
A great city doesn’t just happen.
A great city happens by design.
Our Mission
At Omaha by Design, we contribute to a thriving metro by convening, engaging, educating and advocating for excellence in people-centered urban design and policy.
Our Priorities
Engage
Encourage engagement with the public in planning and development.
Advocate
Advocate for best practices and excellence in urban design and policy.
Educate
Educate the community on urban design principles.
Collaborate
Convene, direct and encourage collaboration within the design community.
priorities
“We shall leave this city not less but greater, better and more beautiful than it was left to us.”
-Ancient Greek Oath
Meet Our Team

Maria Brady
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Maria Brady is a highly driven development professional. Through her work, she has a deep understanding that city evolvement is a multidisciplinary process, one which harnesses of the power of education, art, infrastructure, community, and advocacy. By connecting Omaha’s history to its present opportunities and challenges, she believes the city can create a more prosperous, equitable future for all.
Maria was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and received her undergraduate degree from USD in Political Science, History, & Art History. She spent much of her undergraduate career living abroad and began her professional career in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is currently pursuing a dual master’s in International Relations and Law at the University of Western Australia.

Scott Dobbe, AIA
Executive Director
Scott Dobbe is an architect with a vision as expansive as the city. He began his career in Chicago as an architectural designer with industry leaders Perkins&Will and HOK. Returning to his home state in 2011, he grew professionally with DLR Group, emerging as the firm’s youngest Regional Design Leader. Following years of association with Omaha by Design, Scott assumed the Executive Director role in 2018.
Scott is a native of Kearney, Nebraska. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska College of Architecture, and his Master of Architecture from Ohio State University. He is a graduate of Leadership Omaha Class 39, past leader of the Greater Omaha Young Professionals Council, and Chair of the City of Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission.
Board of Directors
President
David Levy
Baird Holm
Vice President / Treasurer
Adrian Hernandez
Dundee Bank
Secretary
Sandy Parker
Community Volunteer
Immediate Past President
Mike McMeekin
Engineering Change Lab - USA
David Arnold
Buildertrend
Doug Bisson
HDR, Inc.
Cydney Franklin
Seventy Five North
Todd Heistand
NuStyle Development
Steve Jensen
Jensen Consulting
Chris Johnson
Leo A Daly
Lisa Olson
OPPD
Ted Zetzman
Noddle Companies
Founding Director, 2001 - 2015

Connie Spellman
Founding Director
Connie launched and led Omaha by Design as Executive Director for 14 years. She was instrumental in the formulation of the Urban Design Element – the City of Omaha’s first design guidelines – as well as a key figure in driving and implementing a unified vision for the region’s future. Connie’s significant contributions to improving the metro’s livability and vibrancy, alongside her inimitable gift for bringing people together, serve as the foundation of ethics and equity from which we operate today.
Advisory Council
CEO / President
Nancy Pridal
Lamp Rynearson
Deputy Chief of Staff
Kevin Andersen
City of Omaha, Economic Development & Development Services
Executive Director
Holly Barrett
Downtown Omaha Improvement District
Community Planning & Urban Design Lead
Doug Bisson
HDR, Inc
Director
Alexis Bromley
ONE Omaha
Interim President & CEO
Wayne Brown
Urban League of Nebraska
Homeownership Policy Advocate
Sarah Brune
CEO
Lauren Cencic
Metro
Urban Development Manager
Manne Cook
Spark CDI
Senior Associate, Team Lead Senior Structural Project Engineer
Ryan Curtis
LEO A DALY
Professor of Architecture & Landscape Architecture
Jeffrey L Day, FAIA
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Executive Director
Meridith Dillon
Front Porch Investments
Sr. Vice President of Facilities
Brenda Dooley
FNBO
Director
David Fanslau
City of Omaha Planning Department
Utilities Coordinator
Steve Fanslau
OPPD
Director of Business Operations
Robin Fordyce
Vireo
Community Development Director
Bruce Fountain
City of La Vista
Executive Director
César A. García
Canopy South
Community Volunteer
Barbara Haggart
Executive Director
Michael Helgerson
Metropolitan Area Planning Agency
Director
Kent Holm
Douglas County Department of Environmental Services
Principal
Steve Jensen
Jensen Consulting
Vice President of Property Management
Brandon Johnsen
NuStyle Development
Partner
David Levy
Baird Holm, L.L.P.
Heartland 2050 Project Coordinator
Karna Loewenstein
Metropolitan Area Planning Agency
Principal
Jay Lund
GreenSlate Development
Partner
Megan Lutz
Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
President
Michael Maroney
Omaha Economic Development Corporation
Commercial Real Estate Broker
Colleen Mason
Oak Investment Real Estate
Executive Director
Mike McMeekin
Engineering Change Lab - USA
Landscape Architect
Kayla Meyer
Olsson
Director of Community Investment
Anne Meysenburg
Omaha Community Foundation
Manager of Urban Design & Preservation
Jed Moulton
City of Omaha Planning Department
Landscape Architect
Kene Okigbo
RDG Planning & Design
Vice President Public Affairs
Lisa Olson
OPPD
Director of Transportation Development
Stephen Osberg
Greater Omaha Chamber
City Engineer / Assistant Director
Todd Pfitzer
City of Omaha Public Works Department
President
Bob Peters
Robert Peters Company
Assistant Professor, Center for Reducing Health Disparities
Dr. Athena Ramos
University of Nebraska Medical Center
President Emeritus
Mike Riedmann
NP Dodge Real Estate Sales
Principal
Marty Shukert
RDG Planning & Design
CEO
Sarah Sjolie
The Wellbeing Partners
Principal
Bill Stott
AO
Executive Director
Chris Stratman
Keep Omaha Beautiful
Director
Bob Stubbe
City of Omaha Public Works Department
Community Volunteer
James Thele
District 2 Engineer
Tim Weander
Nebraska Department of Transportation
Principal, Retired
Ken West
DLR Group
Executive Vice President & Director of Development
Ted Zetzman
Noddle Companies
Omaha by Design Awards
Access and Mobility Award
The Access and Mobility Award recognizes an individual, group, organization or business for exemplary work in enhancing the ways in which Omahans move about the city and connect with one another.
Recipients:
- ORBT | Metro Transit
- Curt Simon | Former Executive Director, Metro Transit
- TravelSmart | UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, & Verdis Group
- University of Nebraska at Omaha
Neighborhood Revitalization Award
Formerly known as the ‘Neighborhood Leaf,’ the Neighborhood Revitalization Award recognizes an individual, group, organization or business for exemplary work in the preservation or enhancement of an Omaha metro neighborhood.
Recipients:
- Blackstone District | Blackstone Business Association, Blackstone BID, GreenSlate Development, & Clarity Development
- Little Bohemia | PJ Morgan Real Estate & Clarity Development
- New North Makerhood | Future Forward
- Lighthouse Project | ABIDE
- Ford Birthsite Neighborhood Association, Hanscom Park Neighborhood Association, Omaha Dog Park Advocates
- Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Theaster Gates, the Rebuild Foundation
- Urban Village Development
- Metcalfe-Harrison Neighborhood Association, Country Club Community Council
- Omaha’s Community Gardens
- Deer Park Neighborhood Association, Old Market South Neighborhood Association, Bill Seidler Jr. & Syl Orsi
- Community Bicycle Shop Omaha
- Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede, Dietz United Methodist Church
Environment and Open Space Award
Formerly known as the ‘Green Leaf,’ the Environment + Open Space Award recognizes an individual, group, organization or business for exemplary work in preserving or enhancing the Omaha metro’s natural setting, park system and open spaces.
Recipients:
- Floating Bridge at Standing Bear Lake | City of Omaha Parks & Recreation, & Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
- Sacred Seed Pop-Up
- South Omaha Trail | City of Omaha Parks & Recreation, City of Omaha Public Works, & Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
- Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park | City of Council Bluffs
- Elmwood Park Diversion Project | City of Omaha Departments of Parks and Public Works, Veenstra & Kimm, & Big Muddy Workshop
- Hummel Park Restoration | City of Omaha Department of Parks & Recreation
- Kenefick Park | Lauritzen Gardens, Union Pacific, Nebraska Department of Roads
- Stinson Park
- City of Omaha Public Works Department
- Omaha’s Right-of-Way Gardeners
- The Gallup Organization
- Douglas County Board of Commissioners
Community Appearance Award
Formerly known as the ‘Civic Leaf,’ the Community Appearance Award recognizes an individual, group, organization or business for exemplary work in enhancing the Omaha metro’s look and feel, including preservation of the civic characteristics that define its public image and contribute to its appeal.
Recipients:
- GreenSlate Development
- Benson Business Improvement District
- The Margaret | Omaha Economic Development Corporation
- Omaha B-cycle | Live Well Omaha & the Community Bike Project Omaha
- Stored Potential | Anne Trumble, Emerging Terrain
- Collin Stadium Project | Omaha South High School
- Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge & Omaha Plaza
- Metropolitan Community College, Omaha Public Library, & Metro Area Transit
- Spirit of Nebraska’s Wilderness Park | First National Bank
Young Urbanist Award
The Young Urbanist Award recognizes an individual, under the age of 45, who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to making our metro an even better place to live, work, and play.
Recipients:
- Kene Okigbo
- Meridith Dillon
- Manne Cook

The Laurels Award
The Laurels Award is Omaha by Design’s highest honor. It recognizes an individual, organization or business for significant contributions to great public spaces in the Omaha metro.
Recipients:
- Laura & Michael Alley
- Undesign the Redline | The Union for Contemporary Art
- Seventy Five North Revitalization Corp.
- Mike Moylan, Shamrock Development
- Connie Spellman & Del Weber
- Richard Holland
- NuStyle Development Corporation
- The Mercer Family
- Midtown Crossing
- Mike McMeekin, President, Lamp Rynearson
- Jay Noddle, President & CEO, Noddle Companies
- Alden Aust, Planning Director, City of Omaha
- Steve Jensen, Planning Director, City of Omaha
- Mayor Mike Fahey, City of Omaha
- Gary Gates, President, Omaha Public Power District
- Kathleen Jeffries, Former Chair & Member, Omaha Planning Board
- Omaha by Design Place Game Facilitators
- Pioneer Courage Park | First National Bank
- City of Omaha Planning Department & Bob Peters, Planning Director

Get Involved
Cities evolve according to the diverse needs and desires of their citizens. To reach our greatest potential, we need you to participate in shaping the metro’s future. Check out the many ways to join us in building a more vibrant, livable city for all.
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