Welcome to Douglas County Connection, a monthly newsletter for Douglas County employees. This newsletter aims to foster stronger connections within our organization by informing you about important updates, community events, and noteworthy achievements across our County departments. Have a story idea? Email newsletter@douglascounty-ne.gov.

From left: Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bossman, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, Mayor-elect John Ewing Jr., the mayor-elect's chief of staff, Tom Warren, City Attorney Matt Kuhse, and the mayor-elect's Deputy Chief of Communications, Erin Grace.

Colby Barak, Administrative Assistant for the Douglas County Board of Commissioners since March 2021, is a dedicated public servant and a published author whose work is making a meaningful impact far beyond her desk at the Civic Center.

In September 2023, Colby released her first book, My Spouse Has Cancer (Which Means WE Have Cancer): A Practical Workbook for Cancer Caregivers. This resource was born from more than a decade of navigating her husband’s cancer journey. Written in just six weeks and self-published over six months, it delivers practical guidance, emotional support, and hard-earned wisdom to those unexpectedly thrust into the role of caregiver.

The inspiration for the book came to Colby in a moment of quiet reflection during Ash Wednesday services in early 2023. “It might sound crazy to some,” she said, “but I was struggling with my own grief and the image of what the book should be—its purpose and structure—was delivered to me.” From there, the writing process came naturally. “This book was a gift I was given, and I knew I had to share it with others.”

Colby compares the caregiver’s experience to being dropped into a dark hole without a map or a guide. Her workbook is meant to be a flashlight for those following behind her—filled with checklists, journaling space, and gentle insights for organizing life when everything feels out of control.

Today, her book is distributed free to cancer patients and caregivers through the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center’s Resource Center, the CHI Health Henry Lynch Cancer Center (by request through their Social Work Department), and A Time to Heal Cancer Foundation's Lisa's Library. It's also available for purchase on Amazon and at The Bookworm in Omaha.

Colby’s work has garnered recognition from the medical community. In 2024, she was featured in a Nebraska Medicine story celebrating both the book and her husband Doug’s 10-year cancer survival milestone. She was also invited to speak at Nebraska Medicine’s Cancer Survivorship Conference, encouraging medical professionals to guide patients toward the tools available to them at the Resource Center.

Colby’s mission doesn’t stop here. She hopes to one day see the workbook translated into multiple languages and made available to any family receiving a cancer diagnosis, anywhere in the world. “I can’t fight cancer for them,” she says, “but I can help them organize their lives to be better prepared for the fight.”

Her advice to others? “If you have a story, write it down and share it in whatever way you can. You never know how many people are going through something similar until you open up. Stories connect us. They remind us we’re not alone—and that helping someone else might be the most healing thing we can do.”

To learn more about Colby’s book, visit cbebestbooks.com or find it on Amazon.

• Training is available in TalentLMS through the Okta Portal!

• Please complete the assigned courses by December 31, 2025.

• Training includes:

  • Workplace Bullying Prevention Made Simple

  • Diversity Made Simple

  • Legal Email and Text Messaging at Work

  • Legal Social Media at Work - Employee Version

  • Harassment Prevention Made Simple

  • Yearly Cybersecurity and A.I. Training (Douglas County) 

• To access visit: https://benefitslogin.wexhealth.com/ 

  • • Hover over "Solutions" then select "Participants/Employees"

    • You will find login buttons for accessing your online account, benefits knowledge base resources, a link to current eligible expenses, and chat option. 

• To download the mobile app:

  • • Search "Benefits by WEX" in your mobile app store. 

    • After downloading, use your standard username and password to log in. 

• Blue365 is available to all Douglas County employees who are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska members. 

• Discounts available in: 

  • • Apparel & Footwear

    • Fitness 

    • Hearing & Vision

    • Home & Family

    • Nutrition

    • Personal Care

    • Travel

• Eligible employees can join here! 

Administration

• Emily Bennett

Board of Equalization

• Maggie Padilla

• Ellee Glogowski

• Natalie Gonzalez

• Noah Gonzalez

• Aidan Carlson

• Alleyah Angela-McKenzie Flint

• Ethan Connolly

• Connor Kaup

• Shi Jaramillo

Community Mental Health Center

• Twania Henderson

County Attorney

• Erin Perry

• Averie Hannah

• Quinton Boyles

• Kylee Brown

• Sayler Nacke

• Connor Drahota

• Sierra Wisehart Manley

• Andres Ramirez Herrera

• August Hogan III

• Taylor Ross

• Josh Gomillion

• Tyson Richards

• Benjamin Nack

• Shea Corwin

Communications

• Ryan Girouex

• Summer Campbell

• Joseph Glaser

• Ellis Perdue

• Nick Pollreis

• Molly Shannon

Construction

• Olivia Schmidt

• Ryan Kramer

Corrections

• Corey Core

• Sara Serrano Linares

• Bri Dunson

Environmental Services

• Dominic Costanzo

• Thomas Ross

• Aiden Trumm

• Blake Pflaum

• Ben David

Health Center

• Aalyssia Brown

• Stendhal Toussaint

• Kristy Sanchez

• Koss Ayite

• Tim Stessman

Maintenance

• Samuel Habluetzel

• Benjamin Ueding

Public Defender

• Eldaah Asfaw

• Olivia Sullivan

• Garrett Burns

• CJ Westlund

• Isabela Martinez-Thibodeau

• Lucia Guzman

• Skylar Young

Sheriff

• Alexcia King

Youth Center

• Chelsi Janicek

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college in Nursing required.*

• Registered Nurse (RN) with a current Nebraska license required upon hire and maintained in good standing throughout employment.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

• Experience in public health, nurse case management, and communicable disease control preferred.

• One (1) year of MSOffice, database, and graphics experience/training preferred.

• Valid driver's license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.  

• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check, conditional offer drug screen and physical assessment required.

• *Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Click here to view the full job description and submit your application

• High school diploma or equivalent required.*

• Three (3) years of clerical experience required.*

• Two (2) years of experience using MSOffice required.

• Keyboard/type 40 net words per minute required.

• Must be a registered voter (Neb. Rev. Stat. §32-305).

• Valid driver’s license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.

• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check, physical assessment and conditional offer drug screen required.

• *Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for  requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Click here to view the full job description and submit your application