About Us

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Eric Gurley

Chief Executive Officer

Eric is the President and CEO of Immanuel.  He is a skilled financial and operational professional with more than 20 years of senior housing and health care experience, excelling in the areas of strategic planning, implementation and reporting. 

Eric served on the EAA Board of directors from 2005 to 2013.  He joined the EAA Foundation Board in 2015 and currently serves as the Vice President.  Eric re-joined the EAA Board in 2020 and is a member of the finance committee.  

He resides in Omaha, Nebraska with his family and is a member of the Omaha Symphony Board and finance committee, Lutheran Giving Board and finance committee, and Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries finance committee.

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Julie Kaminski

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

With a master’s degree in gerontological studies and nursing home administrative license, Kaminski has held leadership positions at LeadingAge Nebraska, Notre Dame Housing and Life Care Services. Her passion for seniors and service led her to participate as an adjunct instructor on aging and business at University of Nebraska-Omaha and Midland University. She has served on numerous aging committees including Advancing Excellence LANE, DHHS Advisory Board, the Medicaid Advisory Assistance Council, The Dreamweaver Foundation and Scripps Gerontology Center Alumni Advisory Board. 

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Scott Bear

Chief Financial Officer

Bear is a dedicated leader with a strong background in healthcare finance. He has over 15 years of experience specializing in strategic, operational and financial planning and budgeting. Bear has a passion for developing great business relationships to create consistent supply chain processes for the effective acquisition of goods and services for the organization. Serves on the board of (LFMA) Lutheran Financial Managers Association.

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Tammy Sealer

Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Sealer has over 20 years of experience in senior services administration including development and project management. Sealer is currently a member of the Nebraska Healthcare Association and LeadingAge Nebraska.

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Rhonda Distefano

Vice President of Construction, Facilities Management & Environmental Services

Distefano has nearly 30 years of experience in commercial construction. She brings the ability to create a vision of excellence throughout the construction, facilities management and environmental services areas of Immanuel. Distefano is a past board member of Habitat for Humanity.

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Mark Iverson

Vice President of Community Operations

Iverson has over 15 years of executive leadership experience in senior living, specializing in strategic operations that strengthen relationships across all levels of the organization. He is a seasoned professional and active member of the Nebraska Assisted Living Association.

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Reverend Peggy Hall

Vice President of Mission and Spiritual Care

Pastor Hall has been a compassionate leader in pastoral care for more than 25 years, guiding Lutheran congregations and agencies while championing Immanuel’s Mission and Cultural Initiatives. She is a member of the Clinical Pastoral Education Advisory Committee for Catholic Health Initiatives, board member for Radio Talking Books, and Midland University.

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Jennifer Knecht

Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Communications

Knecht has extensive marketing experience with a senior services and healthcare background. Her resume ranges from local health care organizations, to tech companies, to marketing and advertising community pillars where she has held prominent leadership positions in growing brand awareness and overall positioning. Knecht’s expertise brings a mix of traditional marketing and innovative emerging tools. 

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Colleen Maciejewski

Vice President of Information Technology

Maciejewski has extensive information technology and leadership background. Through her executive positions at some of the area’s most prominent business leaders, Maciejewski gained expertise in IT and business transformation, program development, brand creation, mentoring, non-profit management, organization design and facilitation. She is a current board member for the Institute for Career Advancement Needs, and is involved in other philanthropic activities. 

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Jill Nyquist

Vice President of Resident Experience

Nyquist has over 30 years within the healthcare and senior services industry. During her career she has held various positions from nursing to leadership and administrative positions. She serves on the board of the Dreamweaver Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling end-of-life dreams for impoverished seniors with terminal illnesses.

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Debra Wiens

Vice President of Human Resources

Wiens has over 20 years in the human resources field, including strategic management, workforce planning, compensation and benefits, employee relations and occupational health & safety. She is a member of the Human Resource Association of the Midlands (HRAM) and Society for Human Resource Management.