Key People
Meredith Metcalf
Founder and President
Meredith started her career in social work and over the years worked in the areas of: immigrant rights, women's empowerment, youth programming/mentoring, community organizing, non-profit management and industrial social work/Human Resources.
Meredith is passionate about women's empowerment and anti-oppression work. Meredith is an experienced recruiter, non-profit leader, teacher/trainer, and advocate. She has a Masters in Social Work and a Professional in Human Resources certification, but her biggest accomplishment is raising a kind, happy, healthy son as a single mom.
Ambe' White
Board of Directors
Ambe' currently serves at the Academic Dean of Social Sciences and Business at Iowa Western Community College, and has years of experience in the areas of human resources, college access, student development, and teaching/training. She describes herself: "single mom of two student-athlete/college graduates. I earned all of my degrees and worked while parenting. I love to teach indoor spin classes and ride the bike trail. I'm an Academic Dean and Adjunct Instructor, pursuing a terminal degree."
Kristi Freese
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Kristi is a native of the Omaha area. Since graduating from Bellevue University with an accounting degree and then completing her MBA, Kristi has spent her career in Omaha in a variety of industries both for profit and nonprofit, overseeing accounting functions for a large restaurant franchise of $80+ million to accounting and finance functions for a small $2 million community action nonprofit. She has worked in accounting and finance for over 10 years in higher education, mainly within health care education. Her work style encompasses mentoring, collaborating and process improvement
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Lilia Franciscony
Board of Directors
Lilia grew up in Venezuela and came to Omaha to attend the University as an international student. Shortly before the birth of her daughter, she started a 20-year long career as a translator for Mutual of Omaha. Later, she switched careers and went to work as a Human Resource Specialist at Omaha Steaks from where she has since retired after 13 years. She has continued doing freelance translation.
Now as a retiree, she became a registrar and helps during election time; She also volunteers at the LWVGO, HWC at what has become her passion: voter education and voter registration. She enjoys indoor gardening, walking, running, and hiking, and has competed in several 5K, 10K and the 40th anniversary Half Marathon in Omaha. She practices yoga on a regular basis and loves educational and environmental traveling.
Coming to Omaha and being a single mother really showed her that the support and kindness of the people that she surrounds herself with is the most important element in her life; in addition to one's own tenacity, persistence, and commitment to self.
Julie Libisi
Board of Directors, Secretary
As a single parent, Julie Lubisi is excited to help advance the mission of MOMentum. She currently serves as the Sr. Program Officer of Human Trafficking Prevention at Project Concern International, a Global Communities Partner. Julie has over 15 years’ experience providing direct client services and managing programs within child welfare services, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, and refugee resettlement. Julie holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and two master's degrees in public administration and public health. She is pursuing her PhD studies with the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. She enjoys exploring the world of art with her daughter and spending time with her furry family members.
Lindsey Johnson
Board of Directors
Lindsey is a grant writer, consultant, and educator with over fifteen years of experience in the fields of secondary and post-secondary education. She is a proud graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and eventually a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. Her areas of professional interest include workforce development, student equity, and educational law, with an emphasis on post-secondary athletics. She currently serves as the Grants Manager for Iowa Western Community College and as Chair of the Iowa Grant Professionals Leadership Group. She is an active member of both the National Grant Managers Association (NGMA) and the Grant Professionals Association (GPA).
