Meet O-pa’s founders and the board of directors who dedicate their time and resources to help us serve the community.
Board of Directors
Jack Koraleski, Chair
D. David Slosburg, Vice Chair
Michael S. Cassling, Vice Chair
H. Dele Davies, M.D.
Meg Lauritzen Dodge
Scott C. Heider
Todd L. Johnson
Rodrigo López
Sharlon Rodgers
Rachel Werner
*John Gottschalk, Chair Emeritus
John K. Boyer, Secretary
*deceased
*Not pictured: John Gottschalk, Jennifer Hamann, Mike McCarthy
OPAS Foundation Board of Directors
Michael R. McCarthy, Chair
Jack Koraleski, Vice Chair
John K. Boyer, Secretary
Jennifer Hamann
Rodrigo López
Carl G. Mammel
Remembering Our Founders
O-pa is deeply grateful for the immeasurable contributions of our founders, who changed Omaha forever with their visionary leadership.
John Gottschalk
John Gottschalk was the founding chair of Omaha Performing Arts from its inception in 2001 through June 2021, when he was named Chair Emeritus, and he remained interested and supportive until his death in November 2024. John had a deep and passionate commitment to O-pa and in serving the community and was generous with both his time and resources to ensure O-pa’s success.
John’s leadership was key to O-pa’s development and growth, along with Dick Holland’s commitment. They, along with Walter Scott, worked closely with Heritage Services to renovate the Orpheum Theater and design and build the Holland Center. It was his vision of a campus master plan that ultimately led to both Steelhouse Omaha and the upcoming Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement.
John gave countless hours and dedication to the success of O-pa. Most of all, he was passionate about the performances we brought to our stages and the impact O-pa has on the community. He cared deeply about Omaha, the greater community, and the state, and gave so very much to all of us. “O-pa would not exist today without John Gottschalk,” said Joan Squires, president of Omaha Performing Arts. “The lives he has touched and the legacy he has left will always be remembered.”
Dick Holland
We are grateful to the late Richard “Dick” and Mary Holland for their dedication to Omaha Performing Arts. The Holland Performing Arts Center and Dick & Mary Holland Campus (comprised of the Holland Center, Steelhouse Omaha, and Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement), which bears their names, have become beloved destinations for the arts in our community.
Dick and Mary married in 1948 and raised their family in Omaha. After Dick’s success in advertising and the couple’s early Berkshire Hathaway investments, Dick and Mary became ardent supporters of arts, education, and families in crisis. Dick believed that, because of his means, philanthropy was his duty, and his generosity transformed the arts in our community. The Holland Center is named for the couple because of their generous lead gift to the building.
Dick remained actively involved with O-pa and served as the vice-chairman of the board of directors from 2005 until his death on August 9, 2016. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary. Dick’s legacy continues to live on through the arts programming and education initiatives he inspired and funded.
“Dick will be remembered for his warmth, sense of humor, fierce intelligence and curiosity, and most of all, for his profound impact on our community,” said Joan Squires, president of Omaha Performing Arts.
All who come here, listen, reflect, dream, cry, cheer. This hall belongs to you.
— Dick and Mary Holland
Walter Scott, Jr.
A founding member of the Omaha Performing Arts board of directors, the late Walter Scott, Jr. was instrumental in the formation of the organization and led the design and construction of the Holland Performing Arts Center and the renovation of the Orpheum Theater through his leadership of Heritage Services. As an O-pa board member for more than 20 years, Walter provided vision, insight, and guidance that elevated the organization and helped transform the community. His tremendous generosity supported a variety of projects, including Scott Hall named in his and his late wife Suzanne’s honor.
Walter focused on the future, and his leadership gifts — including his support through the Walter Scott Family Foundation for Steelhouse Omaha — set the stage for the next generation.
The success of any civic or charitable organization is how much your community is involved in it.
— Walter Scott, Jr.
