol Horner, Synchronicity, Inc.

Carol Horner founded Synchronicity, Inc, in 1999. She works with companies and organizations that want their employees, teams, and leaders to "be in synch" and make impact. Carol is the author of the Spiral of Accountability™ book released in April 2024. Carol affects positive and productive growth in people's attitudes, behaviors, and relationships. She helps people work better together and enjoy the process. She integrates the ideals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging learning into all her consulting and talent development work.

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June Stammtisch at Stokes! (02 Jun 2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Welcome Omaha ODN Members!

Please join us for Stammtisch

on the first Tuesday of each month

in person at Stokes West from 3:00 - 5:00 PM

13615 California Street

Stammtisch is a German word meaning both a group of people who meet regularly, as well as the large table around which they meet.

This is an exclusive event for members only, where you can connect with like-minded individuals and strengthen your network. Bring your ideas and questions, build connections, and learn from others in this casual setting.

Our goal is to gather together to EXPLORE, LEARN, and SHARE, leaving us all more INSPIRED to make an impact.

There is NO cost for this members-only event, but there is food and beverage available for purchase. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. We'll see you there!

Please register so we know how many to expect.

The Core Values Con Job: Why Your Core Values Aren't Earning Their Keep (24 Jun 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:45:00 GMT

The Core Values Con Job: Why Your Core Values Aren't Earning Their Keep

Facilitated by Brett Hoogeveen, BetterCulture

Core values are everywhere – on websites, walls, and welcome packets. Yet in most organizations, values aren’t actually driving culture improvement; they’re simply describing what matters. They sound meaningful, but they’re rarely used as a system to help people get better at the behaviors those values are meant to represent. That’s the core values con job: values that look important, but rarely change how work gets done.

Consider this simple test most organizations struggle to answer: Are your people living your values more consistently today than they were three years ago? If not, the problem isn’t the values themselves – it’s that they’re being treated as statements of belief rather than tools for improvement.

This guided working session introduces a practical way to use your existing core values as a system for improving employee behavior and performance over time. Participants will apply this thinking directly to their own values and explore how a Values Performance System™ helps organizations move beyond pass/fail values toward measurable, sustained improvement – without rewriting or refreshing their values.

Using BetterCulture’s Values Performance System™ framework, attendees will learn how to:

Translate values into observable behaviors
Replace pass/fail thinking with progression
Provide tools for development that support improvement
Recognize and reinforce improvement over time
Integrate values into everyday leadership and performance conversations

If you’re ready to move beyond posters, plaques, and good intentions, this session will show how to turn core values into a working system for culture improvement — one that creates visible progress, not just shared language. Because if behavior isn’t improving, values aren’t working.

After participating in this session, attendees will be able to:

Assess whether their organization’s core values are functioning as a system for behavior improvement, rather than simply serving as statements of intent.
Translate existing core values into clear, observable behaviors that can be discussed, reflected on, and improved over time.

Apply a progression-based mindset to values, moving away from pass/fail or judgment-based interpretations.

Speaker/Facilitator: Brett Hoogeveen, BetterCulture.

Brett Hoogeveen is on a mission to make the world a better place to work! He is the co-founder of BetterCulture, a prominent leadership development and technology firm with clients from entrepreneurial startups to Fortune 500 companies. A former healthcare executive, engineer, startup investor, and host of The BetterCulture Podcast, Brett helps organizations build stronger leaders and engage every employee.

Brett travels nationally as a Certified Professional Speaker (CSP) and consultant with a single focus: providing practical, actionable advice to help organizations build dominantly successful cultures. As Brett and his growing list of clients are keenly aware, a better culture means a better business!

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July Stammtisch at Stokes! (07 Jul 2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Welcome Omaha ODN Members!

Please join us for Stammtisch

on the first Tuesday of each month

in person at Stokes West from 3:00 - 5:00 PM

13615 California Street

Stammtisch is a German word meaning both a group of people who meet regularly, as well as the large table around which they meet.

Our goal is to gather together to EXPLORE, LEARN, and SHARE, leaving us all more INSPIRED to make an impact.

There is NO cost for this members-only event, but there is food and beverage available for purchase. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. We'll see you there!

Please register so we know how many to expect.

Omaha ODN Conference 2026 - October 20 (20 Oct 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

2026 ODN Conference - October 20

THEME - Thriving in Complexity: OD for a Rapidly Changing World

Conference Agenda

Keynote Speakers

Laura Johnson, The Art of Alignment: Creativity in a Complex World

Laura Johnson is a creative strategist and transformation leader who works at the intersection of art, technology, and human experience. Known for her ability to bring vision to life, she helps organizations and teams find clarity amidst complexity through curiosity, collaboration, and creativity. Laura also serves on the board of the Radial Arts Center, where she champions inclusion and accessibility in the arts. She believes that thriving in a rapidly changing world requires both precision and imagination that alignment, like art, is a continual act of creation.

Melissa Hurrington, Authenticity: The Superpower to Transform Your Career

As a devoted wife and mother, Melissa Hurrington embodies the essence of balance and leadership both at home and in the professional arena. With a multifaceted role as CFO & VP at Operations of Premier Claims, she navigates the complexities of financial strategy and operational excellence with finesse. Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Melissa serves as the Omaha Chapter President of the CFO Leadership Council, is a founding member of The Bold Leaders Collective, and stands among The Next 100. A true servant leader at heart, she approaches every endeavor with authenticity and humility, recognizing that her greatest strength lies in uplifting others. At the core of her identity, she remains unapologetically and authentically herself.

Snap Shot of Topics/Facilitators

Workshop Speakers

The Human Algorithm: Rebuilding Trust Through Empathetic Leadership by Shannelle Pokorny
Mindful Audiences are Happy Audiences by Sonia Keffer
Culture Clarity Workshop by Lucy Lantis
The Future of Work is Entrepreneurial: Rethinking Organizations in a Disruptive Era by Jenna Smith
Succession Planning in the Exponential Age: Why Traditional Approaches Are No Longer Enough by Andy Noon
Accidentally Exclusive: Promoting Health while Promoting Culture by Jessica Rowe
Rooted in Wellness: Cultivating a Culture of Health at Healing Vibes Urban Farm by LaToya C. Prince
From Programs to Possibility: Reimagining Talent Development for a Complex World by Ashley Bro
The Employee Journey: Applying Principles of Buyer Psychology to Recruiting, Engagement, and Retention by Natalie Hadley
Transitions: Align & Thrive in Your 9:5 by Becky Phipps and Angela McKay

Daily Agenda & Costs

Activities

7:30am to 5:00pm Conference
5:00pm to 6:30 pm Happy Hour/Networking
Registration Costs

One-Day Registration (includes breakfast, lunch and happy hour on October 20th):

Members - $150
Non-Members - $250

Please email any dietary restrictions to June Kowalewski at June.Kowalewski@myfbm.com.

Beardmore Event Center - 3750 Raynor Pkwy, Bellevue, NE

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