Updated December 9, 2025
Robert Leslie Newman, President
robert.newman@friendsofncbvi.org
robertleslienewman@gmail.com
504 S 57th St, Omaha, NE 68106
Cell: 402-660-1743
Linda Mentink, Vice President
linda-mentink@friendsofncbvi.org
lmentink7360@gmail.com
3313 30th St, Columbus, NE 68601
Home: 402-563-8138
Nancy Flearl, Secretary
nancy.flearl@friendsofncbvi.org
nflearl@gmail.com
4044 Pratt St, Omaha, NE 68160
Cell: 402-699-2389
Lori Burns, Treasurer
lori.burns@friendsofncbvi.org
laburns177@gmail.com
15356 Page St, Omaha, NE 68154
Cell: 402-210-5754
Jan Brandt
jan.brandt@friendsofncbvi.org
djsabrandt@gmail.com
1926 5th Ave, Kearney, NE 68845
Cell: 308-440-0917
Michelle Coolidge
michelle.coolidge@friendsofncbvi.org
michelle@bbaconsulting.net
711 Avenue A, PO Box 143, Bayard, NE 69334
Cell: 308-631-4803
Karen Lemmon
karen.lemmon@friendsofncbvi.org
klemmon104@gmail.com
104 Lemmon Rd, Whitney, NE 69367
Cell: 308-430-0145
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We have a Board that can accommodate 10 members; seven, at present. Friends of NCBVI meet quarterly on the last Tuesdays of January, April, July, and October by Zoom. If you are interested in joining us, ask for our criteria by use of the message form on our Contact page.
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Robert Leslie Newman, President, Omaha Nebraska
robert.newman@friendsofncbvi.org
Blinded at age fifteen. Graduated Cum Laude with a BS Degree in special education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Retired from 37-year employment with the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCBVI); served as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, District Supervisor, and Deputy Director. After retirement, served eight years on NCBVI’s Board of Commissioners. Joined Friends of NCBVI in 215. A longtime member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB); presently the Secretary of the NFB of Nebraska Omaha Chapter, and President of the NFB of Nebraska Senior Division. In 2008 received a Jacob Bolotin Award for an Internet discussion forum on blindness, Thought Provoker. Also, 2010 the NFB of Nebraska Spirit Award for his long career working for NCBVI, plus his Internet discussion forum on blindness, Thought Provoker.
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Linda Mentink, Vice President, Columbus Nebraska
linda.mentink@friendsofncbvi.org
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Linda received her K-12 education at the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped, (WSVH). She earned a BA in Vocal Music with certification to teach K-12 from UW-Whitewater and returned to WSVH to teach music for a time. She sang in two community choral groups and three church choirs while serving as church organist and in various church and community leadership positions. Linda also gave vocal and piano lessons in her home, performed as a soloist throughout Wisconsin and served as an officer in the National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin. Moving to Columbus Nebraska in August of 2004, Linda teaches music at Bible Baptist Christian School, instructs the choir, and provides private vocal and piano lessons. She wanted to do more to help blind Nebraskans, so she helped organize the NFBN Columbus Area Chapter in January of 2017, and joined Friends of NCBVI Board in October 2018. Additionally, in January 2022, Linda was chosen to take a seat on the Board of Commissioners for the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
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Christine Boone, Secretary, Lincoln Nebraska
christine.boone@friendsofncbvi.org
Christine received her Juris Doctorate from Creighton University. She has practiced law in the areas of civil rights, disability access, labor & employment, Social Security and vocational rehabilitation. Ms. Boone has also administered a 24/7 comprehensive adult rehabilitation and training center for the blind in Kalamazoo Michigan, served as Bureau Chief for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s blindness rehabilitation agency, and worked as corporate counsel, state’s attorney and school superintendent. Having begun her rehabilitation career in Nebraska, she joined Friends while living out-of-state as a way to giv3 back to the people of this state. Christine is thrilled to be back in Nebraska. She Chairs the Board of Education for St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Beatrice, and also serves as First Vice-President and Legislative Coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska (NFBN).
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Joe Buda, Treasurer, charter member, Lincoln Nebraska
joe.buda@friendsofncbvi.org
Born in Omaha Nebraska, went to parochial school and graduated from Creighton Prep High School. Attended the University of Nebraska on a football scholarship, and was in education. From 1970 to 1976 served as a police officer for Lincoln Police Department. Also worked as a school resource officer for four years, and the sergeant for two. 1976 to 1977 opened a Valentino’s restaurant in Topeka, Kansas in Manhattan, then became a manager for three years. For the next 10 years, worked as the Vice President of Valentino’s corporate restaurants. Also owned and operated Tony Luigis Italian restaurants. From 1993 to 2018 was a factory rep selling restaurant equipment, retiring in 2019. Member of the Sowers club since 1992, serving two terms as President and in many chairmanships throughout that time. Selected Sower of the Year in 1999. Additionally, has served on the boards for the mental health department since 1999, Husker Football Letterman’s Association since 2000, as well as Friends Board.
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Barbara Loos, Board Member, Lincoln Nebraska
barbara.loos@friendsofncbvi.org
Barbara received her BS Degree in Education with distinction from UNL. Before starting a family, raising two children, Barbara was a teacher, then supervisor for six years with the forerunner of the now Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She serves as President, of the American Action Fund for Children and Adults; Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska Senior Division; Small Group Leader, Grace Chapel; and Stakeholder Group Member, Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (NCECBVI). Having served as both supervisor of Nebraska’s Orientation and Adjustment Center for the blind and Chairman of the NCBVI Board of Commissioners, she joined the board of Friends because of her continuing commitment to improving the lives of blind people.
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John Wick, Board Member, Blair Nebraska
john.wick@friendsofncbvi.org
For 24 years John Wick served as Director of Business Services for CHI-Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, a 470-bed hospital. During this period, he developed a RN Gate-Keeper program that today is used in every CHI Hospital. John was also known for his ability to achieve outstanding cash flow results. After becoming blind, John served on the board of Outlook Nebraska Inc. for three years where he met with the Purchasing Committee of the Government Ability One program;; this resulted in a contract resolution that enabled Outlook to continue operations. For nine years, John directed Fund Development at Outlook and was honored by the Board fo Directors in 2016 for his leadership in a two-million-dollar fund raising campaign. That year he was also a National finalist for the Ability One Washington D.C. Milton J. Samuelson Award. In 2018, John received Lions Club International’s Melvin Jones Award and in 2019 the Nebraska Credit Union League Distinguished Service Award. For forty years, John has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Creighton Federal Credit Union, a 60-million-dollar credit union, serving six years as its Board Chair, performing without vision. John served as President for the Blair Lions Club from 2019 through 2020. Also in 2020, John joined Friends Board of Directors.
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Jan L. Brandt, Board Member, Kearney Nebraskajan.brandt@friendsofncbvi.org
Jan graduated Cum Laude from the University of Nebraska Kearney with a BA in Business Education, with additional graduate classes through Doane, UNK and UNL. She worked as a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Blind and Technology Program Specialist for Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for over 30 years, retiring in 2020. She served on the Greater Nebraska Workforce Investment Board from 2012-15. Jan served two terms as Secretary for the Assistive Technology Trainer’s Division of the National Federation of the Blind. She worked as a volunteer on the Kearney Crisis Line for 12 years, and has worked Buffalo County primary and general elections since 2008. Jan joined the Board of Friends in 2021.