The Path to Public Service with Heath Mello, CEO Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea interviews Heath Mello, former state senator and current President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Heath discusses his journey into public service, starting from his aspirations in elementary school through various roles in higher education and government. He emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and consensus-building, shares his thoughts on the impact of social media on public service, and describes the challenges and rewards of his current role. Additionally, Heath provides insights on the economic and workforce development efforts in the Omaha area, and offers advice on facilitating difficult conversations and building consensus.
Heath Mello, former state senator and higher education executive, assumed the role of President & CEO at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce in August 2023. In this capacity, he oversees day-to-day operations, emphasizing economic development, public policy, and workforce partnerships across an eight-county region. Additionally, Mello serves on the Nebraska Highway Commission and various committees, leveraging his extensive legislative experience. Previously, he held leadership roles at the University of Nebraska System and Metropolitan Community College. Mello, a native of Omaha, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Mentioned in this Episode:
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Email: info@OmahaChamber.org
00:00 Introduction to Heath Mello
00:58 Heath Mello‘s Journey into Public Service
05:13 The Importance of Civic Engagement
09:28 Challenges in Public Service
17:37 Rewards of Public Service
22:09 Role at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
29:01 Current Challenges and Opportunities in Omaha
36:35 Key Indicators for Omaha’s Economic Health
41:10 Building Consensus and Facilitating Difficult Conversations
48:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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