We are the Weitz Family!
Wally and Barbara have three children (Katie, Roger and Drew) and the spouses of the second generation (Kate and Meredith) are also board members. There are six grandchildren who may some day be more involved with the foundation. After some years away, all the kids moved back to Omaha, and we are lucky to be near one another.
Contact executive director Katie Weitz, PhD: katie@weitzfamilyfoundation.org
Wallace Weitz
Wally was born in Pittsburgh to a social worker and a college professor. He grew up in New Orleans in the 50’s and 60’s, where the roots of both entrepreneurial instinct and social conscience were evident early. He earned a B.A. in economics at Carleton College, where today he serves as a trustee, and went to New York to work for a small Wall Street firm. In 1973, Wally and Barbara moved to Omaha, in pursuit of Midwestern surroundings.
Wally joined Chiles, Heider, a regional investment firm where he spent 10 years managing accounts for individuals and doing equity research. In 1983, he founded Weitz Investment Management which now manages about $6 billion in assets through its family of mutual funds and separately managed accounts.
Barbara Weitz
Barbara Weitz is a visionary woman with a diverse background. She has worked as a speech writer in Minnesota, a director of Christian Education for a local Presbyterian congregation, and a Social Work professor at the University of Nebraska. She received a B.A. in political science from Carleton College, an MPA from New York University, and an MSW from University of Nebraska. Barbara has served this community in ways big and small. A gifted teacher, she has influenced many non-profit leaders and social workers in the community. All who work with her remark on her kindness and brilliance. Barbara is a wonderful source of compassion for the community and a true inspiration to her family.
Katie Weitz, PhD
After graduating from Carleton College with a BA in Political Science, Katie moved to Chicago and became a middle school teacher earning a M.Ed. from DePaul University. She soon learned that the issues inside education were much broader than what happened in the classroom and returned to academia achieving a PhD in Human Development and Social Policy. Katie moved home to Omaha for a dream job at The Sherwood Foundation and spent six years there growing as a professional and as a person. Taking what she learned there, she has now turned her focus to her own family’s foundation and is currently the executive director. If you are disappointed with the new process, or have suggestions for improvement, please contact Katie.
Roger Weitz
He holds a degree in music from Carleton College and spent a year in Washington, DC as an Arts Management Fellow in a highly selective program at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Roger is interested in fostering a rich, diverse, and high quality cultural landscape for Omaha
Drew Weitz
A graduate of Carleton College, Drew Weitz spent four years in Chicago at Ariel Investments as a Research Associate and Research Analyst. Upon returning to Omaha, Drew joined Weitz Investments where he is a Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst. Outside of the office, Drew volunteers his time as a board member for the Union for Contemporary Art, a member of the Advisory Board for OneWorld Community Health Centers, and as a coach for local youth sports teams.
Kate Weitz
Kate Weitz is a passionate and strong autism advocate. She works to organize services for the family while keeping an eye on how to bring Pivotal Response Training (PRT) to Omaha for other families in the community. Kate supports the arts in bold ways, chairing capital campaigns and hosting parties.
Meredith Weitz
Meredith Weitz received a BA in Biology from Carleton College, and also completed a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Rush University in Chicago. After moving to Omaha, her interest in healthcare and health organizations led her to co-found the Friends of OneWorld Community Health Centers where she also sits on an Advisory Board. She feels fortunate to stay at home with her three children and enjoys volunteering in their school classroom and garden and serving on their school’s parent group board.