Alexis is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Seventy Five North where she establishes and develops relationships to create programming for the Highlander neighborhood. Previously, she worked at the Greater Omaha Chamber implementing talent and workforce strategies.
A native Omahan, Alexis graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in International Business. She currently sits on the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Omaha Board of Directors, a high school mentor program for architecture, construction and engineering professions, and was a 2017 Fellow for New Leaders Council Omaha, a leadership and professional development training program.
We asked her five questions . . .
1. What is your preferred mode of transportation?
Walking! I’m a rare individual who has the ability to walk to work every day. The fresh air always improves my mood and gives me time to clear my mind.
2. What, in your opinion, is the greatest challenge to multi-modal transportation in Omaha?
Accessibility and frequency come to mind first, but I’ll focus on the lack of benches, shelters, and information for our bus stops. Majority of bus stops are an erected pole with a single blue bus sign. There is nowhere to sit comfortably. There isn’t a shelter to protect riders from elements. There is also no route information at the stops while riders are waiting. It’s assumed if you are waiting for the bus, you should already know what you are doing.
3. What, in your opinion, the greatest multi-modal success in Omaha?
B-Cycle. I worked in downtown Omaha during my first year with a B-Cycle membership. It was ideal being able to bike to meetings throughout the day or to dinner with friends without the commitment of purchasing a bike. I also enjoyed using it to get around during CWS or the swim trials when downtown was congested.
4. How did you come to have an interest in transportation?
Access to transportation is critical to individual health and well-being. Omaha is built for cars, not people. Therefore individuals who don’t own vehicles rely on other resources to purchase food, drop-off their little ones at childcare, earn a living or attend medical appointments. I have a passion for equity regardless of income, race, gender, or geographic location. Access to transportation can play a major role in this.
5. If you could magically change one thing about the transportation systems in Omaha, without limit to budget or feasibility, what would it be?
Reconstruct all of the streets to have safer sidewalks. I love walking, but when you are one foot from a major street, it’s scary. Every street should have a couple feet of landscape between the sidewalk and street as a buffer.