Contact Joe Bradley at jbradley@bairdholm.com or 402-636-8345 for ticket information.
Joe and Judy Johnston have spent years quietly building their reputation for beautiful, creative portraits and are happy that son Andrew decided to join them.
Smile! Johnston Portrait Studios
Is Ready to Capture Your Memories
By Andy Roberts
The Daily Record
Tucked away on the northwest corner of 120st and West Center Road in the Bel Air Plaza, sits a business filled with warmth, creativity, and a passion for doing great work.
It’s Johnston Portrait Studios – and in addition to fantastic family photos, it’s been a vital part of the Omaha business community for over 30 years.
Joseph Johnston, a Cathedral High School alumnus and UNO graduate, started the family-owned and operated studio with his wife Judy in 1983. In addition to the Bel Air Plaza location, they operate an Old Market studio on an appointment-only basis.
“Both Judy and I were born and raised in Omaha, have always lived here, raised our family here and know the community well,” Joe Johnston said. “Omaha is a great place to live.”
It wasn’t like Joe planned to own and operate a photo studio.
“It came about the way most photographers get into the career,” he said. “I found it indirectly while pursuing my degree.”
He took classes at UNO while earning his degree in biology. Then he took a few more courses at Metropolitan Community College. The next step was taking photos at weddings and other special occasions.
“You get better at it,” Johnston explained. “You learn your craft at a different level.”
As the learning continued, Johnston Portrait Studios served for a time as the official photographers of the Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation Ball, and for the Omaha Symphony’s Debutante Ball. That work helped provide access and credibility to a number of excellent clients.
As the photography business was building, Judy worked as a UPS driver, providing stability to the family’s finances.
Today, the studio’s specialty is portrait photography.
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Governor Heineman Announces Rice as
Acting Director of Environmental Quality
 Governor Dave Heineman named Pat Rice of Lincoln as the Acting Director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, effective December 20.
Rice, 61, has most recently served as the Assistant Director at the Department of Environmental Quality. He has held that position for the last 19 years. Before coming to the Department, he served for 18 year as the Director of the Division of Technical and Support Services for the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“I am honored that Governor Heineman asked me to serve as Acting Director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality,” Rice said. “I have worked the last 37 years in the environmental arena and look forward to continuing the important work of protecting Nebraska’s air, land, and water resources.”
Rice earned a Bachelor of Science in civil/environmental engineering from South Dakota State University. He is completing his third term as a national board member of the Association of Clean Water Administrators and has served as a commissioner on the Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission.
The primary role of the Department of Environmental Quality is to ensure the State’s natural resources are protected from contamination. The more than 200 employees of the Department of Environmental Quality work with businesses, communities and individuals toward the common goal of protecting the environment. The department’s permitting, compliance, remediation, monitoring, and assistance programs are designed to help achieve this goal.
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 Cindy Ford Thinnes (left) and Tammy Biodrowski spent a collective total of 72 years working for the city. Now it’s time for new experiences.
Two Longtime City Hall Employees Share
Similar Job History and Retirement Party
By Lorraine Boyd
The Daily Record
Cindy Ford Thinnes’ teaching career lasted only a year. She had no idea when she graduated from Peru State College with a degree in elementary education that she would be a substitute teacher for Omaha Public Schools. She soon sought out full-time employment.
She started with the city of Omaha in the Public Works Department 40 years ago, and never looked back. Along the way she took post-graduate classes at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Thinnes climbed the ladder to the Housing and Community Development Department, which eventually merged with Permits and Inspections, which then merged into the Planning Department. She “merged” with them.
From there, Cindy jumped to the City Clerk’s Office, eventually replacing Tammy Biodrowski there as executive secretary.
Cindy had been with the city eight years when Tammy started in the Public Works Department 32 years ago. After 10 years there, Tammy moved to the Omaha Fire Department where she worked for eight years. After a stint in the City Clerk’s Office, she moved over to her City Council position as executive secretary in 2008.
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 From left are the Thrasher family – Nancy, David, Greg and Dan. All are part of the growing family firm.
Omaha’s Foundation Supportworks, Inc., Honored for ‘Radical’ Customer Service
By Dan McCann
The Daily Record
At the Greater Omaha Chamber’s recent Economic Outlook Luncheon, keynote speaker Geoff Colvin, Fortune’s senior editor-at-large, outlined four ways “the great performers, the best businesses” are thriving, even in these uncertain economic times.
• They are innovating their business models.
• They are integrating all parts of the business to create great customer experiences.
• They are continually building their human capital.
• They are getting radically customer-centric.
Colvin relayed exemplary stories about Apple and Exxon, Amazon and Medtronic. Omaha-based Foundation Supportworks, Inc., was not highlighted – but it could have been.
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 Bruning Fights Federal Interference
In State Gun Regulation
Attorney General Bruning announced Nebraska has joined 26 other states and territories in an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court opposing an attempt by the federal government to prosecute legal gun owners who sell a weapon to another person who can legally own firearms.
“The federal government is overstepping its authority by prosecuting legal gun owners who follow state gun laws,” said Bruning. “We don’t need the federal government interfering with the states’ right to create and enforce laws surrounding sales between lawful gun owners.”
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Wolfe Named Recipient of the
FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award
Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Thomas R. Metz, announced that Kim Wolfe is the recipient of the 2013 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Each FBI field office selects one individual or organization for the award. Wolfe will attend a formal ceremony on April 4, 2014, in Washington, D.C., where he will be presented the award by FBI Director James B. Comey, along with recipients from across the country.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
Here are some of our recent feature articles. Click on "Click here" to access the entire article.
– Photo by Lorraine Boyd
Husch Blackwell Celebrates Move to West O
Three Husch Blackwell associates welcome client Bill Fleming of Pharmaceutical Technologies to an open house November 21 celebrating their new offices at 13330 California Street. From left, Michael Schmidt, Bill Fleming, John Menicucci Jr., and David Newman enjoy the new West Omaha offices. Husch Blackwell has 17 offices across the United States and in London. Among the firm’s many accolades, Best Lawyers selected 106 Husch Blackwell attorneys in its 2013 rankings as leaders in their respective areas of law and named six of its attorneys “Lawyers of the Year.” Chambers USA 2013 America’s Leading Lawyers for Business named 37 Husch Blackwell attorneys as leaders in their respective fields. The firm also received top rankings in seven practice areas.
– Photo by Lorraine Boyd
Thanksgiving Comes Early
The Omaha Civic Center was a joyous place Saturday, Nov. 23, as 42 children formalized their “forever homes” during National Adoption Day. The main floor was a flurry of activity, with clowns, Stormtroopers, magicians, musicians, and face painters making it a glorious day for kids and their new families alike. One family celebrating that day was the Washington family. Juvenile Court Judge Christopher Kelly declared that La’Zaya’s (fourth from left) last name would henceforth and forever be Washington. Flanked by Judge Kelly and her mom, Angela, La’Zaya flashed the grin she is famous for.
In fact, the whole family (including new sisters Amyiia, left, and Loyren, in front of Angela) never stopped smiling that whole morning. During this Thanksgiving holiday, these newly-minted families have much to be thankful for. These adoptions affect not only the children and families but all involved. Tom Incontro, La’Zaya’s guardian ad litum, confided, “Don’t you dare catch me crying in your picture.” He has been a guiding hand during La’Zaya’s eight years in the foster system.
 National Adoption Day Saturday
These Parents Make
Adoption Look Easy
By Lorraine Boyd
The Daily Record
“When Marty at CSI [Child Saving Institute] called me, she said, ‘I have to tell you about this young lady,’” Angela Washington recalled. “‘She’s reserved, shy. She doesn’t like touching much. Will you meet her?’ I said sure.”
When 15-year-old La’Zaya met Angela, she was sure.
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