Who We Are

Here at THE BLOC, our mission is to enhance the lives of the youth and seniors in Omaha & Lincoln. We know that sometimes all it takes to change the world is a little support. Since our founding, we have been determined to make an impact. The core of our efforts is to bring our team’s fresh ideas and passion for the range of activities we’re involved in. Through all of our endeavors, we hope to display the conviction behind our beliefs.

OUR ADVISORY BOARD

Karen Gibler has been with the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce since 2012. Her current role at the Sarpy Chamber is President and C.A.O. She has also led the Sarpy County Chamber Foundation in current efforts to assist small businesses in the current climate. Karen Gibler has been with the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce since 2012. Her current role at the Sarpy Chamber is President and C.A.O. She has also led the Sarpy County Chamber Foundation in current efforts to assist small businesses.	Cindi Allen is The Nebraska Deputy Secretary of State and International Trade Specialist. She brings over 20 years of experience and has led numerous trade mission across the globe, including to Bulgaria, Mexico, and Vietnam, Argentina and Brazil, Greece, Turkey, UEA, Jordan, Israel, etc.
President Darrin Good of Wesleyan University is an energetic, values-based leader, who is a sincere advocate for the liberal arts. He is a champion for diversity and inclusion efforts, as evidenced not only through his vocational journey but through his personal values and qualities. Good earned his bachelor’s degree with a major in biology from Augustana College and his master’s degree and a doctorate in biology from the University of Kansas. Good and his wife, Diana, have an adult daughter.	Ian Vickers is the CEO of Global Partners in Hope. The organization brings hope to international communities right out of our backyard. They partner up with local organizations and individuals they can help to bring hope to people that need it through Education, Clean water, Medical Care, and Energy. They have impacted communities on a global level. Recent projects include building a medical facility in Togo, establishing a leadership development education in China.

Karen Gibler has been with the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce since 2012. Her current role at the Sarpy Chamber is President and C.A.O. She has also led the Sarpy County Chamber Foundation in current efforts to assist small businesses in the current climate. Karen Gibler has been with the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce since 2012. Her current role at the Sarpy Chamber is President and C.A.O. She has also led the Sarpy County Chamber Foundation in current efforts to assist small businesses.

Cindi Allen is The Nebraska Deputy Secretary of State and International Trade Specialist. She brings over 20 years of experience and has led numerous trade mission across the globe, including to Bulgaria, Mexico, and Vietnam, Argentina and Brazil, Greece, Turkey, UEA, Jordan, Israel, etc.

President Darrin Good of Wesleyan University is an energetic, values-based leader, who is a sincere advocate for the liberal arts. He is a champion for diversity and inclusion efforts, as evidenced not only through his vocational journey but through his personal values and qualities. Good earned his bachelor’s degree with a major in biology from Augustana College and his master’s degree and a doctorate in biology from the University of Kansas. Good and his wife, Diana, have an adult daughter.

Ian Vickers is the CEO of Global Partners in Hope. The organization brings hope to international communities right out of our backyard. They partner up with local organizations and individuals they can help to bring hope to people that need it through Education, Clean water, Medical Care, and Energy. They have impacted communities on a global level. Recent projects include building a medical facility in Togo, establishing a leadership development education in China.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ralph Kellogg serves as the Vice President for People and Training at Lutheran Family Services. He also works as keynote speaker and workshop presenter. He has deivered talks for McLean and Company on the topic of employee well-being. He is a TEDx Omaha speaker on normalizing mental health conversations in the workplace. Kellogg has also spoken at the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Annual Summit, as well as the Society for Human Resource of Nebraska State Conference Annual Meeting.	Mikaela VanMoorleghem is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Notre Dame Sisters. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for most of her career and recently graduated from the University of Nebraska - Omaha with a Master's Degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management.
Chris Phillips is a visionary, dynamic, compassionate business leader. As North End Teleservice's (NET) chief operating officer, Chris manages day-to-day operations for the No. 6 fastest-growing organization in Nebraska, according to the 2021 Inc. 5000. He is one of the youngest chief operating officers in the nation. He helps facilitate such North End Teleservices community-engagement activities as Native Omaha Days, and many other community building projects.	Director Matthew Singh is an experienced administrator and nationally recognized operational excellence and continuous improvement expert. He is currently serving as the Director and Master Black Belt for the State of Nebraska’s Center of Operational Excellence. In this role, Matthew is responsible for driving operational excellence and ensuring Nebraska is more effective, efficient, and customer focused.
Dina Becirovic is the Chief Operations Officer for The Bloc. She serves as the Director of Operations at Omaha Insomnia & Psychiatric Service and as an Adjunct Professor at the College of Saint Mary. Dina serves on the External Advisory Board for Creighton University's MPH Program. She is a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is fluent in Bosnian and Serbo-Croatian.	Philipe Bruce is the CEO and founder of The Bloc, a nonprofit organization that aims to change the lives of all community members through education, charity & philanthropy, and community building. Phil is a founding member of the Midlands African Chamber, as well as a member of the board of directors. He serves as an AVP, Cybersecurity analyst at BNP Paribas \| Bank of The West. He is originally from Togo, Africa, and is fluent in French.
Ismael Gbadamassi is the Chief Financial Officer for The Bloc and formerly of All Nations House of Worship. He was managing partner of Goyi Store, one of the first ethnic grocery stores in Omaha, and is a Business Consultant for OKRA African Grill, an Omaha-based restaurant. Ismael also holds DOT Commercial Licenses and has been a Transportation Operations Coordinator for Lyman-Richey Corporation for over nine