Speakers

Barbara recently retired as president of the Lincoln Community Foundation after serving for twelve years. She has nearly 50 years of experience in fundraising, program development, public engagement and teaching. Prior to coming to the Lincoln Community Foundation, Barbara was president of the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools for 18 years. She currently is on the Chancellor’s Board of Counselors for the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Lied Center for Performing Arts Statewide Advisory Board and has served on numerous nonprofit boards in Lincoln. Barbara was a College Board education ambassador to China. She is recipient of the Spirit of United Way award, named Woman of the Year for the Lincoln Journal Star Inspire Award and inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Nebraska Chapter. She is past president of Lincoln Rotary Club 14 and Lincoln Rotary 14 Foundation.  Barbara was selected to be Team Leader for Rotary International Group Study Exchange to India.Barb is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and currently a member of the Paul Harris Society of The Rotary International Foundation. Her favorite time is spent with husband, Bob, and their three children and families—just ask her about her seven grandchildren.   

Justin was born and raised here in Council Bluffs, Iowa. As a young kid, he had a fascination with being in the military, and upon graduating high school from Lewis Central in 2003, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After completing all necessary training, he was sent to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines in Camp Pendleton, California. He deployed to the Al Anbar Province in Iraq 3 times during his enlistment, including the 2nd battle of Fallujah, Operation Phantom Fury, in November of ‘04.

Returning home after his enlistment, Justin now works in the private contract security field. In his spare time, Justin likes to ride motorcycles, hike and site see national parks across this beautiful country, workout, and shoot guns.

With the loss of many brothers to suicide, Justin wanted to help. With his family and friends, he hosted our first poker run in 2019 at Loess Hills Harley Davidson. With its success, it was decided that Operation 22 Til Freedom needed to become a non-profit and continue helping raise funds and awareness to prevent veteran suicide.

Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment (PACE) is strengthening, developing and promoting arts, cultural and historical institutions and organizations, and activities in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County and throughout Southwest Iowa.

Formed in 2016, PACE evolved from the Bluffs Arts Council and is dedicated to providing a sustainable, highly active art community. Through its emerging role as a nonprofit support organization in Pottawattamie County, PACE provides a variety of functions to make that a reality: Serving as the umbrella organization for our partners; Providing shared facilities for performance, exhibit, classroom and archival space; Acting as a centralized hub for fundraising and marketing.