Keynote Speaker: Noré Winter, President, Winter & Co. Urban Design
The 2013 Restore Omaha Conference on March 1 & 2 brought together organizations, businesses and government entities to provide a “one stop shop” for attendees to gather ideas, products, contacts and solutions for their older property needs.
This year’s event began with about 300 people attending the opening reception Friday, March 1, at the Scottish Rite, a 1914 Neoclassical Revival style building at 20th and Douglas streets designed by John Latenser and restored throughout. Attendees toured this magnificent building and enjoyed complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Also at the reception, there was an important announcement about the formation of Restoration Exchange Omaha (combined merger of Restore Omaha, Landmarks Inc., Omaha Urban Neighborhoods organizations). The mission of Restoration Exchange Omaha will be to educate and motivate people to restore and preserve historic properties through: Education, Advocacy and Invigoration.
Saturday’s conference at Metropolitan Community College South Campus was attended by over 300 people and included the keynote lecture by nationally recognized urban planner Noré Winter (image to the right), educational sessions, live demonstrations, exhibitor floor, lunch, and the Restore Jam where attendees were invited to share their current restoration projects in five minutes or less. Educational sessions ranged from V.I.P Tax Credits, brick and masonry restoration and architect John Latenser’s work, exterior painting and preparation, to restoration of the Nebraska State Capitol and where to find historic images of the area.
Additional Speakers
- Anthony Reider, Urban Planner, RDG Planning and Design
- Ben Petersen, Founder of Bench
- Bill Baburek, Owner/Operator Beer Corner USA and Infusion Brewing Co.
- Brent Hull, Owner & President of Hull Historical Architectural Millwork
- Carrie Weiners, Durham Museum
- Chris Halferty and Trevor Storovich, Murwood Inc. Home Improvement Services
- Chris Jansen, Architect & Architectural Historian
- Dan Worth, AIA, Senior Principal, BVH Architects
- Darien Henderson, Regional Manager, Building Restoration Corporation
- Dave Edwards, Omaha Postcard Collector
- David Lawrence, Craftsman
- Gary Rosenberg, Douglas County Historical Society
- Julie Reilly, Objects Conservator
- Kristine Gerber, Author, Publisher & Historian
- Larry Jacobsen, AIA, The Schemmer Associates, Inc.
- Martha Grenzeback, Omaha Public Library
- Melissa Dirr, Architectural Historian, Historic Resources Group, Inc.
- Micah Evans, Development Director, Scottish Rite Foundation
- Michelle Gullett, Omaha World-Herald
- Noretta Glupp, Folsom-Bryant House, Burt County Museum
- Roger Koch, Owner/Operator, Roger’s Shop, Sioux Falls, SD