UNMC HR director, husband to be honored by Omaha Press Club

An Omaha couple who has left an indelible mark on the community over the past three decades — Aileen and Thomas Warren — will be honored April 13 as the Omaha Press Club’s 160th Face on the Barroom Floor.

Since 2014, Aileen Warren has served as assistant vice chancellor, business and finance, and director of human resources for UNMC. Prior to this, she worked at First Data Corporation for 17 years, where she attained the title of vice president of human resources. Her previous work experience also includes positions at First National Bank of Omaha and WorldCom.

Thomas Warren has served as president and CEO of the Urban League of Nebraska (ULN) since 2008, after retiring from a 24-year career with the Omaha Police Department including his final four years as chief of police.

“We couldn’t be more honored — or excited — to receive this recognition,” Aileen Warren said. “We are quite aware of the illustrious people who have preceded us on the barroom floor, and we are humbled to be included among them. We can’t wait for the fun to begin and know it will be quite an evening.”

The Warrens recently were selected to Aksarben’s annual Court of Honor. This is a recognition given to individuals who contribute to their community and excel in their respective fields, such as arts, business, industry, education and sports.

In her current position, Aileen Warren provides leadership and strategic direction for all HR functions at UNMC including employee benefits and wellness, employee relations, organizational development, staffing, compensation, records management, diversity and HR technology. The budgetary and operational oversight of the UNMC Center for Healthy Living and the Child Development Center also fall under her areas of responsibility.

She is currently on the boards and serves as an executive committee member of the Omaha Home for Boys, Institute for Career Advancement Needs (ICAN) and the Women’s Fund of Omaha. She also is on the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands Executive Scholarship Committee.

Active in the community, she has been involved with numerous other organizations including the Omaha Rotary, American Red Cross, Family Services, Girls Inc., Human Resources Association of the Midlands and Catholic Charities. She received the Woman of the Year Award and the National Service to Youth Award from the Boys and Girls Club. She was named a Viking of Distinction by Omaha North High School.

Over the past decade, Thomas Warren has transformed the ULN. When he began in 2008, the ULN was struggling with eight full-time employees and was operating with a deficit. The revitalized organization now has 34 full-time employees, 24 part-time employees, a $3 million operating budget and a cash reserve. A traditional civil rights organization that advocates for social justice, the ULN also administers programs in education/youth development, employment/career services and violence prevention.

Warren was the first African-American to serve as chief of police with OPD. During his tenure, he was able to improve police-community relations, enhance the professional image of the department and reduce the overall crime rate in the City of Omaha four consecutive years. In 2007, OPD was recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as the “Local Law Enforcement Agency of the Year” for its Project Safe Neighborhoods violence reduction strategy.

Warren serves on the board of directors of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha Community Foundation, Heartland Workforce Solutions (Workforce Development), 75 North Community Revitalization, Partnership for Kids, Durham Museum, and the Omaha Police Foundation. He also holds board or trustee positions with American National Bank, the University of Nebraska Foundation and Creighton University and is on the community board of advisors for CHI.

Both the Warrens hold master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha — Aileen in social work and Thomas in criminal justice. Both are alums of the Leadership Omaha program through the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

The Warrens have been a couple since junior high. Both have excelled in athletics. Thomas played football for Morningside College and has been inducted into the Omaha Technical High School Hall of Fame and the Omaha Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame. Aileen keeps active by jogging and has completed the Chicago Marathon and three half-marathons.

The Warrens have three children — Jessica (Jay), Thomas Jr. and Alexandra — and one grandson, Evan Thomas.