Feb 17, 6:00pm MOWBC Presents Speaker #2 in our Women and Black History Series – Our virtual speaker is Dannette Smith, CEO at DHHS Omaha Nebraska

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Dannette Smith is at the top of her game at the Department of Health and Human Services, she will share with us her story and her perspectives on black history and how it’s impacted her in her professional career by the women that came before her.

Dannette R. Smith was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Department of Health and Human Services for the state of Nebraska in February of 2019. She brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in large, complex organizations to the State. She spearheaded the development of the Department’s fourth annual business plan, which supports Governor Pete Ricketts’ strategic vision. The plan outlines her four-pronged approach to leading the Department.
● Create an integrated service delivery system. ● Establish and enhance collaborative relationships. ● Align DHHS teammates under our mission of Helping People Live Better Lives. ● Enhance the Department’s internal infrastructure to provide more effective, efficient, customer-focused services to Nebraskans.
Smith seeks to be a catalyst for creating innovative programmatic and technological solutions in human service organizations. In addition to improving the overall operational structure of DHHS, she currently oversees several largescale initiatives including:
● Medicaid Expansion in Nebraska also known as Heritage Health Adult ● Transformation and development of the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (YRTC) System ● DHHS Division of Public Health’s COVID-19 pandemic response
● Advancement of iServe Nebraska, an improved integrated information technology structure and business process project
● Heightened engagement with Nebraska communities
● Championing new Governor sanctioned initiatives ○ Multidisciplinary Health Equity Task Force ○ Economic Inclusion Summit, North Omaha
Prior to joining the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Ms. Smith was the Director of the Virginia Beach Department of Human Services. She has also worked in a leadership capacity in Seattle, WA, Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, and Cook County, IL.

A true advocate of public and community service, Smith serves on the boards of the Healing Place of Hampton Roads, Norfolk, VA, and ATTACh (the Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in Children), Minneapolis, MN.
Smith holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Under the auspices of the Child Welfare League of America, she participated in a child welfare leadership program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She also attended the County Administration Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In her spare time, she loves reading and indulging in her new hobby of golfing. Her two daughters, whom she loves dearly, reside in North Carolina, and her dog, Mr. Bentley, enjoys traveling the country with her.

Join us for this special presentation, you will be glad you did. Come, Glean from these women who are trailblazing in their fields.