Mission and Vision

  • Mission: WELCOM exists to promote healthy lifestyles for everyone in our community, primarily through health promotion activities at the worksite.
  • Vision: To lead Omaha and other Midland companies and communities to become America’s healthiest by:
    • Educating companies on the well workplace standards.
    • Recognizing companies for achievement of excellence in health promotion at the workplace.
    • Consulting with companies and communities to develop and improve their workplace wellness programs.

What we do

  • The Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM) was established in 1982 and is dedicated to promoting health and wellness throughout the workplaces in the Omaha community. The organization holds three well workplace universities a year to educate members on creating a foundation for their wellness programs. In addition WELCOM provides entertaining and educational opportunities throughout the year to further enhance wellness promotion in the community.

Who We Are

WELCOM Staff

  • Howie Halperin – Executive Director
    • Since 1995 Howie Halperin has been the Executive Director of the Wellness Council of the Midlands. He has a Bachelors of Arts in Physical Education and completed graduate work in Health Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Before joining the Wellness Council Howie spent 21 years as an Elementary Health and Physical Education teacher and a high school volleyball coach at Westside Community Schools in Omaha. For thirteen years, he coordinated the staff wellness program for Westside, which became the second school district in the country to achieve the Wellness Councils of America's Well Workplace Award.
  • Rebecca Vinton Dorn - Assistant Executive Director
    • Rebecca Vinton Dorn has been the Assistant Executive Director at the Wellness Council of the Midlands since 1996. Her background includes a B.A. from the University of South Dakota and a Master's Degree in Health Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In addition to her position at WELCOM, she serves as advisor to the Well Workplace Nebraska Project.

WELCOM Board of Directors

  • Terry Ahlers, Pfizer, Inc.

  • Vickie Ahlers, Baird Holm LLP

  • Jackie Austad, Union Pacific Railroad

  • Dr. Ken Bird, Westside Community Schools

  • Ed Burchfield, Valmont Industries, Inc.

  • Tim Burke, Omaha Public Power District

  • Lindsay Cosimano, Cassling

  • Howard Daubert, Physicians Mutual

  • Ron Duce, Kiewit Building Group

  • Mike Foutch, First National Bank

  • Dr. Lee Handke, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska

  • Dr. Dennis Joslin, Nebraska Methodist College, Josie Harper Campus

  • William M. Kizer, Central States Indemnity

  • Alan Kohll, Total Wellness

  • Sue Loerts, ACI Worldwide

  • Carol McCormick, Creighton University Medical Center

  • Tom O’Connor, University of Nebraska Medical Center

  • Nat Ponticello, The Nebraska Medical Center

  • Esther Scarpello, University of Nebraska at Omaha

  • Stacy Scholtz, Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company

  • Gina Thompson, PayPal

  • Marilyn Wadum, Methodist Hospital

  • Nancy Wallace, Alegent Health

  • Tanya Winegard, Creighton University