She/Her/Hers

Christie’s dedication to enhancing community health and well-being, regardless of zip code, brought her to KOB. With eleven years of healthcare experience, she observed firsthand how factors like air and water quality, as well as increasing heat, affected patients' mental and physical health. Driven by her passion, she decided to shift her focus toward fostering a healthier ecosystem for all.

Christie has a deep love for Omaha, where she has lived since 1999. Christie has a masters degree in Social Work from UNO. Over the years, she has resided in West Omaha, Elkhorn, Downtown, and now Ponca Hills. In her free time, Christie enjoys being outdoors, spending time with family, including her pets. She also has a love for traveling, sitting by the fire, learning about different cultures, wine tasting, and music.

She/Her/Hers

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” - Anne-Marie Bonneau

Gillian’s experience and enthusiasm lie in zero waste and local food justice. She has applied her passions toward making Omaha a more sustainable and just place for all, and hopes that she can inspire future generations to do the same. In her spare time, she can be found gardening, watching documentaries, or making tamales with her husband.

She/Her/Hers

“Give children a chance to love the Earth before we ask them to save it.” - David Sobel

Rachel has a passion for discovering how to live a sustainable life in a modern world, and a love of teaching. These came together in the perfect role of sharing practical, real ways we can positively impact and interact with our environment. She believes educating youth in the art of noticing their world will build the most positive solutions to the climate issues we face. Rachel enjoys spending time outside: foraging, gardening, hiking, and sitting on the porch with her partner, dog and two cats.

She/Her/Hers

“When we care for the land, we care for ourselves” - Robin Wall Kimmerer

Emily is an ISA Certified Arborist whose passion is driven by her curiosity and awareness of the interconnectedness of all living beings. Her background in environmental education, horticulture, and arboriculture has led her to KOB, where she explores how to strengthen the resilience of Omaha’s tree canopy and create avenues for individuals to discover meaningful connections with it. Emily finds her greatest joy in the outdoors, nurturing relationships with her community of plants, animals, and humans alike.

She/Her/Hers

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, they need the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with them the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” - Rachel Carson. Hannah believes strongly that rediscovering a sense of wonder just is as important for the adult as it is the child.

Hannah’s current work at KOB blends her past experiences in both formal and informal educational settings. She has been working in classrooms, state parks, and nonprofit organizations for almost 25 years, encouraging everyone around her to be lifelong learners. Hannah has a strong passion for educating both youth and adults about the environment and building community through authentically-meaningful, interactive educational experiences.

She/Her/Hers

“... Recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant… it means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve... You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love…” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Pearl’s passion for sustainability has brought her to KOB. Throughout her youth, young adult, and adult career her dedication to finding balance in our natural world and modern society has led her to a successful sustainability journey with almost 10 years of traditional education and experience, combined with a lifetime of interest and engagement. With experience in policy, research, behavior, natural science, and engagement, Pearl aims to create harmony within the community she inhabits, by aiming to meet individuals where they are and help bridge the gap between the knowledge of sustainability and the practice of it.

She/Her/Hers

“You can solve all the world's problems in a garden.” - Geoff Lawton

Maddy is a content strategist and production manager who values creative collaboration for the greater good. She has a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts (Stage Management), with 20+ years of professional experience in marketing, events management, and nonprofit development. She is passionate about strengthening the Keep Omaha Beautiful brand, engaging all stakeholders, and serving our greater community. Maddy and her husband manage an urban permaculture farm at their home with a beloved dog, Otie, who keeps the rabbits at bay.

He/Him/His

Alex’s passion for nature and the environment, especially combating the crisis of climate change brought him to KOB. His imperfectly applied life motto is: “The best is the enemy of the good.” - Voltaire

Alex has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Wichita State University. His professional background includes five years experience in process engineering in the private aviation industry and four years experience in volunteer coordinating and fundraising, with a focus on grants. At work, he focuses on fundraising, improving operations, root cause analysis, and maximizing the impact of KOB. In his personal life, Alex is currently in love with his pizza oven, enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and husky, and an unhealthy enjoyment of college football.

She/Her/Hers

“Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.” - William A. Ward

Ally comes to Keep Omaha Beautiful with experience working with volunteers of a variety of backgrounds in religious and nonprofit settings. Having studied theology and psychology at the University of Notre Dame, she has a strong interest in people and the ways they create meaning in their lives. Though she’s loved trees since childhood, Ally discovered her passion for sustainable living in college, and she strives to live in harmony with the environment by pursuing more eco-friendly spending and eating habits. In her free time, Ally enjoys looking for the best vegetarian meals in Omaha, (re)organizing her house, and spending quality time with her husband, son, and two tiny dogs.