metroMagazine • The Spirit of Omaha UP FROM THE ROOTS TYLER AND HIS WIFE LISA returned to Omaha for good in 2001 to start a family. Following tradition, he began at the bottom of Paxton & Vierling Steel, a steel processor, in order to learn the operation from the ground up. Today, the 38 year-old is the fourth generation of his family at Owen Industries, of which the Carter Lake, Iowa-based P & V is one of several divisions. He heads day to day operations at Lincoln Structural Solutions, a Lincoln, Neb. supplier of nuclear grade construction materials. Playing to his creative strengths, he handles marketing and branding for Owen Industries. P & V’s “iron is in our blood” tag is his. As businessman, husband and father of four, Owen’s not so much abandoned his free-spirited ways as settled down to focus on a few key passions. In 2009 he helped found the local MAHA MUSIC FESTIVAL, a one-day phantasmagorical immersion in rock. The free, nonprofit event takes place at the Lewis & Clark Landing on the downtown riverfront. The fest’s
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expressed aim is “community building.” THE OF OMAHA MAHA 2011 is set for Aug. 13. “There seems to be an overwhelming sense of giving back in this He served two terms on the CITY OF community and of our being greater OMAHA’S HUMAN RIGHTS AND than the sum of our parts. There’s RELATIONS BOARD. His tenure this kind of bonding together into coincided with the public flap over the making something bigger,” Owen police auditor office. He fought hard said. “I think that comes back to an to retain the auditor but in the end the Omaha thing. I don’t think people in post was eliminated by the city. Omaha suffer a lot of grandiose, inflated egos, so there is this spirit The self-described “bibliophile” is in his of– let’s actually create something, fifth year on the OMAHA PUBLIC rather than bluster about something.” LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD, a period that’s included the resignation The Omaha work ethic of getting of library director RIVKAH SASS, the things done is one his family’s hiring of her successor, GARY WASDIN, exemplified. Now that he’s in a and staving off budget cuts. position to lead, he finds few things as satisfying as giving back. Owen’s steeped in the local philanthropic community through “I think any time you serve something his and his family’s long involvement outside of yourself it’s a satisfying in Ak-Sar-Ben, which he calls “a great experience.” organization.” He and Lisa have also helped organize major fundraisers for People may quibble with where the OMAHA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. donor dollars go, but in the end, he said, “it’s not important how you give, The example of being a good steward it’s only important that you give.” has always been there as expectation and obligation. Whether donating An advantage Omaha offers, he said, time or money, he learned it’s the is that it’s still small enough for an right thing to do. individual or an organization or a
FOUR AMIGOS: TRE BRASHEAR , MIKE APP, MIKE TOOHEY AND TYLER OWEN
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