Restoring Dignity Board

Mary Blaney, President and Treasurer

Mary Blaney is the Chief Financial Officer of Burlington Capital, where she oversees the firm’s finance function and provides financial oversight for Burlington’s investment funds. In addition to her financial leadership responsibilities, she partners with Burlington Capital’s portfolio and partner companies on growth initiatives, strategic planning, and financial management to help drive long-term value creation. She is also a member of the Investment Committee for Grit Road Partners and general partner of Proven Ventures, contributing to investment strategy and portfolio oversight.

Prior to joining Burlington Capital in 2017, Mary worked as an auditor with a national accounting firm, where she specialized in serving financial services clients. In addition to her Board role at Restoring Dignity, Mary also serves on the Finance Committee for the United Way of the Midlands, reflecting her commitment to community service and nonprofit leadership. Outside of work, Mary enjoys spending time with her active family, attending their many sporting events and exploring the outdoors.

T.W. Huntington, Vice President

Bio and picture coming soon!

Leah Sawyer Baker, Secretary

Leah Sawyer Baker has worked with refugees in various capacities for fifteen years. She graduated with her Masters in Social Work from Boise State in Boise, Idaho, and has worked with refugees in Idaho, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Leah was the Refugee Resettlement Program Manager at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and oversaw the Reception and Placement Program for all refugee arrivals in both the Minneapolis and Saint Cloud offices welcoming an average of 700 refugees in the state each year. Leah completed an internship with the State Department, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) in Washington, D.C. working in refugee admissions and spent five months living outside of Karenni Camp One along the Thailand and Burma border. Leah is currently a school social worker in Omaha, Nebraska, and recently won School Social Worker of the Year from the School Social Work Association of Nebraska. Outside of work, Leah is a fan of women’s soccer, going for walks, houseplants, and baked goods!

Cory Nelson, Voting Member

Cory Nelson serves as the Director of Impact Ministries at Relevant Community Church. He has been working with Karen refugees since 2009 both locally in Omaha and overseas along the Thai/Burma border. He has been involved with Restoring Dignity since shortly after its inception and served in various capacities over the years. Cory’s free time is spent with his family traveling and staying active outdoors.

Rosy Htu, Voting Member

Rosy Htu was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and resettled in the United States in 2008. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2015 and began her professional career with Omaha Public Schools. She later continued her work with Heartland Family Service and the Munroe-Meyer Institute, supporting individuals and families by bridging cultural and communication gaps, connecting families with community resources, and advocating for their needs across schools, healthcare systems, and the broader community.

As a bilingual member of the Karen community and someone who has personally experienced refugee resettlement, Rosy brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. She understands many of the challenges refugee and immigrant families face as they build new lives in the United States, including navigating unfamiliar systems, language and cultural barriers, and accessing essential resources.

Rosy is passionate about empowering refugee and immigrant families with the information, resources, and support they need to advocate for themselves, overcome barriers, and build strong, successful futures in their communities.

Mandy Wood, Voting Member

Mandy Wood is Director of Communications at Baxter Auto Group, where she leads communications and change management, helping people navigate change with clarity, confidence and a sense of connection.

As the daughter of refugees, Mandy grew up seeing firsthand the courage it takes to leave everything familiar behind and begin again. That experience inspired a lifelong commitment to walking alongside refugee and immigrant families and helping create communities where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and like they belong.

Her passion for this work has led to years of nonprofit involvement, including serving on the board of the Refugee Empowerment Center. She is honored to continue that work with Restoring Dignity, supporting its mission to welcome newcomers, foster belonging and help individuals and families build new lives filled with opportunity.

Outside of work, Mandy loves celebrating micromoments with her better half, Matt; their two sons, Llewyn and Leo; and three charismatic Shih Tzus, Winston, Hiro and Fudge. 

Kathleen Kersey, Voting Member

Kathleen is a graduate of the College of Saint Mary in Omaha with a degree in Business Administration and has an MBA from the University of Nebraska Omaha. She has worked in the Omaha area for over 40 years in various Accounting and Finance roles. Kathleen has been involved with Restoring Dignity for several years and also volunteers for The Furniture Project and Intercultural Senior Center. She continues to be a very involved alum of the College of Saint Mary. She is a student mentor and also helps with activities such as the selection of Alumni honorees. Kathleen is a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and has also been a Mercy Associate for several years. Mercy Associates are individuals who partner with the Sisters of Mercy to carry on the mission of Mercy while focusing on the critical concerns of immigration, racism, women, nonviolence and earth. In her free time, Kathleen enjoys visiting Lauritzen Gardens and volunteering for Omaha based musician Billy McGuigan and his production company Rave On Productions.

Andy Williams, Voting Member