Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer by inducting him into the Ancient Society of St. Florian and St. Michael.

We thank Chief Schmaderer for his professionalism in all circumstances and his dedication and commitment to the City of Omaha.

The First Responders Foundation thanks Chief Schmaderer for his outstanding leadership of the Omaha Police Department, for his professionalism in all circumstances, his dedication and commitment to the citizens of the City of Omaha and the metro area, and for his continuous support of our Foundation.

Todd R. Schmaderer was appointed the 32nd Chief of Police for the City of Omaha on August 15, 2012. Chief Schmaderer leads the largest law enforcement agency in the State of Nebraska, which is comprised of 902 sworn officers and 160 non-sworn personnel. He manages an operating budget of $160 million, and serves a population of 460,000 residents in the city limits.

Chief Schmaderer is a dedicated police professional who has excelled at all ranks in the Omaha Police Department.

He is a 24-year-veteran of the Omaha Police Department, and previously held the positions of Deputy Chief, Captain, Training Academy Commander, and Uniform Patrol Supervisor as a Lieutenant and Sergeant.

Chief Schmaderer is an adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Bellevue University. He serves on the Boards of many organizations, to include the Nebraska Crime Commission, the Omaha Police Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands. He is a member of the Omaha-Metropolitan Chiefs Association, the Police Officers Association of Nebraska, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He has lived in Omaha his entire life and is a 1990 graduate of Omaha Roncalli High School.

Omaha Fire Chief Dan Olsen

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Omaha Fire Chief Dan Olsen by inducting him into the Ancient Society of St. Florian and St. Michael.

Daniel C. Olsen was appointed Fire Chief on December 28, 2016, becoming the Omaha Fire Department’s 31st Fire Chief.

Chief Olsen began his public safety career with the department in 1993 and has served as a Firefighter, Captain, Fire Investigator, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, and Interim Fire Chief before being appointed as the Fire Chief. An interested fact is that Chief Olsen is also a certified law enforcement officer. He graduated from the Omaha Police Academy in 2009. Chief Olsen manages a 116.8 million dollar budget and provides leadership to over 650 firefighters and oversees 24 fire stations. Chief Olsen also manages the fire department’s administrative and civilian staff.

We thank Chief Olsen for his dedication, professionalism, and leadership to the Omaha Fire Department and for the service to our community.

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Chief Dan Olsen by inducting him into the Ancient Society of St. Florian and St. Michael. We thank Chief Olsen for his dedication, professionalism, and leadership to the Omaha Fire Department and for the service to our community. We thank Chief Olsen for his willingness to go above and beyond to support the mission of the First Responders Foundation and for our partnership and collaboration.

Mary & Hal Daub

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Mary & Hal Daub by inducting them into the Ancient Society of St. Florian and St. Michael.

Hal and Mary Daub have a life long history of service to the community and the country, and of supporting first responders.

Hal and Mary have served or chaired fundraising events for Multiple Sclerosis Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Nebraska Special Olympics, Monroe-Myers Institute, Omaha Home for Boys, Friends of Scouting, Optimists Club, the Academic Decathlon, Salvation Army, Madonna School, Junior League, Joslyn Art Museum, Children’s Hospital, Mid-America Boy Scouts Council, South Omaha Eagles and many more.

Mary has also served the community through real estate and her career teaching public school.

As Mayor, Hal is remembered for bringing the police helicopter to advance public safety and infra-red helmets to the fire department.

Hal served as a Captain, U.S. Army Infantry, Platoon Leader and Company Commander, served four-terms in the United States House of Representatives and was Mayor of the City of Omaha. As Mayor, Hal is remembered for bringing the police helicopter to advance public safety and infra-red helmets to the fire department. He brought the Sun Dawgs summer youth program to Omaha Parks & Recreation, the Downtown Riverfront Development for a Convention Center and Arena, the First National Bank Tower, the Union Pacific Center, the Hruska Federal Court House, the Curtis Regional Park Service Headquarters, the South Omaha Stockyards and North Omaha development projects and the West Dodge Expressway.

Hal is now a Senior Counsel with Husch Blackwell law firm and is currently serving on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Mary and Hal Daub by inducting them into the Ancient Society of St. Florian and St. Michael. We thank them for their advocacy for first responders, their long term commitment to public safety and their continuing support of the First Responders Foundation.

Jim Hanson Jr.

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Jim Hanson, Jr. by inducting him into the Ancient Society of St. Florian and St. Michael.

Jim Hanson Jr. is currently Chairman Emeritus for the First Responders Foundation after serving as Chairman in 2018/19. Jim has been with the Foundation since the beginning and was part of the team that created the #SupportBlue Movement and the 9/11 Minute of Silence. Jim has been an invaluable and dedicated member of the board, serving wherever needed, always with a can-do attitude and a smile.

Jim has a long history of volunteerism.

He is the past President of Downtown Omaha Rotary Club. Jim Jr. was appointed to the board of Workforce Development/(Heartland Workforce Solutions) by Mayor Mike Fahey in 2003, for which he is past Chair and on the Executive Board, retiring from the board in 2019. In 2015, Jim was appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts, to the Nebraska Workforce Development Board and presently chairs the Policy and Oversight Subcommittee. Jim is also a graduate of the FBI citizens academy and is the incoming chair for the FBICAAA (FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association) Jim and his wife Rose are also contributors and volunteers for the Nebraska Humane Society. Past activities include: Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer, Junior Achievement volunteer, and Past Distinguished and Outstanding President for Mid-City Optimist club.

InTouch Communications

Jim founded InTouch Communications in 1996. InTouch has eight employees and is currently the leading Telecommunication Solution Provider (TSP) in the Midwest.

We thank Jim for his endless contributions to the First Responders Foundation and the Board of Directors and for his commitment and dedication to first responders in the community.

The Criss Foundation

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor The Dr. C.C. and Mabel Criss Foundation by inducting the Foundation into the Ancient Society of St. Florian and St. Michael.

We are thankful for the Criss Foundation’s enduring financial support of the First Responders Foundation and for their commitment to the First Responders Support Team and the mental and emotional health of all first responders. Andy Davis accepted the award on behalf of the Criss Foundation. We thank Andy for partnering with and for his continued confidence in the First Responders Foundation.  Andy shared the following:

The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial Foundation has carried on the Criss legacy of philanthropy since 1978. Multiple health institutions, universities, cultural agencies, scholarship funds, youth programs and social service organizations have all benefited from the Foundation’s generosity. As the founders of Mutual of Omaha, Dr. and Mrs. Criss were deeply committed to serving the Omaha community. That legacy of service remains as strong as it was forty-two years ago thanks to their vision and philanthropic leadership.

The Criss Foundation is deeply honored to be inducted into the National Society of St. Florian and St. Michael. We are especially grateful to support the extraordinary work of the First Responders Foundation.

Our first responders and their families make great sacrifices every day in order to serve others. The Criss Foundation is honored to serve them.

Thank you to the First Responders Foundation and to all first responders for your service and sacrifice.”

The First Responders Foundation is proud to announce the Awards of Excellence 2020 Winners.

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected as recipients of the First Responders Foundation Awards of Excellence 2020.

Fire

• Landon Barrett – Underwood High School
• Michaela Dooley – Yutan High School
• John Farmer III – Omaha North High School
• Leah Fitzke – Fremont High School
• Elise Fitzpatrick – Papillion LaVista South High School
• Jackson Glup – Plattsmouth High School
• Tea Jackson – Bellevue West High School
• Kiley Johnson – Millard West High School
• Katelyn Komenda – Raymond Central High School
• Rashawn McNeal-Lee – Omaha South High School
• Caroline Moore – Marian High School
• Matthew Neville – Ralston High School
• Jack Nieto – Papillion LaVista High School
• Noelle Philippi – Ralston High School
• Mia Shepoka – Mercy Catholic High School
• Gabe Stolinski – Gretna High School

Police

• Claire Benson – Westside High School
• Julia Benson – Westside High School
• Isabella Milone – Glenwood High School
• Jaclyn Negrete – Papillion LaVista High School
• Owen O’Brien – Lewis Central High School
• Meghan O’Neil – Skutt Catholic High School
• Lucy Parizek – Omaha Burke High School
• Antonio Rinn – Millard North High School
• Connor Rinn – Millard North High School
• Emily Saalfeld – Marian High School
• Halley Shade – Conestoga High School
• Emma Spizzirri – Skutt Catholic High School
• Scott Swanson – Omaha Burke High School
• Tyler Swanson – Omaha Burke High School
• Amanda Vlcek – Millard South High School
• Brady Weddum – Glenwood High School

We thank all of the outstanding students who applied for the award this year. The committee was impressed with the large number of exceptional applicants.

The recipients represent families from the Omaha Police Department, Omaha Fire Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Papillion Fire Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, and Crescent, IA Volunteer Fire Department.

We are proud and excited to announce the winners of our inaugural “Awards of Excellence” program, which go to high school seniors who are children of our First Responders and have demonstrated commitment to community.

The Awards of Excellence were made possible by our Boosters.

The following are the 2017 Winners:

Melanie Doyle, Bellevue West High School
Katlyn Holaday, Cam High School (Iowa)
Kaitlynn Johnson, Millard West High School
Brenden O’Brien, Lewis Central High School
Katharine Moore, Duchesne Academy
Victor Salerno, Glenwood Community High School
Baily OBorny, Bennington High School
Madison Swanson, Mercy High School
Elizabeth Rockwell, Millard NorthHigh School
Brooklyn Housh, Millard West High School

We appreciate the hard work and dedication exhibited by all applicants and wish everyone continued success in all future endeavors.

Mike Fahey

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Mike Fahey by inducting him into the Ancient Order of Saint Florian and Saint Michael Society.

Saint Michael, the protector is the patron saint of police and Saint Florian is the patron saint of firefighters. The First Responders Foundation recognizes Mayor Stothert for supporting first responders and the First Responders Foundation.

Michael G. Fahey served as mayor of Omaha from 2001 to 2009. He is from Kansas City, Missouri but found his way to Creighton University where he earned a bachelor of arts in 1973. He founded American Land and Title Co., now part of Wells Fargo, Norwest Corporation. He has served on the boards of numerous business organizations and community improvement organizations. He is currently on the Board of Directors of First Responders Foundation and the Board of Trustees of Creighton Preparatory High School.

Robert Nelson

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Robert Nelson by inducting him into the Ancient Order of Saint Florian and Saint Michael Society.

Saint Michael, the protector is the patron saint of police and Saint Florian is the patron saint of firefighters. The First Responders Foundation recognizes Robert Nelson for supporting first responders and the First Responders Foundation.

Bob Nelson is founder and principal of Nelson/Murphy Insurance and Investments in Omaha. A native of Omaha, Bob served four years active duty and another 19 in the Navy Reserves, retiring as a captain. He served on the First Responders Foundation board for six years, during which time he organized the Awards of Excellence which provides $500 to high school seniors who are children of first responders. He is currently working on building the First Responders Foundation Boosters.

Charles Sederstrom

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Charles Sederstrom by inducting him into the Ancient Order of Saint Florian and Saint Michael Society.

Saint Michael, the protector is the patron saint of police and Saint Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.  The First Responders Foundation recognizes Charles Sederstrom for supporting first responders and the First Responders Foundation.

Charles was born in Deadwood, South Dakota; attended Black Hills State University in Spearfish, and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Dakota. He began practicing law in Omaha in 1968 with Donald Erickson and subsequently began the law firm of Erickson | Sederstrom. He has dedicated his career to Corporate Law with a particular reference on Health Law and to serving our community for over fifty years. He is a member and leader in the Autism Center of Nebraska, Scottish Rite, Burgess Health, West Health Institute and Omaha Northwest Rotary Club. Chuck served as Chairman of the First Responders’ from 2013 to 2106 and remains on the Board of Directors.

Mayor Jean Stothert

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Mayor Jean Stothert by inducting her into the Ancient Order of Saint Florian and Saint Michael Society.

Saint Michael, the protector is the patron saint of police and Saint Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.  The First Responders Foundation recognizes Mayor Stothert for supporting first responders and the First Responders Foundation.

Jean Stothert is the 51st mayor of Omaha and the first women to be so elected. She grew up near St. Louis and received a degree in nursing from Seattle Pacific University. She worked as a critical care nurse and then as head nurse of the department of cardiovascular surgery at St. Louis University. After moving to Omaha in 1993, she served on the Millard Board of Education and the Omaha City Council. She is now in her second term as Mayor. Mayor Stothert’s first priority is public safety. The number of police officers has reached the record high of 902, the fifth police precinct opens this month and the fire department will break ground next year on a new fire station. She has authorized the replacement and addition of equipment for both the police and fire departments to protect our first responders and the citizens of Omaha.

Secretary Chuck Hagel

The First Responders Foundation is proud to honor Secretary Chuck Hagel by inducting him into the Ancient Order of Saint Florian and Saint Michael Society.

Secretary Chuck Hagel was be the keynote speaker at the First Responders Foundation Third Annual 9/11 Luncheon of Honor on September 11, 2019.

Chuck Hagel was the 24th Secretary of Defense, serving from February 2013 to February 2015. He is the only Vietnam veteran and the first enlisted combat veteran to serve as Secretary of Defense.

Some of Sec. Hagel’s recent commitments include service on the Board of Trustees of RAND; Advisory Board of Corsair Capital; Senior Advisor to GALLUP and to the McCarthy Group; Centennial Scholar, Georgetown Walsh School of Foreign Service; Distinguished Scholar, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Distinguished Statesman at the Atlantic Council; Board of Directors of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS); Director and Founding Member of the American Security Project; and Advisory Board Chairman of the HillVets Veterans Organization.

Hagel served two terms in the United States Senate (1997-2009) representing the state of Nebraska. Hagel was a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; and Intelligence Committees. He Chaired the Foreign Relations International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion Subcommittee; and the Banking Committee’s International Trade and Finance, and Securities Subcommittees. Hagel also served as the Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the Senate Climate Change Observer Group.

Previously, Secretary Hagel was a Distinguished Professor at Georgetown University, Co- Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, Chairman of the Atlantic Council. He served as a member of the Secretary of Defense’s Policy Board, Secretary of Energy’s Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of Nuclear Power, Systemic Risk Council Board of Directors; and as a member of the Board of Directors of Chevron.

Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Hagel was president of McCarthy & Company, an investment banking firm in Omaha, Nebraska. In the mid-1980’s, Hagel co-founded VANGUARD Cellular Systems, Inc., a publicly traded corporation. He was President and CEO of the World USO, Private Sector Council (PSC), and Chief Operating Officer of the 1990 Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations (G-7 Summit). Hagel also served as Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration under President Ronald Reagan and Deputy Commissioner General of the 1982 World’s Fair.

He is the author of the book, America: Our Next Chapter and was the subject of a 2018 book by General Daniel Bolger entitled, Our Year of War, and a 2006 book by Charlyne Berens entitled, Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Hagel and his wife, Lilibet, have a daughter (Allyn) and son (Ziller).

(As of April 2019)