TIMMY TAMISIEA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

TIMMY@LAUNCHLEADERSHIP.ORG

Timmy Tamisiea brings over 30 years of dedication to Launch as a delegate, volunteer, board member, Curriculum Director, and now Executive Director. His extensive history with Launch reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering young leaders and fostering personal growth.

As the former Executive Director of The Omaha Comedy Fest, Timmy demonstrated his ability to lead with vision and impact. He helped raise over $50,000, achieved nonprofit status for the festival, brought in nationally renowned acts, and consolidated the event into a neighborhood-centered festival showcasing talent from across the country.

Timmy’s work with the entertainment company, Mi Productions, strengthened his expertise in project management, storytelling, and collaboration. His dynamic teaching background, which includes serving as a professor at The College of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and traveling the country leading applied improv workshops for working professionals, further highlights his passion for mentorship and education.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Timmy enjoys spending time with his two kids and wife, Immersing himself in books, and indulging his creativity with LEGO projects. His well-rounded experience and enthusiasm make him uniquely equipped to lead Launch Leadership into its next chapter, inspiring the next generation of leaders.

DARCY ARENDS-TOMPKINS, VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR

DARCY@LAUNCHLEADERSHIP.ORG

Darcy has been involved with the Summer Leadership Workshop since 2008, starting as a delegate and joining the staff in 2011. Over the years, she has taken on various leadership roles, focusing on staff development. With experience leading 11+ co-ops, serving as an instructional coach, and contributing to New Staff Training for seven years, she is excited to bring her skills to the role of Volunteer Director. Outside of Launch, Darcy is a middle school teacher in Lincoln, NE, a proud dog mom, live music lover, and Husker fan.

TJ NUCKOLLS, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

TJ@launchleadership.org

TJ Nuckolls first discovered Launch when his brothers attended Workshop and later became staffers. Following their path, he has dedicated over 30 years as an active volunteer. During his early staff years, he contributed to various areas of the organization, including communications, curriculum, and storytelling. Recently, he has focused on elevating the production quality of Launch's large group events, which led him to step into the role of Communications Director. In his professional life, TJ works in broadcast television and live events. A specialist in real-time graphics systems, he works as a graphics operator, motion designer, and producer on national broadcasts, pay-per-view events, and Fortune 500 company productions.

BRIDGET BESSE, WORKSHOP DIRECTOR

BRIDGET.bESSE@launchleadership.org

Bridget Besse has been involved with Launch Leadership since she attended Workshop as a Delegate back in the summer of 2015, joining the Volunteer Staff in 2018. A graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law, Bridget is driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to society in both academic excellence and social responsibility. Recognizing the transformative power of leadership, Bridget utilizes her legal acumen and innate creativity to provide delegates a well-rounded, holistic Workshop to converse about social justice issues and promote civic engagement. As Workshop Director, Bridget aims to provide a warm, empathetic, inspiring atmosphere where delegates can come together and "make this world a better place, if we can."

HANNAH BAUER, CURRICULUM DIRECTOR

hannah.bauer@launchleadership.org

Hannah has been a volunteer with Launch Leadership since 2015. A professional marketer for more than 10 years, Hannah is currently the Director of Marketing at Martin & Company. Originally from southeast Nebraska, Hannah now lives in Colorado with her husband and their cats.

STEVE DOSSKEY, SERVICES DIRECTOR

STEVE.DOSSKEY@LAUNCHLEADERSHIP.ORG

A proud Lincolnite and Nebraskan, Steve has been heavily involved as a Launch Volunteer Staffer for the better part of the last decade. From engaging students year-round through Launch Services to coordinating our middle school-level JAM Workshop, facilitating and improving internal evaluations and feedback processes, and more. Outside of Launch and his day job at a local software company, Steve works extensively with young people in the Lincoln area as a high school soccer and debate coach, substitute teacher, and youth mentor. In what free time he has, Steve enjoys playing and seeing live music, running on Lincoln's wonderful trails, taking road trips and exploring the great outdoors, and staying curious.

COURTNEY STRAYER, REGISTRATION AND DATA MANAGER

cOURTNEY.STRAYER@launchleadership.org

Courtney joined the Launch staff in 2021 after a nine-year gap from her experience as a three-time delegate. After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2019, she knew she wanted to get involved with a local organization and quickly decided that Launch was a natural fit. Now in her third year on staff, she’s able to blend her passion for data-driven decisions and spreadsheet organization to help tell Launch’s story and support the Workshop planning team in executing our programming. Outside of Launch, she can be found volunteering with Lincoln’s Young Professional Group, serving as chair for their Leadership Council or working at Bryan Health on their Organizational Development team. In her free time she can be found hanging out with friends, binging any Bravo reality show, or planning the next vacation.