About us

Rathman's position as Director of Outreach & Missions at her church and her time spent providing pro bono services to multiple community groups has generated two decades of experience with community initiatives, services, and outreach programs. Because of her background in finance and in church work, Rathman is passionate about sound personal financial management, being generous with the gifts God provides us, and serving one's community. "I love Thrivent’s focus on generosity, and I’m hoping to be able to provide input into Thrivent’s generosity and community service initiatives," says Rathman.

Bachus is eager to share the vision, values, issues and goals for the Thrivent Member Network board and expand the network into a diverse population by educating the community on the need for Thrivent services. CEO of the Lehmin Center, Bachus is additionally involved in a number of ministries at her church, including the seniors' and women’s ministries.

A member since birth, Furr’s passions are revealed in her experiences. Her previous roles include schoolteacher, an LCMS Foundation Gift Planning Counselor, over a decade as a Thrivent employee, and currently as the Senior Director of Alumni and University Relations at Concordia University in Seward, NE. Furr’s strengths in management, connectivity, and faith will lead in her role to serve the membership. As part of the Nebraska Thrivent Member Network board, Furr intends to represent higher education, specifically Christian education, and find ways to collaborate to make a larger impact on our communities and those we serve.

Lopez is a seasoned economic development and community-based leader. As the CEO of the Latino Economic Development Council in Omaha, NE, Lopez has a vision to foster a thriving economy by amplifying underrepresented leadership and influence. “I want to help educate the growing Latino community the importance of creating lasting financial legacies.” Committed to helping organizations achieve their missions, Lopez serves on a number of boards. Lopez looks forward to learning more about Thivent’s impact, both locally and across the nation, and providing support on those efforts.

Peters, a member with Thrivent since birth, is passionate about giving and supporting the community she holds dear. “Opportunities to serve the Lord through gifts He has given us is one of the most important roles we can play in serving God," says Peters.
In joining the board, she will bring her previous board experiences and current role with Habitat for Humanity to help with nonprofit causes. “Every act of support helps nonprofits fulfill their mission and create lasting change. By finding ways to support causes we each are passionate about, we can play a vital role in building a better future for all."

Throughout his career, Schmidt has held roles that call on him to set & achieve strategic goals – from working as a teacher, coach & college athletic director to his current role as Vice President for Orphan Grain Train. He’s been a Thrivent member for more than 25 years & has always felt blessed to know his financial investments & insurance needs were being handled by a membership organization of Christians.

Stoltenow, the Assistant VP of Development for Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc, cares deeply about our communities. His involvement with various boards, associations, and community groups exhibits Stoltenow’s commitment to leveraging his experiences for growing community support and engagement. Seeing that so many of Thrivent’s values align with his own, Stoltenow joined the Nebraska Thrivent Member Network Board as a means to continue giving back to Nebraska. Stoltenow hopes to gain a better understanding how Thrivent carries out its mission in helping meet the needs of our communities.

Weasel serves as the lead pastor at Dream City Church, Omaha, where he has previously served as the teaching and executive pastor. He also is involved as a coach in Elkhorn youth sports. As a Thrivent member, Weasel plans to use the gifts and talents God has given him to further accomplish the vision of Thrivent Financial. “I think that through cultural and generational diversity, we can reach a broader group of people,” he says.

Wheeler brings more than 25 years of business experience to the Nebraska regional board including roles in strategic operations management, leadership consulting and higher education. He currently serves as a Senior Business Development Director for a subsidiary company of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Wheeler has a passion for developing programs that impact the health and well-being of families and communities.