Our Event Chair
Pamela Alfrey Hernandez
Pamela has been with Woodmen for over 25 years Her early years were spent in field training or marketing. During that time her focus was on educating and preparing Woodmen’s 1600+ field force to sell financial products. In 2002, she was asked to take over the Human Resources function at Woodmen. While there, she re-organized the HR function, elevated HR to a strategic partner in the company, became a member of the company’s strategic planning group and contributed to the development of their corporate balanced scorecard, and initiated several strategic initiatives: performance management, compensation management, benefits management, talent management, and succession planning. In 2006, she assumed leadership of Woodmen’s five operational divisions: Underwriting, Membership Services, Claims, Business Technology, and Human Resources. She also assumed responsibility for managing the strategy process at Woodmen.
In 2008, she became the executive vice president of operations and corporate secretary of the organization. She is the first woman in Woodmen’s 120 year history to serve at the executive level. Her undergraduate and graduate training were in teaching and literature, and she finds this liberal arts background and love of learning to be defining attributes of her leadership success. Her contributions reflect her passion for teaching and learning, as she continues to grow her organization by creating a classroom wherever she goes. Pam is also a breast cancer survivor and passionately promotes holistic awareness of not only women’s health, but also the wellness of the entire organization. She’s known for thinking strategically and executing operationally.
Our Circle of Red Chair
Kate Dodge is the president of NEI Global Relocation, a nationally certified Women’s Business Enterprise and a subsidiary of the NP Dodge Company. Kate, a native of Massachusetts, attended Mount Holyoke College and graduated from Trinity University. She completed her graduate work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and practiced as a School Psychologist in a four county area in Eastern Nebraska and in the Millard Public Schools before entering the private sector in 1985. She joined National Equity, Inc., a fledging subsidiary of the NP Dodge Company in 1985. Today, NEI Global Relocation employs over 250 people and relocates over 10,000 families around the world annually.
Kate has been a member of the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council (ERC) since 1986, earning its SCRP designation and Meritorious Service Award. She has served on its Industry Advisory Council, and has presented and been a panelist at both domestic and global industry conferences.
Kate is the past president of The Nebraska Food Bank Network, the United Way of the Midlands, the Omaha Public Library Foundation, and the Methodist Hospital Foundation boards and continues to serve on those boards. She is also a past president of the Uta Halee Girls Village board and is a current member of its Advisory Board. She is the current president of the United Way of the Midlands Foundation Board, and serves on the College of St. Mary’s Board of Directors, Omaha Business Ethics Alliance Governing Board and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment Board. She has been awarded several leadership recognitions, including induction into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame in 2007.
Our Honorary Chair.bmp)
Sandy Callahan is the former head of Lincoln Financial's Group Protection Operations representing $1.8 billion in annual revenue. She had management responsibilities for over 1000 employees providing operational, risk management, product development, financial and client services in both Omaha, NE and Atlanta, GA.
Prior to the merger of Lincoln Financial Group and Jefferson Pilot Financial, Callahan served as the Senior Vice President of Client Loyalty Operations for Jefferson Pilot Financial's employee benefits division, Benefit Partners. Callahan obtained a patent for an innovative risk management service process that is currently being used in the group benefits organization providing a sustainable competitive advantage in this industry. Prior to joining Jefferson Pilot, Callahan was the 2nd Vice President and Director of Group Claims and Customer Service Operations for Mutual of Omaha. During her Mutual career she had the opportunity to work with significant clients including the CIA, American Foreign Services and many Fortune 500 companies. As a volunteer Callahan served on several boards including: Ak-Sar-Ben Councilors, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Midlands, Red Cross, Greater Omaha Alliance for Business Ethics, Board of Trustees, and Council for Disability Awareness. She is a guest faculty member of the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and lectures to the Marketing Channel Strategies class providing the students with insight into the group benefits industry. She volunteers her time assisting the Mayor on his Disability Task Force. Callahan was recently elected to the Women's Fund of Omaha board of directors
Message from Our CEO
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Omaha Go Red For Women Expo! We’re delighted you are here and appreciate your interest in learning how you can advance health, stop heart disease and save women’s lives. That’s what the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® movement is all about.
Heart disease isn’t just a man’s problem. It’s a woman’s problem, too. In fact, it’s the No. 1 killer of women. And, tragically, far too few women realize their risk from this preventable disease. We need to raise women’s awareness of their risk and protect our mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and ourselves.
You can help, starting today. Here’s how:
First, take charge of your own heart health. Visit your doctor. Know your numbers (learn more at www.GoRedForWomen.org). You can improve your blood pressure, cholesterol and other numbers by making lifestyle changes. You’ll be healthier and look and feel better, too.
Second, join the American Heart Association in making it your mission to fight heart disease in women. Help spread the word that heart disease is women’s No. 1 killer. Share what you learn today with your family and members of your community. Tell five women you want them to live and we can help stop heart disease in our lifetime.
Third and last, consider making a contribution. Your donation today will make a difference in the lives of women here and across the country. You can help fund local and national Go Red activities that support awareness, research, education and community programs that benefit women.
Thank you again for being here. My hope is that you won’t leave today without committing to making a difference by joining the Go Red For Women movement — women everywhere need your help. Only one in five women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat. We believe reducing risk and preventing heart disease starts with education — and you. There’s so much to do, and so much at stake.
With your commitment, we can help women and their families live longer, stronger lives. Thank you for your generous support.
Warm regards,
Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer
American Heart Association
