Speakers

Bio:
Chet Fortune is a world champion strength and conditioning coach and speaker based in Omaha, Nebraska. He has played a key role in preparing Terence Crawford for multiple world title runs and works with elite athletes across professional sports. After surviving a severe spinal cord injury in 2021 that left him temporarily paralyzed, Chet fought his way back to walking and coaching at the highest level. Today, he speaks on resilience, mindset, and high performance—teaching others how to win despite adversity.

Speaking Topic:
Chet Fortune will be speaking on resilience, overcoming adversity, and what it truly means to win, especially when life doesn’t go as planned. Drawing from his experience coaching world champions and overcoming a life-altering spinal injury, Chet shares powerful lessons on discipline, mindset, and perseverance. His message challenges the idea that success requires perfect conditions, instead showing how individuals can rise, rebuild, and perform at a high level despite setbacks.

I'm a graduate of Southern Illinois University and made my first trip to Omaha in 1977 as a student in broadcasting to cover SIU in the NCAA basketball tournament at the Civic Auditorium. I covered my first College World Series in 1988 when Stanford was on the back end of consecutive championships.

I'm based in K.C. and the only active media member who has covered all four World Series appearances the Royals have made (1980, '85, '14 and '15). As a former desk clerk at The Kansas City Star, that's where I first became acquainted with renowned Omaha World Herald columnist Tom Shatel.

I actively covered Huskers football during the Tommy Frazier years and have covered other big events in Omaha such as the Olympic swimming trials.

I just completed coverage of my 34th Final Four (men's and women's combined) and continue to cover the Women's Volleyball Final Four on an annual basis.

Karen Gibler is President of the Sary County Chamber of Commerce and has been a dedicated leader, where she has proudly served for over 14 years. Throughout her tenure, Karen has played a pivotal role in the Chamber’s growth, helping transform it into a highly impactful organization that serves as a driving force for business success and regional collaboration across Sarpy County and the greater metro area.

During her time with the Chamber, Karen has contributed to significant increases in membership engagement, program development, and community influence. Her leadership has supported the expansion of strategic initiatives, strengthened partnerships with local businesses and government leaders, and elevated the Chamber’s role as a trusted voice for economic development and advocacy.

Karen’s contributions have been recognized through multiple professional and community awards, reflecting her commitment to excellence, leadership, and service. She has been honored with such awards like the Paul Haris Fellowship Award and Admiral of the Navy for the Great State of Nebraska.

Karen has five children, 4 grandchildren and has lived in Sarpy County for over 30 years.

Karen’s long-standing commitment and leadership reflect her deep belief in the power of collaboration to create lasting impact. Her work continues to shape a stronger, more vibrant future for Sarpy County.

Major General Craig W. Strong is a native Nebraskan who was born in York and grew up in Silver Creek. He began his military career in 1986 as an enlisted member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, Mobile Construction Battalion 15 (Seabees). He joined the Nebraska Army National Guard in 1993 where he completed Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1995.

MG Strong earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska in 1990, spending his junior year as an associate student at Keble College, Oxford University. In 1995, he earned a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2000, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska - College of Law. In 2016, he was a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Army War College earning a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies. In 2021, he completed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Seminar XXI, International Relations and National Interest Fellowship.  

MG Strong was appointed as the Adjutant General for the Nebraska National Guard on 7 July 2023. His military awards include two Bronze Star Medals, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and seven Meritorious Service Medals. He is also a recipient of the Department of the Army’s General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award.

MG Strong and his wife Jennifer reside in Lincoln and have two children, Jack and Claire, who are both recent graduates of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center respectively.

Following his passion for community betterment, Vic founded Vic Gutman & Associates Consulting in 1978. Since that time, he has provided communications, organizational development, event management, and fundraising services for hundreds of nonprofit organizations in Nebraska, Iowa, and Michigan. Vic spearheaded and managed the revival of the Omaha Farmers Market in the Old Market in 1994 and in Aksarben in 2010 and first attempted to establish an indoor market on South 10th Street from 2013-2017. He currently serves on the Heritage Omaha-convened committee guiding development of The Riverfront Market, a year-round public market in Downtown Omaha, a decades-long dream of Vic’s that is projected to open in May 2028.

Vic has provided fundraising and organizational development services for nonprofit organizations including the Omaha Theater Company, in COMMON, Immigrant Legal Center, Latino Center of the Midlands, MENTOR Nebraska, The Tri-Faith Initiative of Omaha, Girls Inc. and Nebraska Journalism Trust. He has consulted to numerous urban districts in Detroit, Omaha, and Lincoln (NE), working on more than 100 events including the 300th anniversary celebration for the City of Detroit, Nebraska’s Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration, Lincoln’s Flatwater Festival, and Omaha’s 150th birthday celebration. He led the effort to establish the Omaha Summer Arts Festival in 1975, managing the Festivalthrough its 50th anniversary in 2024. Vic also helped shape Omaha’s Millennium Lights Festival in 1999.