Our Team

Lily is a Program Coordinator with the Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP), state agency based in Lincoln, Nebraska. ATP’s adaptive housing activities include Making Homes Accessible, an owner occupied rehabilitation program, and a homeownership opportunity program administered in partnership with the Nebraska Affordable Housing Developers Association. Lilly currently serves as ADA Consultant to public school districts across the state for the Nebraska Department of Education.

Lilly has a bachelors degree in Social and Consumer Science from Peru State College, and a Masters in Public Administration with a Community Planning specialization from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her prior work experience ranges from service coordination for persons with disabilities, community improvement activities with the Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development, and promoting historic sites such as the Nebraska State Capitol. Lilly’s community activities include the Preservation Association of Lincoln Board of Directors, First-Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ Board of Women’s Ministries and Environmental Committee, Community Crops gardener, and past Near South Neighborhood Board of Director member.

Matt has spent time in Banking, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Development for 26+ years now. Previously he was the CEO & CFO of 1st United Mortgage Banc. In that position, he managed all aspects of business operations and compliance, in addition to recruitment, training and investor relations. Matt’s previous experience includes the positions of Account Executive – Underwriting at Guaranty Bank; Mortgage Compliance, Union Bank & Trust Company; and Title Searcher-Closing Agent at Nebraska Title Company.

Matt attended Doane College, where he earned a degree in Organizational Communication and Human Relations, studying public relations, public speaking, marketing and human resource management. He has also obtained a Master's Degree in business and leadership from Doane College. Matt consults for many top companies now including Dr.'s practices through-out the U.S. implementing coaching & leadership development and serves on many board positions to better serve the communities he works in.

Jason has over 20 years experience in the financial services industry, including 9 years as an insurance regulator with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.  Having worked for many different firms over his career, he has built strong relationships within the insurance, securities and banking industries.  In his current role, he serves as a Senior Solutions Architect for the leading compliance and education software vendor in the insurance and securities industry.  

Jason is a member of the Lincoln West Optimist Club and regularly volunteers for community events through this organization.  He currently serves in the Sponsorship Chair position on the Board of Directors for the Securities and Insurance Licensing Association (SILA).

Emma is a Public Policy master’s student at American University and works in finance and data at Data Driven Campaigns, a campaign management firm in Lincoln, Nebraska. Emma was born and raised in Lincoln and graduated from UNL in 2019 with degrees in Global Studies and French. As a lifelong resident, Emma has a strong desire to address affordable housing to ensure a high quality of life for our community. 

Her previous work includes community organizing for Recycle Lincoln, volunteering at the Cat House in Lincoln, and serving on the Community Forestry Advisory Board. In her freetime, Emma enjoys spending time with her husband, their cat, Salmon, running, playing tennis, and holding the self-appointed title of Lincoln’s Biggest Taylor Swift Fan.  

Rick has owned and operated a successful general construction business for 17 years before specializing in some of the most intricate elements of the building process. Working with architects and engineers, Rick has prepared several hundred test cylinders, cubes and prisms of grout and mortar samples to be tested for compressive strength; is experienced in the use of levels to establish elevations for footings and walls in the construction of commercial and residential properties; and has made extensive use of transits and line transits to square up buildings, establish radius walls and wall lines in commercial construction. He has designed and fabricated attachment devices for supporting limestone façades on commercial buildings and performed numerous under-pins of residential structures to replace failed footings and foundations. Rick’s projects have included the limestone façade in the West Hall of the Nebraska State Capital, the limestone façade of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Recreation Center; and renovation of local and regional schools and hospitals.

Rick is currently the owner of The HomeBiz Inspection Team and has completed over 700 inspections. He is also the owner of REH Restorations, which performs radon mitigation. Rick is a member of the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists and is licensed by the State of Nebraska to perform both radon measurement and mitigation. He is a member of the American Association of Home Inspectors, the Better Business Bureau and, as of January 2009, is a Board Member of Affordable Housing Initiatives.

Riley is currently a law student at the University of Nebraska College of Law and a vice president at Civic Strategies, a communications and advocacy firm. Riley joined the AHI board in 2021 because of his passion for community service and his desire to help address the problem of housing affordability in a tangible, hands-on way. In his free time, Riley enjoys volunteering as a TeamMates mentor, spending time with his wife and their two dogs, golfing, and reading history and biographies.

My name is Bridget Besse. I'm a recent graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and now pursuing my JD at the UNL College of Law. After graduation, I want to practice in Rural Nebraska, so I'm excited to join AHI to get first-hand legal experience. I've previously served as the President of the Psychology honor society: Psi Chi, a Floor Assistant at the Lydia House in Omaha, and the Founder of the Bearcat Cares Food Pantry. I aim to serve this community with the love and compassion it's shown me!