Jon Flower is a business analyst for First National Bank’s enterprise sourcing division. He previously served the WhyArts Governing Board of Directors as treasurer. Jon holds an MBA from Bellevue University. In his spare time, he is an actor and serves as president of the Ralston Community Theatre. Jon says providing access to arts opportunities for Omaha’s underserved populations is as important now as it has ever been.

Mary P. McHale is the parent of an adult child with Down syndrome and a hearing impairment. She founded the Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands and was on the committee to found P T I Nebraska. Mary is also a board member of Disability Rights Nebraska, Meyer Foundation for Disabilities, and the Munroe Meyer Operating Board. She has been involved with WhyArts for more than 15 years.  

Liz Akert is a manager in the finance department at Union Pacific. During her tenure there, she has had roles in audit, budgeting, accounts receivable and most recently, internal controls. Liz graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a major in accounting and finance, and received an MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She’s an avid curler and serves on the Aksarben Curling Club’s Board of Directors as its treasurer. Liz also serves on The Rose Theater’s Board of Directors. She is a member of the Junior League of Omaha and volunteers for CASA for Douglas County and Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue. Liz and her husband, Brian, have a daughter, Piper.

Nancy Brosomle served as board president of Arts in Motion prior to its merger with WhyArts in 2021. She has 40 years in public education – 23 years in the classroom, 17 as an elementary principal and the last 8 years with Millard Public Schools. Nancy retired in June 2016 but is still active in the school system. She holds a Master’s degree in Administration and an Education Specialist degree. Nancy is currently employed as a contracted employee with the Nebraska Department of Education, working with positive behavior supports in schools. She is also a member of Nebraska Council of School Administrators.

Matt Bross has been associated with WhyArts since its early days as Very Special Arts! He is the founder and co-owner of OnPxl, a multimedia marketing company that specializes in helping nonprofits tell their stories.

Leigh Campbell Joyce is a small town Nebraska native. She attended college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before moving to Boston in 2008 to earn her law degree from Boston University. After practicing at a boutique employment firm in Boston, Leigh returned to Nebraska in 2015 and is now a partner at Baird Holm LLP, where she practices employment and education law. As someone who was actively involved in choir and music throughout her childhood, Leigh is excited to help WhyArts instill a passion for the arts in the next generation. Her hope is to use her legal background to help guide the organization as it grows and adapts to these challenging times. Leigh lives in the Benson area with her husband, daughter and way too many pets.

Mary Kingslan Gibilisco, a St. Louis native, was appointed to the board of WhyArts as part of the 2021 merger between WhyArts and Arts in Motion. For more than 14 years, she was a Dancing Classrooms teaching artist for Arts in Motion and also served as the business/grant manager for four years. Mary was instrumental in starting the Dancing Classrooms Clothing Closet and the annual poster contest. She has trained in NYC with Dancing Classrooms creator Pierre Dulaine. Mary worked as a classroom liaison or teaching artist in more than 75 classrooms schools within the Omaha metro area and taught Dancing Classrooms to more than 900 students. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Art Major, Minor in Art History and Spanish), a certificate from the College of Continuing Studies in Adult Training and a Master of Science degree in Youth Development and Nonprofit Management – all from the University of Nebraska. Mary teaches visual art to all ages and abilities in Omaha and across the United States.

 

Jim’s bio to come

Sue Weidner hails from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After earning a degree in Journalism and Advertising at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she worked for two different advertising agencies. J.L. Brandeis and Sons department stores brought her to Omaha to serve as the Director of Advertising. When the chain was sold in 1987, Sue joined colleagues to form Leopard, Inc. where she became the President and  Managing Partner of the marketing firm. She and her business partner sold the agency in 2011. Sue has served as an adjunct instructor in the communication departments at Creighton University and UNL, in addition to now serving on the boards of the Nebraska Children’s Home Society, Joslyn Castle, WhyArts and the Munroe Meyer Community Advisory Council. She is also active at First United Methodist Church. Sue and her husband, Tom, are owners of Homer’s Music and have two children, Sarah and Matt.

 

Gwyn Williams has more than 10 years of experience working in youth development, professional development, after-school curriculum development and as a network program director. Training and teaching staff is her passion and life’s purpose. Gwyn has developed research-based outcome measurements for organizations to increase the necessary skills to be agile leaders. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with many different foundations and community members to advocate for youth. Gwyn is a National After-school Alliance Ambassador emeritus, using the appointment to further the youth investment movement. Her life’s work can be summed up in this quote – “I work every day to help keep youth safe, inspired to learn and engaged.”

Debora Wisneski is the John T. Langan Community Chair of Early Childhood Education at UNO. She focuses her work around the importance of creative play in the classroom. Dr. Wisneski earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction from the University of Missouri-Columbia, both with an emphasis on early childhood education. She received her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas at Austin.