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Karen Pesek is the Director of Finance and Community Liaison at Pesek Law, a bilingual personal injury law firm in Omaha. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Karen moved to Columbus, Nebraska in 2003 after graduating high school with the goal of becoming bilingual and then returning to Mexico to complete her college education. She enrolled in Central Community College and earned her Associate of Arts Degree. At this time, she also met her husband, Ross Pesek, an attorney at Pesek Law. Karen went on to earn a Public Accounting degree in 2007. After college Karen worked as an auditor with Deloitte, an international accounting and consulting firm. As an auditor she had the opportunity to travel all over the United States, Mexico, and Spain.
Karen eventually left Deloitte to help operate the business side of the newly formed law firm, Pesek Law. In 2013, Karen and her husband co-founded the True Potential Scholarship program to help young immigrants achieve their true potential through quality, affordable education. This scholarship program focuses on providing opportunities to attend local community colleges for immigrants residing in Nebraska and Iowa. Karen is not only an advocate for immigrants, but is also an advocate for low-cost, no-debt, college education. In the past six years, True Potential has awarded over 100 scholarships to approximately 85 unique individuals using private funds raised under the Pesek's leadership.
Today, Karen's role at the law firm has evolved to include not only finance, but she's also the community liaison of the organization, collaborating with partners that serve the immigrant community in Nebraska and Iowa. For three years, Karen was the treasurer of the board of directors at the Heartland Workers Center an organization that promotes civic engagement amongst underrepresented communities. Karen is on the board of the non-profit Urban Abbey.
Karen and Ross, along with their three children, reside in South Omaha.
Nick Jensen has a B.A. in Business Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Nick has lived in Omaha his entire life. Nick serves as the Vice President of Retail Sales at Jensen Tire & Auto. Jensen Tire & Auto has provided automotive repair and tire services to the Omaha and surrounding communities for over 46 years. Nick and the Jensen Family provide jobs for over 250 people in the community.
Nick is determined to bring career awareness about trades to the youth in the Omaha community. Nick is involved with several automotive related committees not only at the Trade School level, but also at the high school level as well. Nick enjoys developing these programs so that the students/ future workforce in Omaha is ready for the years ahead.
Nick values being part of the MCC Foundation board because he thinks the innovative programs that MCC provides its’ students are the necessary skills to help the Omaha community thrive for years to come.
Stephen B. LeGrand holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Northern Iowa, an MBA from the University of Iowa, certification in Integrated Supply Chain Management from the University of Tennessee, CPIM certification from the American Production & Inventory Control Society and a certification in Technology from the Society of Manufacturing Engineering.
LeGrand joined the Valmont Company in 2007, as the VP of Global Operations for the Irrigation division with plants in US, Brazil, Spain, South Africa, China and Dubai. Prior to coming to Valmont, he was with the Kohler Company, serving as the director of operations, Worldwide for Power Systems division, producing small and large industrial grade generators for the standby power generator market. In this position, he led a growing global operations team in Singapore, China, India and the U.S. He was responsible for managing, integrating and capturing worldwide operational synergies in all operational disciplines. Stephen has a strong background in lean manufacturing, quality, customer service, cost management and safety.
LeGrand has held several community positions in youth organizations to help foster athletic development, sportsmanship and positive management of young athletes. In addition, he has been involved with school fund raising, education and neighborhood management. His hobbies include golf, exercising, hunting and reading.
LeGrand joined the MCC Foundation to help foster the development of students wanting to enter the workforce with skills that are relevant to the needs of the working environment. To accomplish this, he believes it is imperative that business professionals get involved to help colleges with infrastructure, equipment, tools and guidance needed to equip our teachers and faculty members with the right vision, direction and best available resources to aid the learning process. As new technologies evolve throughout our world, we need workers who are well prepared to implement these concepts, leading our country to keep the fabric of America strong for generations to come.
Michelle Settles is the Senior Director of Business Operations for First National Bank of Omaha. Michelle has worked for FNBO the past 24 years. Her new position with the bank brought her to Omaha via North Platte five years ago. After growing up in Paxton Nebraska, Michelle graduated from Eastern Wyoming Community College and Hasting College where she majored in business administration, management, and marketing.
Michelle has previously served in both a leadership role and as an active board member on the Lincoln County Community Development Board, AYSO Soccer Board and the Domestic Violence Intervention Board. Michelle has first-hand knowledge of how a community college can provide an affordable outlet for a student to continue their higher education. Michelle looks forward to serving on the MCC Foundation Board to help ensure that MCC can continue to provide flexible educational opportunities to students while providing a skilled workforce to employers.
Outside of work, Michelle loves to try new food while traveling to new places with her husband (Nate) and spending time with her son (Austin), daughter-in-law (Kate) and their dogs (Oakley & Moose). Michelle and Nate are anxiously waiting for the arrival of their first grandchild in March 2021.
Gerry Tomka is the executive vice president and chief operating officer at Security National Bank. Tomka has been in the banking industry for nearly 40 years with a focus in lending. As an executive member of a community bank, Tomka is an advocate for community-based organizations and has teamed up with the Intercultural Senior Center, Children’s Respite Care Center and The Durham Museum to help support their missions to serve the Greater Omaha area.
Tomka currently serves on the MCC Applied Institute of Finance Advisory Board and has enjoyed learning about the educational resources MCC provides its student population. He hopes to help create awareness for all programs that MCC offers by becoming more involved with the foundation and connecting with others who share the same passion for furthering educational development.
Born and raised in Omaha, he attended Omaha Creighton Prep High School, and graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance management and marketing.
Outside the office, Tomka enjoys traveling with his wife (Rosie) and spending time with their daughter (Kate), son-in-law (Dan) and son (Greg). His hobbies include time spent in the outdoors—hiking, biking and fishing. Aiming to help people achieve their dreams and reach their full potential in all aspects of life is what Tomka lives by.