2019 Nebraska Conference Speakers

Veteran, Author, Speaker, Investment Banker,

Eternal Adventure Seeker

BIO

Major (Retired) Scotty Smiley became the first blind active-duty officer in military history following a face-to-face confrontation with a suicide car bomber in Iraq in 2005.  After his injury, Scotty’s faith led him to forgive his attacker and inspired him to rebuild his life while continuing to serve his country in the U.S. Army.

A West Point graduate, he returned there to teach after he earned an MBA from Duke University.  He was named the Army Times “Soldier of the Year" and won an ESPY award for “Best Outdoor Athlete.”  He is the recipient of a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award.  Following a position in the Gonzaga University ROTC Department, Scotty retired from the military in 2015.

Scotty wrote his book Hope Unseen about his journey through overcoming adversity and now travels the country sharing his message of perseverance, courage, and hope.  Ever the adventurer, after the loss of his eyesight he has learned to surf, gone skydiving, climbed Mt. Denali, and became an Ironman.  Scotty currently works as an investment banker and CEO of Bellator Asset Managment and is a regular guest on news networks such as NBC, CBS, and Fox.  He is married to his high school sweetheart Tiffany.  The couple lives in their hometown of Pasco, Washington with sons Grady, Graham, and Baylor.

Scotty Smiley is from Pasco, a small city in Washington State.  After high school, he attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY.  After four years, he graduated and moved to Fort Benning, GA and attended Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School.  Soon after he moved to Fort Lewis, WA where he led a 45-man platoon.

In 2005, while leading his platoon in Mosul, Iraq, Scotty found himself in front of a suicide car bomber.  After the man blew himself up, shrapnel blew through Scotty’s eyes leaving him blinded and temporarily paralyzed.  A week later he woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  Though questioning his faith, Scotty made a decision to forgive and rebuild his life and continue to serve in the Army, becoming the first blind active-duty officer in military history.

The Army Times named Captain Smiley “Soldier of the Year" in 2007.  In 2008, Scotty won the ESPY award for Best Outdoor Athlete.  After receiving an MBA from Duke University, Scotty taught the core course in leadership at West Point and then commanded the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point’s Keller Army Medical Center.  Scotty is a recipient of the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award and holds an honorary PhD from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY.  In 2010, Scotty received a “Father of the Year” award in New York and in 2011 received the esteemed Christopher Award that affirms the highest values of the human spirit.

Since then, Scotty attended the Maneuver Captain Career Course in Fort Benning, GA, and then moved to Spokane, WA where he held a position with the Gonzaga University ROTC Department teaching and mentoring America’s future leaders.

After many years of service, Scotty retired from the military in 2015.  Over his military career, Major (Retired) Smiley received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings and Combat Diver Qualification Badge.

He currently works as CEO of Bellator Asset Management, out of New York City, as an investment banker for corporations and banks around the world.

With a passion for using his story to build hope in this world, Scotty authored Hope Unseen in 2010 and now travels the country speaking and sharing his message of perseverance, courage and hope.

He is an avid adventurer and has completed the Coeur d’Alene Ironman. Scotty has climbed Mt. Rainer, has gone skydiving and surfing and is always looking for his next chance to try something new.

Scotty is married to his high school sweetheart, Tiffany.  The couple lives in Pasco, WA and are the proud parents of Grady Douglas, Graham Elliott, and Baylor Scott.

BIO

Tiffany Smiley is currently CEO and Founder of Tiffany Smiley Consulting and President and Co-Founder of Hope Unseen, a highly successful public speaking firm.  She has been featured on CBS News, CNN, C-SPAN, Dr. Phil, Fox News, The Katie Couric Show as well as in major publications such as People Magazine, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. 

Prior to that, Ms. Smiley served as a triage nurse and in other health professional roles.  She is a graduate of Whitworth University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  Ms. Smiley has been a fierce advocate for American veterans, working with high-ranking politicians, lobbyists and the President to secure much-needed services.  She runs her consultancy and other businesses from Pasco, WA, where she lives with her husband and three sons.

Tiffany Smiley is an author, motivational speaker, media personality and consultant who helps others discover and harness their unique “superpower” by fearlessly confronting and overcoming life’s challenges.  Her specialized approach to tackling obstacles head-on has helped men and women across the world rise above the seemingly insurmountable to achieve their most ambitious goals, from entrepreneurs fiercely transforming their vision into reality to c-suite executives driven by global excellence. 

Through her speaking to major corporations, non-profits and civic groups, Ms. Smiley’s inspirational, resilience-based teachings provide invaluable tools that break through the status quo and lead to extraordinary results in financial performance, organizational impact and employee well-being and productivity.  

Recognizing the special challenges that women face in business, Ms. Smiley has also created the More Than Me conference tour, a live community forum for ambitious “women of vision” to make meaningful connections, share their life-altering stories, realize their true worth and learn how to similarly inspire their family, friends and community.  These conferences feature an impressive lineup of accomplished women with real-world stories about achieving the impossible, as well as the opportunity to tap into experts in a variety of fields, including personal development, business coaching, entrepreneurship and financial acumen.         

As outlined in all of her platforms, Ms. Smiley's results-driven methods are founded on:

• Owning Your Superpower: discovering your unique life purpose by confronting and overcoming adversity
• Reaching Out: connecting with others to help and be helped
• Advancing Fearlessly - moving bravely forward for results

To light a path for others, Ms. Smiley combines her education, training and personal experience as a triage nurse, start-up co-founder and victor in a David-and-Goliath battle against the US government into a powerful, practical guide for succeeding in spite of hardship of any kind — from dealing with life’s daily difficulties to office politics to the worst imaginable tragedy. 

Smart Women Smart Money Nebraska Conference Host

John Murante was born February 6, 1982 in Omaha, Nebraska. He is a proud graduate of Skutt Catholic High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He married his wife, Melissa, on December 22, 2007, and they have one daughter, Talia. He is the former President of the iconic Big Fred’s Pizza in Omaha.

In 2012, Murante was elected to represent the Gretna-based 49th Legislative District in the Nebraska Unicameral. During his time in the Nebraska Legislature, he served as Chairman of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee as well as Chairman of the Special Committee on Election Technology in 2016. He also sat on the Unicameral’s Transportation Committee.

As a State Senator, he served as the Chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures Elections and Redistricting Standing Committee, and on the advisory committee to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

Treasurer Murante is a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Gretna Optimists, and serves on the board of Partnership 4 Kids.

Smart Women Smart Money Conference Coach

Linda Cohen, also known as the “kindness catalyst” is a professional speaker and consultant. She works with businesses and associations on the ROI of Kindness. Cohen helps leaders improve communication, boost teamwork and improve the customer service experience through further engagement in acts of kindness. Her first book, 1,000 Mitzvahs: How Small Acts of Kindness Can Heal, Inspire and Change Your Life, published by Seal Press, is an inspirational guide to a life of gratitude. Since her books publication she has been interviewed on National Public Radio, NBC, ABC and Fox television. She's consulted on dozens of stories for magazines, newspapers and podcasts.

Cohen received her BA from American Jewish University and an MA from Brandeis University. Cohen is a current member of the National Speakers Association and serves as the immediate past president of the Oregon State chapter. Originally from the northeast, she and her husband have called Portland, Oregon home almost all of their 26 years together. They have two spirited young adult children and two beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Cohen enjoys practicing yoga, catching a great movie and will never turn down a well made cup of Earl Grey Tea. 

Smart Women Smart Money Conference Liaison and founding President of SFOF

As President of SFOF he is charged with leading the national organization and collaborating with like-minded state officials to promote fiscally responsible, free market principles to better impact state and federal financial policy. Kreifels is charged with ensuring that SFOF’s fiscal, operational, fundraising, marketing, and communication strategies are effectively implemented.

Kreifels spent five years as Assistant State Treasurer of Kansas. As Assistant State Treasurer he also served as chief of staff - an agency head and deputy to a statewide elected official. He managed all aspects of the Treasurer’s office including scheduling, policy development, legislative, budgeting and personnel.

Kreifels was accountable for an office which processed over $21B annually which is comprised of 42 employees with an annual budget of over $3.5M. He worked with the State Treasurer to create new programs and modernize existing ones to reach out to a diverse set of Kansans with a wide variety of financial education initiatives.  He was responsible for identifying innovative ways to help return unclaimed property to Kansans.

Kreifels played an integral role  in working with the Kansas 529 Learning Quest program and program manager to develop annual marketing plan which includes television, radio, newsprint, collateral material and other borderless marketing initiatives.

Kreifels continuously sought out ways to increase the use of technology in the office to reduce costs.  He directed Emergency Preparedness Operations planning and training for the agency with exposure to FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security as well as the Kansas Department of Emergency Management. 

Kreifels has spent the last 25 years encouraging, advising and working along side various federal, state, and local leaders. Before working for the public sector, Kreifels spent several years in banking.

He attended Kansas State University, received his undergraduate degree from Wichita State University, and his Masters from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He lends his leadership to several boards and non-profits.  He and his wife Melanie recently traveled to a remote part of Ghana, Africa, on a mission trip to attend the grand opening of a school.  He and Melanie live in the Kansas City area.

Smart Women Smart Money Conference Emcee

Carolyn Holly comes to the Smart Women Smart Money team from the Treasure Valley of Idaho after being involved with Smart Women Smart Money as its conference emcee for the past 15 years. Holly currently serves as Vice President of Idaho Business for Education. In her role, she is an instrumental part of developing meaningful relationships with business leaders to create a highly educated and skilled workforce.

Carolyn enjoyed a 33 year career at KTVB Channel 7 television in Boise, where she became one of Idaho's most experienced and best known television personalities. 

Carolyn has acted as an important representative and volunteer for many Treasurer Valley organizations including Smart Women Smart Money, Boise Public Schools Foundation, Idaho Youth Sports Commission, the Saint Alphonsus Foundation, FUNDSY, the Boise Police Chiefs Citizen Advisory panel and the President of the FACES Foundation.

1A - 8 Rules of Thumb to Financial Health: One Step at a Time

BIO

Amanda Schroeder is the Wells Fargo at Work Senior Program Manager.  The program is offered to Wells Fargo business customers as a benefit of their banking relationship.  The program supports the financial health of our business customers’ employees by bringing critical financial tools and expertise to help them achieve their goals and dreams.  Amanda supports approximately 850 team members throughout the state of Nebraska.  She is responsible for developing business relationships with existing customers by partnering with their Business Banking Relationship Managers, as well as planning and executing financial education seminars.  Over the last five years Amanda has delivered hundreds of seminars. In addition, she also works to coach and develop the presentation skills of those she supports.

In 2011, Amanda started with the Community Bank.  She joined Wells Fargo after an 11 year career in travel and tourism, spending the last few years working in the cruise ship industry. The common thread between the two that drives Amanda is customer service.  She has a deep passion for service to others and being able to engage customers by delivering proper support around their needs.

A native of Nebraska, Amanda is earning a bachelor’s degree in Project Management from Bellevue University.  She serves as Volunteer Liaison for the Wells Fargo Omaha Volunteer Chapter supporting the Green Team, Latin Team Member Network and Women’s Team Member Network.  For the past five years Amanda has participated in P4K mentoring with 3^rd and 4^th graders at Belvedere Elementary School in Omaha, Ne.  This last year Amanda was named the Wells Fargo’s 2018 Nebraska Volunteer of the Year.

She lives in Omaha with her husband Dustin and two children Zaknafein and Anduin.

Saving for Education: The Ins and Outs of a 529 Plan

Take a deep-dive to learn more about how a 529 college savings plan can help you or your loved one save for college, technical, vocational training, and other educational expenses. Hear from industry experts as well as representatives from the Nebraska State Treasurer’s office that administers the plan.

BIO

Deborah joined First National Bank of Omaha in 2010 and is the Managing Director, Savings Plans including NEST, Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plans and Enable Savings Plans.  She is responsible for all aspects of development, implementation, sales, marketing, continuous improvement and management. Her experience includes over 22 years in the financial services industry including launching proprietary mutual funds for TIAA-CREF and managing college savings plans at TIAA-CREF, Citigroup, Legg Mason and First National Bank of Omaha.

Deborah holds the Series 7 FINRA securities license.  In addition, she holds an MPA/MUP from New York University, Graduate of Public Administration, and a BA from Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. 

Deborah is delighted to discuss the role of employers in gathering assets for the college savings industry.

Saving for Education: The Ins and Outs of a 529 Plan

Take a deep-dive to learn more about how a 529 college savings plan can help you or your loved one save for college, technical, vocational training, and other educational expenses. Hear from industry experts as well as representatives from the Nebraska State Treasurer’s office that administers the plan.

BIO

Cari Kaup has been a member of the 529 College Savings Division of Union Bank & Trust since 2001.  Ms. Kaup has twenty years of banking/finance experience including eighteen years working exclusively with 529 Plans.  During those eighteen years, she has served in various Customer Care and Marketing roles and is currently a Vice President at Union Bank.  In this role she oversees customer service efforts for the college savings division and serves as a relationship manager for the 529 relationships with the bank’s state partners.  She has conducted presentations across the country to educate investors and financial advisors about the benefits of investing with a 529 Plan.  Ms. Kaup has taken a leadership role in growing and enhancing the nationally recognized College Savings Programs that Union Bank has managed as they evolved over the last eighteen years.  She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. 

Union Bank & Trust is a $29 billion financial institution headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.  One of Union Bank’s areas of expertise is 529 programs, with over $13 billion in managed assets.  The 529 plans managed by the bank have been nationally recognized by Morningstar as some of the elite programs in the country. 

2C - Avoiding Identity Theft and Preventing Fraud

BIO

Katie Shuck is a Cybersecurity Champion with a passion for developing usable security and privacy, as well as working with cryptography.  She is a speaker for the SBS Institute as well as an instructor and blog author with Dakota State University’s CybHER program, where she educates and motivates girls and women to pursue degrees and careers in the Cyber Sciences.  She also teaches the importance of understanding how the use of technology impacts our security, safety, and privacy.  Katie has previously served in educational roles teaching Operation Security (OPSEC) to military families, as a middle and high school educator, and as a corporate trainer in the U.S. and abroad. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Spanish from St. Louis University and is currently pursuing a degree in Cyber Operations with a Certificate of Cryptography from Dakota State University.

1E - Becoming a proactive planner: What is an estate plan, a living will, and why should I have one?

Have you thought about your assets and personal possessions and who would get them after you are gone? Sometimes life events force us to address life issues we would rather not. In this workshop, we talk about decisions you should make now to alleviate a burden later to your loved ones. We will cover factors you should consider when passing on your possessions, goals you want to accomplish, distribution options and consequences, and conflict resolution.

2A - Know your credit score? Tips to improve your FICO score before making a major purchase

Understanding your credit score is essential to getting the best interest rate when purchasing a house or an automobile. In this session, learn what activities impact your credit score negatively and positively and how to avoid common mistakes right before making a major purchase.

BIO

Julie Strohfus is the Vice President of Consumer Lending at Cobalt Credit Union where she manages loan underwriting, as well as the credit card and loan processing departments. She has been with Cobalt since 2003 and after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, she received her Master’s degree from Bellevue University. Julie has spent the majority of her professional career in banking and financial services. She develops and markets new loan products and maintains federal and state regulations for the credit union. She is involved in a number of causes in the Omaha and Council Bluffs communities and is an avid Husker fan. When she’s not giving back to her community, Julie loves spending time with her husband, Randy, and their dog, Bentley.

2B - ABLE: Giving those with disabilities the ability to save

For years a special needs trust was the only vehicle that persons with disabilites had available to save. Thanks to the ABLE program, these individuals and their families can now save without fear of losing benefits given to them because of their disability. Learn about this unique investment tool that is federally tax-deferred and tax-free, if used for qualified disability expenses.

BIO

Diane joined First National Bank in 2017. As the Outreach Specialist, Diane facilitates product training to diverse audiences ranging from personalized presentations to remote or on-line-based forums.  Participating in community outreach programs is a key focus and development of relationships with partners and centers of influence. Diane has over 30 years of Banking Experience and Decades of serving in Leadership roles with Local Non-profits such as United Cerebral Palsy and Quality Living, Inc.

2C - Weathering the Storm: Navigating your long term financial plan no matter the forecast

Are your investments needing attention before a big storm? Whatever the global market forecast and frenzy – Examine your portfolio with a careful and disciplined approach to building, maintaining, and transitioning your wealth.

BIO

Over 30 years in the financial industry has helped Kevin develop his planning expertise and goal-driven approach to working with clients. He has played a key role in Cornhusker Bank’s wealth management services team since 2000, and is dedicated to helping you understand your financial planning path while finding the financial confidence you need for the future. 

2D - What to Do When Mom or Dad Dies

It is never easy to lose a parent -- it's even more difficult when you have responsibility as executor of the estate or are power of attorney. Learn about the difference between the two and how to navigate issues regarding the death tax, life insurance, executing wills, and estate plans.

BIO

Ms. Motto is a Partner of the firm and a member of the firm’s Litigation Group and handles all general litigation files. Her experience in the court room includes both bench trials and jury trials.

2E - Planning Ahead: What types of insurance make sense for you?

Insurance may be one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make. Find out how much you need, and how your family will benefit. You will also learn about different products and types of insurance including, life, long term care, and disability.

3A - Defeating Debt: Freedom to live within your means

BIO

3B - Saving for the Future - It's Never Too Early, It's Never Too Late!

Finding creative ways now to build your assets up for later in life. Help understand the emotional attachment that can be just as powerful to save as it is to spend. Learn how to teach this valuable lesson to your children.

BIO

Julie Kalkowski is the Executive Director of the Financial Hope Collaborative at Creighton University.  By connecting financial stress to poor health outcomes, Julie was able to secure a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to replicate a previous study that showed improved health outcomes for single mothers through the Collaborative’s financial education and coaching model. Julie’s commitment to connecting low income families to the financial mainstream has led to Omaha’s first Micro Enterprise Program, Nebraska’s first Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program, the Omaha EITC Coalition, Bank on the Heartland, and positioned Nebraska as the second state to offer the Save to Win Program. Today, Julie continues to combine policy and programs to promote social mobility in Omaha, NE.

3C - Investing 101 - Getting Started is Half the Battle

Learn about some of the best types of savings and investing tools. Learn about the power of compound interest as we discuss 401K’s, 403b’s, Roth IRA’s, and IRA’s.

BIO

Barbara is a Financial Planner with the Private Client Advisory and Financial Planning teams within the Wealth Management group at First National Bank. She specializes in providing comprehensive and personalized financial planning that incorporates investment, retirement, tax, protection and estate planning strategies.

CREDENTIALS

Barbara earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas Christian University. She spent 20 years of her career in corporate finance before deciding to pursue a more rewarding path of financial planning for individuals. Barbara is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®). In addition, she is actively involved with the Financial Planning Association of Nebraska.

PASSIONS

Barbara’s compassion for animals is evident by her long-time involvement with the Nebraska Humane Society and the Friends Forever Board. On any given weekend, you will catch her Dining with Dogs, Walking for the Animals, or mixing it up at Black Tie & Tails. Family time is spent exploring the world with her husband, road-tripping across the Midwest for lacrosse tournaments with their boys, and trying to teach their Brittany that squirrels are not the enemy.

3D - From Idea to Action: How to start a Business

What are some of the factors to consider when starting a small business? What is the difference between a C-Corp and a LLC? Where do I look for help in creating a business plan? Are there SBA loans or other financing options for my business?

BIO

Jane Ferneding has been with U.S. Bank for 17 years, the past 4 years in her current role. Previous to her time with U.S. Bank she was a small business owner for 15 years. 

3E - How You Can Harness Your Financial Power

Women are not only playing a key role in daily finances, we’re also taking more of an active part in managing investment portfolios and 401k(s). Join TD Ameritrade in a candid conversation where you can find your focus and begin to chart your path with education resources. Whether you’re a novice investor or an experienced trader, the valuable insight can help you can gain the knowledge to become a better informed and more confident investor.

BIO

Follow Stephanie on Twitter: @SLewicky_TDA

Stephanie Lewicky is the Senior Manager of Futures and Forex, TD Ameritrade Futures and Forex, LLC.

A veteran of the financial markets for 20 years, Stephanie is responsible for the strategy that grows TD Ameritrade’s Futures business through client acquisition, product development, and investor education.  Stephanie also serves as a regular contributor on the TD Ameritrade Network.

Stephanie has been with TD Ameritrade and thinkorswim since 2004. She managed order routing for retail trading, maintained existing and developed new vendor relationships, and promoted client advocacy. When TD Ameritrade acquired thinkorswim in 2009, Stephanie played a vital role in the company’s clearing conversion. Then in 2014, she accepted a position within TD Ameritrade’s Trader Group as Project Manager for thinkpipes, working in tandem with the Institutional Trader Desk and Trading Services team. Stephanie has also worked for firms including Peak6 and Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson.

Stephanie has a degree in finance from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. She holds FINRA Series 7, 63, 3, 24, and 55 U.S. securities industry licenses.