Since 1993, the Greater Omaha Chamber has honored business leaders who have made major contributions to the community. The year’s recipients were honored at the annual Omaha Business Hall of Fame Gala on August 23 at the Holland Center for Performing Arts. The 2023 inductees will be featured in a permanent exhibit at The Durham Museum. More information on the Omaha Business Hall of Fame can be found at https://www.omahachamber.org/bhof/.
David Karnes (1948-2020)
president & CEO, The Fairmont Group Inc.
Wife Kris Karnes, on her late husband:
When reflecting on David’s legacy, which of his accomplishments are you most proud of?
Dave was successful in his professional career and his business interests, and I see his deep commitment to community service reflected throughout Omaha. But above all, I am most proud that he didn’t just view success as numbers on a spreadsheet. He was very cognizant that behind the politics, business deals and fundraisers were interesting people he could learn about and often help, and it was those connections that he treasured most. I would say that his greatest skills were connecting and helping people, and being truly invested in the wellbeing of others.
What words of wisdom did he often impart to others?
I often heard him tell others that the most successful people he knew surrounded themselves with people who were smarter than them and then listened to their advice. He took this to heart: Dave was extremely smart but he never rested on his laurels. He had an insatiable desire to continue learning, and no one worked harder than Dave Karnes.
Greg Cutchall (1952-2022)
founder & CEO, Cutchall Management Co.
Michael Cutchall on his late brother:
When reflecting on Greg’s legacy, which of his accomplishments are you most proud of?
Greg was a vibrant contributor to improving the quality of life in Omaha – a city he called home, where he raised his family, celebrated with his friends and that he loved so dearly. Greg was Omaha proud!
What words of wisdom did he often impart to others?
“If it is not exceptional, then it is unacceptable!”
Ron Carson
Founder and CEO, Carson Group
What does this induction into the Business Hall of Fame mean to you
personally, and how do you believe it will influence your future endeavors?
It’s surreal to receive this award and be a part of such of respectable group of Omaha’s most notable leaders. For me, it’s a testament to the powerful mission we’ve created to impact tens of thousands of lives across the country, and we’re doing it all from right here in the center of the universe. It’s proof that the commitment I made to my clients 40 years ago has transformed into a movement bigger than any one person. Being recognized is an amazing honor. One that inspires me to impact the world on an exponential scale.
What business accomplishments are you most proud of?
Well, first off, I couldn’t have accomplished any of this without my partner, Jeanie, by my side for the past 41 years. That by itself is one of the things I’m most proud of. The positive impact we have on the lives of our clients, our stakeholders, and the families connected to our 251 office locations around the country is truly fulfilling. Yes, we’ve been on the Inc. 5000 list for six of the past seven years, but what gives all of that business success meaning is the community we’ve built along the way. I get to work alongside the most incredibly bright, talented people who want to change the world of financial advice for the better, and there’s nothing more valuable than going on this journey with whole-hearted people who care about one another and the mission we’re pursuing together.
In your journey to success, what valuable lessons or advice would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders in our region?
Find the best people you can and get the heck out of their way. Especially in the Midwest, our people are our secret weapon. No one will out care us. As an entrepreneur, understand that the opportunities to succeed have never been greater; nor the distractions to fail. If you know how to stay focused on the impact you want to have on the world, you are already winning the game. Cherish the connections you build with people around you. An epidemic of loneliness and isolation is spreading more than it ever has before, and we’re all starving for someone we can trust. Believe in the power of staying connected: to your family, to your mentors, to your friends and colleagues, to your clients, and to your core beliefs. This connection can go a long way in a city like Omaha. There isn’t a more philanthropic city in the U.S., and we get to set an example for the rest of the world.
Beverly Kracher, Ph.D.
Robert B. Daughtery Endowed Chair in Business Ethics & Society,
Creighton University and founder of the Business Ethics Alliance
What does this induction into the Business Hall of Fame mean to you
personally, and how do you believe it will influence your future endeavors?
My induction represents what is unique to our city. I don’t know any other business community across the nation that has included a business ethicist in their Hall of Fame. Personally, I like living in a city and doing business in a city where ethics matter.
What business accomplishments are you most proud of?
I have a couple. First, I am proud to have built the Business Ethics Alliance. I built it from scratch with other leaders and a great staff. There was no rulebook or blueprint for what we did together. We had a blast coming up with a plan of our own and turning it into a reality. Second, in the process of building the Alliance, more and more business leaders developed trust in me. Down through the last 15 years I have had business ethics conversations with them in their offices or coffee shops and been able to serve as an ethics coach. I have helped businesspeople move from moral stress to relief. I have helped them examine and elevate the ethical climates of their organizations.
In your journey to success, what valuable lessons or advice would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders in our region?
First, the age-old advice holds true: Find great mentors and collaborators. Bob Bates, Kate Dodge, and Jane Miller have been some of my most influential mentors. Todd Johnson, Denny Wiederholt, the founding partners, and Laura Larson advanced big dreams with me at the Alliance. So many other mentors and collaborators. So many. Second, I’ve recently been rereading “Leading Quietly” by Joseph Badaracco, a Harvard professor. It includes tools for executing one’s moral commitments in business. Everyone should read it. In addition to the fabulous tips, he reminds us of two fundamental things. One, be realistic about the huge ethical challenges that are part of growth and success. Don’t put your head in the sand about how hard things can be. Face up to the fact that you have limited power. Everybody does. Two, when solving problems, it’s not okay to be selfish. But it is okay to have mixed motives and for self-interest to be in the mix. We aren’t saints. But strive, every day, to make decisions from motives that are good enough and strong enough to be able to live with yourself at the end of the day.
Mary Ann O’Brien
founder & CEO, OBI Creative
What does this induction into the Business Hall of Fame mean to you personally, and how do you believe it will influence your future endeavors?
It’s been an incredible honor to be included in the 2023 Business Hall of Fame. I didn’t realize how much it would mean to me personally, and professionally, and I am eternally grateful to all the family, friends, colleagues, and especially my amazing team and awesome clients. Being an inductee really allowed me a moment to think about what I am doing and why I am doing it as a founder and business leader. It gave me time to have perspective on the broader impact of the business and that is really nice to do once in a while – take stock of the work, the moments and the lives we’ve been fortunate to impact along the way. Being inducted, in a community like Omaha, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime feeling, so thank you!
What business accomplishments are you most proud of?
I love to learn and grow, so when I think about what accomplishments I am most proud of, the first thing that comes to my mind is that I am most proud of the growth of the people who have worked with me at OBI. I loved to watch them grow and prosper (teammates and clients). There is a moment in all of our lives when we learn something and then get to apply it – I just LOVE that moment. I honestly love to stay in touch with past employees and clients too. We all spend a lot of time at work, and I love to see where they end up, what big jobs they land, how their families grow and evolve, and how they take what they’ve learned with others and use it to make their lives, their families lives and the world better.
In your journey to success, what valuable lessons or advice would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders in our region?
If you believe, you receive. It’s as much a mindset as an act, and I have always found that if you have a positive attitude and believe in yourself you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.
Always have a customer-first mindset. As a leader, your primary customer is your employees. Think about the decisions you are making and always vet them, and audit them, against how the “customer” might feel about it.
All you have in life is your name – your brand – so protect it with all you have. My dad would say this often, and I think that is why I became a brand strategist.
It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. This is a family mantra we have in the O’Brien family, and I am proud of it. I always wanted to be a leader, a CEO, someone others thought was important, but more than that, I want people to think of me as a kind human who cares about others and our community.
Never stop learning. I had a boss who always said, that once you stop learning you become irrelevant. And, being business and marketing advisors at OBI I know this firsthand.
