Chaley Chandler

Junior League of Omaha Members Out and About Enjoying Autumn Events

Published on October 27, 2015April 16, 2021 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

Vivid colored leaves still hang from trees in Omaha. The ones that have made their way to the ground, crunch and crackle under step. It is autumn, or fall, in the heartland and there is one thing on which we can all agree…

There was a steady cool breeze in the air this weekend and many Junior League of Omaha members reached for their tall boots and vests officially marking the start of Han Solo Season.

The cool air inspires many League members to fire up the oven or the slow cooker and whip up something delicious. Tracy Cartwright baked a batch of Mini Pumpkin Poppers.

Tracy Weis made a batch of yummy taco soup and cornbread. (Make something similar with this recipe.) And now that the slow cooker is working overtime, make sure it stays squeaky clean.

Melissa Carlberg and her husband Zach hosted a fall-theme dinner party for friends featuring recipes that gave a nod to the season including: roasted walnuts, apple parsnip soup and baked apple roses.

Other League members ventured out and about this weekend.

Many members attended the Women’s Center for Advancement TGIF event. Angela Cutler was one of three co-chairs for the western-themed event and Veronica Wortman served on the silent auction committee. Many league members put together silent auction items and attended the event that raised money to help women in the Omaha area out of domestic crisis.

Junior League of Omaha members attended the 2015 Women's Center for Advancement's TGIF event include: Angela Kros Cutler, Veronica Wortman, Melissa Hoeman Carlberg, Kate Hansen, Jen Olson Alloway (sustainer), Meghan Hope, Shelly Marsh, Tina Nelson, Chaley Smith Chandler, Mary Jane Tritsch, Lindsey Snyder, Alysia Radica and Liz Akert (not pictured) — Junior League of Omaha members attended the 2015 Women’s Center for Advancement’s TGIF event include: Angela Cutler, Veronica Wortman, Melissa Carlberg, Kate Hansen, Jen Alloway (sustainer), Lindsey Buchanan, Meghan Hope, Shelly Marsh, Tina Nelson, Chaley Chandler, Mary Jane Tritsch, Lindsey Snyder, Alysia Radica and Liz Akert (not pictured)

League sustainer Catherine McAllister and her friend served as co-chairs for Omaha’s Great Pumpkin event this weekend. The event supports Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska‘s adoption and foster care awareness. Catherine has been involved in supporting the organization for five years.

Done in a Day project organized volunteers to assist with the Omaha Symphony Spooktacular. League members helped decorate the lobby of the Holland Performing Arts Center, set up trick-or-treat stations, run pre-concert activities including instrument petting zoo, costume contest, and a Halloween-themed craft. Thank you to Kristen Bladt, Kelly Brooks, Melissa Hoeman Carlberg, Beverly Gorman, Kimberly Johnston, Racheal McMahon, Meghan Bothe, Caroline Drumm, Erin Fairchild, Megan Gerwick, Katie Lange Allebone, Leigh Shea, Sarah Smith, and Ashlee Young for participating.

Other League members were in the Halloween spirit. Megan Riebe and friends went to the Ranch of Terror at the Bellevue Berry Farm.

Heather Vanourney ran the Bones 5K this weekend. The Omaha Running Club sponsored the run through the moonlit trails of Standing Bear Lake. Runners’ hearts raced in fear of all things that go bump in the night, according to the event page.

Katie Triplett and Veronica Wortman spent an afternoon decorating Halloween and fall cookies to share with friends and colleagues.

Before heading out to Trick-or-Treat with the kiddos, the Omaha Fire Department suggests several safety tips, such as adding a strip of reflective tape to trick-or-treat bags or clothing and costumes for greater visibility.

Going to a costume party? Revisit recent pop culture phenomenon for inspiration in creating a costume. Kelly Giese and her husband Matt, created this Double Rainbow costume.
(It was soo beautiful.)

The party doesn’t stop when we put Halloween 2015 in the books. Tickets to the 3rd annual Barn Bash are available now through the Junior League of Omaha website. The event features a chili cook-off, BINGO, cash bar, pumpkin pie martinis, bonfire and s’mores. Members, significant others and friends welcome at the event.

Runza Restaurants Break Fundraising Record with Junior League of Omaha Project

Published on September 4, 2015November 25, 2016 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

ABOMO_Runza_2015

Recently Runza® Restaurants conducted the 13th annual Great Books for Great Kids fundraiser. This year the funds raised benefited the Junior League of Omaha’s A Book of My Own community project. The League’s Board of Directors and project committee members staffed each location to provide members of the community more information about the Great Books for Great Kids event as well as general information about the league.

Blake (daughter of League President-Elect, Chaley Chandler) and Soren (son of League member Lexie Fraham enjoyed their frozen treats from Runza. A portion of sales from the day supported the League's community project. — Blake (daughter of League President-Elect, Chaley Chandler) and Soren (son of League member Lexie Fraham enjoyed their frozen treats from Runza. A portion of sales from the day supported the League’s community project.

Fourteen Omaha area Runza® Restaurants each pledged 15 percent of sales that day to the project. A record-breaking $8,162.07 was raised that day. Runza® has been a longtime supporter of reading. “Reading is vital to lifelong success and provides an excellent opportunity for families to spend time together,” stated Becky Perrett, director of marketing for Runza® National. “Donating funds for books and promoting literacy is an important endeavor for children and the community.”

League member and A Book of My Own community project Co-Chair, Cindy Guenzel and her children supported the event that raised over $6,0000. — League member and A Book of My Own community project Co-Chair, Cindy Guenzel and her children supported the event that raised over $8,100.

A Book of My Own has distributed close to 70,000 books to children in the Omaha area since the community project began in 2011. Visit the Junior League of Omaha’s Facebook Runza Great Books for Great Kids photo album to see more of this successful event. Special thank you to the A Book of My Own committee members who make this project successful: Britt Dudzinski, Cindy Guenzel, Katie Anderson, Becca Bode, Lyndsey Canning, Leigh Garvin, Gina Murante, Liz Akert, Maria Michaelis, Erin Glidden, Becky Heckman, Katie Martens, Sara Hemley, Laura Snyder, Chinh Doan, Emily Flom, Meghan Bothe, Sarah Carse, Amy Niederee, Melissa O’Neill, Megan Guenther, Nicole Seckman Jilek and Steffanie Luteran.

League member and Communications Chair, Melissa Hoeman Carlberg along with her several of her Nebraska Medicine colleagues supported the event by lunching at Runza that day. — League member and Communications Chair, Melissa Hoeman Carlberg, along with her several of her Nebraska Medicine colleagues, supported the event by lunching at Runza that day.

15 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting Your Own Business

Published on July 8, 2015November 25, 2016 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

15 Questions to Ask Yourself before Starting a Business

The Junior League of Omaha is proud of its many members who are successful business owners.

15 Questions to Ask Yourself - Starting a Business

These women serve as great role models and networking connections to our community’s future entrepreneurs, and are always willing to support the League. We asked business owners in the League, “What are the most important questions to ask yourself before starting a business?,” and they provided us with great food for thought.

Self Discovery

Do I love what I do?
Is my business idea really just a hobby?
Is there a need for my product or service?
Am I willing to fail to learn?
Can I be patient with growth and success?
Do I believe in my business?

Logistics

Do I have a business plan?
Does the business plan accurately detail how the business will make money?
Do I want a business partner and go solo?
Do I need start-up money? If so, where do I get?

“Do you have plenty of money to start with? You can definitely do it on a budget but you want to make sure not to skip certain steps because you don’t have the start up cash. Find investors, look in to small business loans, etc. You never want to start in the red – it will lead to always needing to catch up,” says Chaley Chandler, Junior League of Omaha president-elect and local clothing boutique owner.

What type of legal work, state filings do I need to complete?
Do you have an accountant and an attorney?

“The first year I was in business, I did all my own book keeping. However, I realized very quickly that that was not what I should spend my time on. Same with an attorney – it just makes it easier if you already have someone lined up and that you trust,” says Chaley.

Work-Life Integration

Am I ready to dive in with both feet and do WHATEVER needs to be done?

“You need to be prepared to do everything from cleaning the toilets to hiring and firing employees to customer service to cleaning the windows. Just because you want to own a boutique, doesn’t mean that you will only be going on glamorous buying trips – you will be doing literally everything even if you have employees – employees do not own your business and do not notice things that need to be done like you will,” Chaley advises.

Chaley Chandler attends a market event to purchase clothing items for her boutique.

14. How to manage business and family time?
15. Are you willing to eat, sleep and breathe your business?

“In order for a small business to succeed, you will have to literally live your business – at least for the first few years or usually more. You need to be prepared for it be all consuming – it will keep you up all night! There is always, always something to do, something to change and something to think about. You really have to be all in,” says Chaley.

In addition to Chaley Chandler we would also like to thank Lexie Frahm, Julie Hockney and Melissa Hegarty for their help in compiling this list of questions.

Connecting with …

Published on November 17, 2014November 17, 2014 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

Tell us about your family? Married to my husband Eric for 8 years with 2 children – Blake (daughter) who is 5 and Peyton (son) who is 2.

Hometown: Omaha

College: University of Kansas

Sorority: Kappa Delta

Job/Business: Owner of Chocolate Peacock Boutique and CP2U

Why did you join the Junior League?

I actually joined the League because my job at the time was making all of the sales people be involved in at least one networking group. I was sick of all the other network groups that I had tried so I found Junior League’s website and asked my boss if that would count. He obviously said yes. I ended up loving my experience with Junior League and even after leaving that job, I knew that I would be here to stay! Continue reading “Connecting with …” →