22-25-GAME CHANGERS-515_- 4/11/15 6:27 PM Page 22
game CHANGERS
• PRESENTED BY
through nancy k. johnson has built an incredible career in commercial real estate, starting at an unusually young age – in a field that remains male-dominated and challenging – but it’s not just her career that has made an impression in the community.
NANCY K. JOHNSON’S career
I said I would help, and before I knew it was in charge of taking a swing at it the live auction items. And I had about six weeks to Johnson first connected with UCP Nebraska by way of gather them up,” she said. “Then I started more work for golf, which she initially took up as a means to build her them and two years ago they asked me to be the guild professional network. president, and this year I was the honorary chair for their Fandango (fundraiser).” “When I started in commercial real estate, I was very young – 21 – and when I was 25 I had someone say to “Nancy is one of those young women who pulled herself me, ‘If you’re going to be in that male-dominated But the impression she has made in the community up and has been extremely successful in a very profession, you better learn to play golf.’” Golf ultimately reaches far beyond her business achievements. became a beloved pastime, and five or six years ago competitive business. And instead of just taking that success and keeping it all for herself, so to speak, Nancy Johnson found herself offering some suggestions to Johnson has committed time and resources to several organizers of a small golf fundraiser for UCP on how to feels a sense of community responsibility to give back local nonprofits over the years as well as mentored other some of what she has learned and earned,” Henrichs said. make the event better from the golfer’s perspective. women professionals, and those who have seen her contributions firsthand say her efforts have made a real difference. HAS FEATURED AN IMPRESSIVE RISE IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, STARTING AT AN UNUSUALLY YOUNG AGE (SHE REMEMBERS THE EXACT DATE SHE FOUND HER CALLING: SEPTEMBER 17, 1987) IN A FIELD THAT IS STILL MALE-DOMINATED AND VERY CHALLENGING. IN 2003, SHE JOINED CB RICHARD ELLIS (CBRE-MEGA) AND TODAY SERVES AS A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT.
“To know Nancy is to know a high-energy woman who has been very successful, and she finds a way to bring that same high-energy commitment to human care,” said Ruth Henrichs, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) president and CEO. “She has incredible enthusiasm, and not only does she have great ideas, but she’s one of those rare people who always follows through,” Carol Hahn, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Nebraska executive director, said. “She’s an amazing woman who cares about people and she’s always there to help out.” Johnson said her commitment to community was instilled early on. The oldest of four children, she remembers her father reminding her of her responsibility to “set a good example” and that her mother, a “driven individual,” managed to make time for volunteer efforts.
SHE HAS INCREDIBLE enthusiasm, AND NOT ONLY DOES SHE HAVE GREAT IDEAS, BUT SHE’S ONE OF THOSE RARE PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS follows through.…SHE’S AN AMAZING WOMAN WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND SHE’S always THERE TO HELP OUT. ~ CAROL HAHN UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY (UCP) NEBRASKA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“I had very good role models in both my parents,” Johnson explained. “They are amazing people and they give back and work hard.”
before she knew it… It was through a personal connection that Johnson first became involved with Lutheran Family Services.
“They’re very fortunate to have a great guild that was in “I opened my mouth,” she said, wryly. place long before I was involved. It’s women in the community who are really good workers and doers. “I was introduced to LFS some 16 years ago when my Now she’s part of the executive committee for the friend adopted her baby through Adoption Links, which They simply do it because they have good hearts and are organization’s annual “Hit the Links” Drive Against fortunate in that they have the ability to give back,” is now part of Lutheran Family Services. When that Disabilities golf tournament and capitalizing on years of connections built through her career. particular friend was the honorary chair for a fundraiser, Johnson said.
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mquarterly • May/JuN/Jul 2015