PROMOTIONS

P.J. Morgan Real Estate

P.J. Morgan, former Omaha mayor and current owner of P.J. Morgan Real Estate, recently named Ryan Ellis the new president and broker for P.J. Morgan Real Estate.

In his new role, Ellis will be the real estate broker for the company and responsible for coordinating all agent activity, the day to day operations of the company and the future direction of P.J. Morgan Real Estate. Ellis

began his career at P.J. Morgan Real Estate as an intern while attending Creighton University.

He graduated from Creighton with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accepted a leadership role as the head of the property management department for P.J. Morgan Real Estate.

In 2007, Ellis was promoted to executive vice president and chief operations officer due to his outstanding leadership and his excellent work in real estate sales and leasing. Ellis will now take on an even larger role as P.J. Morgan Real Estate ’s new president and real estate broker.

Spencer’s

Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops announced that Brad Marr has been named general manager at the premier Omaha steakhouse. President of the

Hospitality Restaurant Group, which manages Spencer’s, Paul Keeler made the announcement. Marr has been acting general manager.

Prior to coming to Spencer’s, Marr held positions at V. Mertz Restaurant and Sullivan’s Steakhouse. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

"We’re extremely pleased to promote Brad to this position at Spencer’s," said Keeler. "He has shown great leadership during the past several months. We know that his background and management expertise, coupled

with the quality of food and service Spencer’s is known for, will provide an exceptional guest experience."

"Spencer’s is the place where I can put my professional management skills to work to grow the overall success of the restaurant." said Marr.

Labenz & Associates LLC

Labenz & Associates LLC, a Lincoln-based certified public accounting firm, is pleased to announce that Kris Rutford has been named a partner in the

firm.

Rutford has 25 years of public accounting experience focusing on personal and business taxation, with specialization in the areas of banking, closely-held business and trust services.

A graduate of UNL, Rutford holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Professional Accountancy. He joined Labenz & Associates LLC in 2006.

Rutford currently serves as president of the Food Bank of Lincoln and is past president of the Nebraska Sports Council. He is active in the Lincoln community, including the Downtown YMCA, United Way and Lincoln

Rotary Club No. 14. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Lincoln Estate Planning Council.

AWARDS

RTG Medical

RTG Medical is proud to announce Josh Beam’s recognition in Healthcare Traveler Magazine’s Healthcare Recruiters of the Year Showcase. The showcase recognizes the efforts of Healthcare Recruiters in the medical staffing industry.

Beam has been with RTG Medical for six years and is the third RTG Medical Senior Recruiter in three consecutive years to receive this award. RTG

Medical is national in scope to recruit and place medical professionals in all 50 states. The company has recruited and placed thousands of professionals since its inception, in large part to the efforts of those like Beam.

He and his wife, Courtney, live in Blair, Neb., and recently welcomed the birth of their first child, Garry.

From all of us at RTG Medical , "Thank you for your efforts, Josh, and congratulations on this award!"

OFFICERS

AIA Nebraska

AIA Nebraska, a society of the American Institute of Architects announces the election of its 2009 Board of Directors.

President, W. Larry Jacobsen, AIA, Schemmer Associates, Inc.

President-Elect, Kristi M. Nohavec, AIA, Clark Enersen Partners, Inc.

Secretary, Tammy L. Eagle Bull, AIA, Encompass Architects

Treasurer, Robert C. Ripley, AIA, Capitol Commission

Director, Kenneth P. West, AIA, DLR Group

Director, John Dineen, HDR

Associate Director, Matthew W. Kuhn, Associate AIA, HDR.

NEW HIRES

Kutak Rock LLP

Kutak Rock LLP, a national law firm based in Omaha, has announced the addition of seven Omaha attorneys to the firm’s partnership. Eleven attorneys from the firm’s other offices also joined the partnership, bringing the total to 253 partners in 16 offices nationwide. The promotions were effective January 1, 2009.

"We are proud to announce this new class of partners," said Mike Curry, the Omaha office’s managing partner. "They will help continue our tradition of providing excellent legal services to our local, regional and national clients."

Joining Kutak Rock ’s partnership in Omaha are:

Danielle J. Amorena - Represents various parties involved in real estate matters and commercial lending transactions. She received her Juris Doctor in 2001 from Creighton University School of Law and has been an

associate at Kutak Rock since 2004.

Jennifer L. Andrews - Complex civil litigation with an emphasis on risk management, class action litigation, products liability, insurance coverage and toxic tort defense. She received her Juris Doctor in 2002 from

Creighton University School of Law and has been an associate at Kutak Rock since 2004.

Catherine A. Damico - Complex civil litigation and risk management issues, with an emphasis on e-discovery and electronic document management. She received her Juris Doctor in 2002 from Northeastern University School of Law and has been an associate at Kutak Rock since 2002.

Rebecca L. Fox - Represents various parties involved in real estate matters and commercial lending transactions. She received her Juris Doctor in 2002

from Creighton University School of Law and has been an associate at Kutak Rock since 2002.

Michael G. Mullin - Mediations and arbitrations; commercial, insurance,

personal injury and wrongful death, product liability, and toxic tort litigation. He received his Juris Doctor in 1980 from Creighton University School of Law and has been with Kutak Rock since 2008.

Gillian "Gigi" O’Hara - Defends local and national clients against various employment-related issues and practices in the defense of products liability, professional negligence and asbestos lawsuits. She received her Juris

Doctor in 2002 from Syracuse University College of Law and has been an associate at Kutak Rock since 2002.

John J. Wiechmann - Represents corporate investors, syndicators, and developers in renewable energy, affordable housing, and historic rehabilitation tax credit transactions. He received his Juris Doctor in 2002

from University of Illinois College of Law and has been an associate with Kutak Rock since 2002.

The Harry A. Koch Co.

The Harry A. Koch Co. would like to announce the addition of Bill Unger to The Harry A. Koch Co. team.

Unger joined the Commercial & Property Sales Division of The Harry A. Koch Co. a full service insurance agency, in November of 2008. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 1989. Immediately following, he started his insurance career with a national insurance brokerage company in Omaha. Most recently, he worked for Liberty Mutual for nearly 11 years as an office operations manager and

senior account executive.

He has 18 years of experience in the industry working mostly with larger employers in the state of Nebraska. His specialties include manufacturing,

distribution, and transportation insurance. He earned his CPCU (Certified Property Casualty Underwriter) designation in 1995 and is now working towards his ARM (Associate in Risk Management).

ACHIEVEMENTS

Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP

Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP is pleased to announce that Thomas J. Malicki, one of the firm’s managing partners, has been selected for inclusion in Worth magazine’s list of "Top 100 Attorneys."

The top attorneys list, published in the December 2008/January 2009 issue of Worth, recognizes the nation’s leading attorneys specializing in trusts and estates, philanthropy, elder care and other private practice areas. The list, now in its fourth year, is a result of extensive research and analysis by

Worth’s editorial staff and recognizes attorneys who have demonstrated

"outstanding expertise, insight, trustworthiness and commitment to their clients’ needs."

Malicki focuses his practice on corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, energy law, estate planning, probate, and pension and profit sharing law. In his corporate practice, Malicki advises clients in complex

business transactions including international business, real estate and energy/power plant transactions. He also counsels clients with respect to

tax and securities issues encountered in the implementation of various corporate and partnership structures.

Malicki has extensive experience in estate and probate matters. He utilizes his broad knowledge of estate planning to counsel clients with large estates as to methods of tax savings and probate simplification. In addition, he regularly handles estate administration matters and frequently deals with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with estate and gift tax matters.

Malicki is familiar with the maintenance of pension and profitsharing plans to ensure compliance with ERISA and various other federal rules and regulations.

Malicki received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Creighton University in 1984. He received his Master of Business Administration from Creighton University and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Creighton University School of Law in 1987.

Malicki has also earned recognition by Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers of America.

Leadership Resources

On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, Leadership Resources, an organizational development company with offices in Lincoln and Omaha, held their annual client appreciation and celebration. At the appreciation workshop event, clients and guests were provided the opportunity to set their goals and action plans for 2009.

Following the workshop was a celebration at which 14 individuals from the Lincoln and Omaha area were honored as recipients of a Leadership Resources Success Award.

Matthew Pleggenkuhle, compliance manager with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Omaha, was one of the award recipients. Pleggenkuhle received the Leadership Behavior Development Award. This award is presented to the individual that has documented positive behavioral change over a period of six months or more. Judgment criteria included tracking metrics,

measurable outcomes, leadership behavioral changes, and peer testimonials. To be eligible for an award, an individual or company must have utilized a Leadership Resources product or service in the past five years and have documented success in their personal or professional life.

Several other individuals and companies were honored at the Leadership Resources client celebration as well.

SAC Federal Credit Union

SAC Federal Credit Union announced today that Corey Parker is a recent graduate of the NAFCU Management Development Institute (MDI). Parker

joined SAC Federal Credit Union as a business lender in 2006.

"We are very proud that Corey Parker has successfully completed this rigorous management program that focuses on sound and informed decision-making within both long-term and daily operational contexts," said SAC Federal Credit Union’s President Gail DeBoer. "We have found that the best way to maximize our member service is to offer our staff the opportunity to attend exemplary professional education that allows them to excel in their respective positions."

MDI participants are taught by industry experts who cover a variety of critical topics including administration and human resources management; operations/technology management; regulatory compliance/ accounting; finance and marketing. NAFCU is the only national organization that focuses exclusively on federal issues affecting credit unions, representing its members before the federal government and the public.

Copyright 2009 The Omaha World-Herald Company