Greater Omaha Chamber Selects New Leader
BY CINDY GONZALEZ, Nebraska Examiner
The Greater Omaha Chamber Friday announced its new president and CEO: Veta Jeffery, who previously managed the State of Missouri’s community and economic development services.
Jeffery replaces David Brown, who earlier announced his retirement after 20 years.
Appointed to her former position by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, Jeffery convened public and private sectors and helped rebuild the business community in and around the City of Ferguson following protests and the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teen, by a police officer.
“Omaha is a beautiful, well-established place that offers business owners the opportunity to thrive,” Jeffery said in a statement. “I am excited to lead this business community and workforce development charge and I am equally excited to call Omaha my new home.”
Jeffery’s most recent position was chief diversity officer for St. Louis County. In that role she worked with federal, state and local officials as well as corporate partners and business owners.
Leslie Andersen, a banker who led the search committee, said that bringing together diverse groups among local public and private partners is an essential role of the chamber.
“Veta’s experience as a leader and convener can only further enhance our current efforts,” Andersen said in a statement.
Jeffery earlier also helped expand commercial, small business and mortgage services as senior vice president of Midwest BankCenter in St. Louis. She drove programs that ensured banking products and services fit consumer needs.
Jeffery starts her Omaha work in May. She and her husband, Tony, will relocate to Omaha with their daughter, Toni, later this year.
During Brown’s tenure, the Omaha chamber expanded the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership from three Nebraska counties to a seven-county collaboration that crosses into Iowa.
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