Speakers

Speaker	Date	Topic
Center For People - NOTE MEETING ROOM SWITCH	Mar 13, 2026	Operations Update, Rotary Grant Funds Presentation
Jerry Bockoven, Ph.D.	Mar 20, 2026	Behind the Door: The Secret Hiding Place of Emotional Resilience BIO (from https://drjerrybockoven.com/about-the-author/) A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jerry Bockoven received a BA degree from Sioux Falls College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He went on to receive a Master of Divinity degree from North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls and was ordained in the American Baptist Church. He served as a parish minister in South Dakota for several years during which time he was honored as the state’s minister of the year. He subsequently received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in counseling psychology from the University of Oregon. Dr. Bockoven began his work as a psychologist at the Norfolk Regional Center specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with chronic and persistent mental illness. From there, he went to the Lincoln Regional Center’s Forensic Unit where he worked with mentally disordered criminal offenders. During the decade of the 90’s, he served as Executive Director of the Samaritan Counseling Center in Lincoln where he specialized in relationship issues, anxiety and depression problems, trauma recovery and spiritual concerns. He then spent 12 years at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln where he served as Chair of the psychology department, achieved tenure and was promoted to full professor. While at Wesleyan, he also maintained a private clinical practice through Orr Psychotherapy Resources in Lincoln and was a leadership consultant for Methodist clergy. Following his time at Wesleyan, he worked with returning war veterans at the VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care Systems and retired in 2021. He was recently given the title of Professor Emeritus of Psychology by Nebraska Wesleyan and is writing a history of Wesleyan’s psychology department. Dr. Bockoven is an active public speaker and has published several articles on self-esteem and social skills development in professional journals as well as a book entitled “What Rhymes with Therapy?” Aside from his professional involvements, Dr. Bockoven enjoys his two children and three grandchildren. His hobbies include music, close-up magic, and travel.
Homesteading Records Genealogy	Mar 27, 2026	Homesteading Records Genealogy
No Meeting	Apr 03, 2026	Enjoy the Easter Holiday
Tammy Stevenson	Apr 10, 2026	Houses of Hope BIO Tammy Stevenson serves as the Executive Director of Houses of Hope, leading compassionate, evidence-based programs that support individuals and families navigating substance use and mental health disorders. She brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, fundraising, and organizational management. Throughout her career, Tammy has been recognized for building effective teams, strengthening financial sustainability, and fostering collaborative partnerships. She is deeply committed to advocacy, equity, and creating systems that help people build better lives in recovery.
Jenny Cardwell	Apr 17, 2026	Africa Safaris, Witnessing Environmental Conservation
Andy Peterson, Director of Operations	May 01, 2026	Lux Center BIO Andy Peterson grew up in Minnesota and then spent several formative years in New England before arriving in Lincoln in 2012. After two decades in retail he has found a calling supporting artists and community through creative leadership, strategic thinking and relationship-building. He is excited about the role that LUX can play as a community hub and creative catalyst. In addition to supporting LUX operations and programming, Andy serves on the board of the Uni Place Creative District, tying the missions of these two organizations together in a meaningful way. It is this sort of collaborative and collective problem solving that drives him to seek out new community contacts and connections. Andy has developed his own art practice informed by his curiosity about our world and especially our relationship with wild natural elements. He understands the power that art has for the maker and the viewer, and encourages everyone to spend time on an art, craft or hobby. He spends as much time as he can travelling and exploring with his wife and three children. “The LUX provides amazing and unique opportunities for everyone in the area to engage with art in their own way. Making my own art has been a powerful tool that I have leaned on to learn more about myself and the wider world. There is such a need for us to come together and forge bonds in a positive manner, and art provides avenues for those connections. I am humbled to get to support this mission for the community.”
Charlie Wesche, CEO	Jun 05, 2026	NeighborWorks Lincoln BIO Charles Wesche joined NeighborWorks Lincoln in 2018 and is currently the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Prior to being named CEO in August of 2024, Charles held positions at NeighborWorks Lincoln as a Construction Manager, Director of Real Estate Development, and Chief of Staff. NeighborWorks Lincoln is a Community Development Housing Organization that assists low-to-moderate income residents with the purchase of their first home, builds 15-25 new homes each year, and strengthens neighborhoods through community building and engagement efforts. Charles has over 15 years of experience in residential construction & affordable housing development, having built or rehabilitated hundreds of homes for Lincoln’s low to moderate-income residents. Charles created the Prairie Roots Community Land Trust, currently oversees the trust’s portfolio, and continually advocates both locally and nationally for innovative approaches to providing affordable housing opportunities. Charles also currently serves as the Manager for the South of Downtown Community Development Organization. Prior to his time at NeighborWorks, Charles owned and operated a residential remodeling company that operated in Lincoln and the surrounding areas. Originally from Laramie, Wyoming, Charles has lived in Lincoln for the past 20 years with his wife, Megan, and their three children.
Kate Bolz, President and CEO	Jun 12, 2026	Community Health Endowment of Lincoln BIO Kate Bolz, a nonprofit executive who has dedicated her professional career to public service, was named President & CEO of the Community Health Endowment (CHE) on January 1, 2025. Bolz’s career demonstrates her commitment to improving the lives of those around her. Just prior to joining CHE, Bolz served as the Community Leadership and Belonging Manager at the Lincoln Community Foundation where she led efforts to identify, elevate and address disparities and inequalities in the Lincoln community by designing and implementing targeted leadership development and grantmaking initiatives. Earlier in her career, she was appointed by the President to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development unit to manage federal programs for business, community and housing assistance. Prior to her work at the USDA, Bolz was the Advisor for Economic Development to Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird where she developed programs and policies for economic growth and workforce development. Earlier, she was elected to the Nebraska Legislature, where she served as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and on the Retirement Committee, the Executive Board, Children’s Commission, and Oversight Committee on Corrections.
Lincoln South Rotary Annual Meeting	Jun 19, 2026	Changing of the Guard
Jason Prokop, Executive Director	Jun 26, 2026	First Five Nebraska BIO Jason oversees First Five Nebraska’s policy and communications work. He previously was External Affairs Manager at the Nebraska Department of Transportation where he helped grow relationships with elected officials, local governments, community organizations and citizens. A Crete native, Jason returned home after spending several years in Washington, D.C., serving in senior positions for U.S. Senator Ben Nelson, including Legislative Director and as a senior policy advisor. He also was Chief of Staff to the CEO at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the U.S. standard-setting and regulatory support organization for the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Jason received a B.S. from Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he double-majored in political science and communication studies. Jason and his wife, Jennifer, live in Lincoln with their two children.