With more than 25 years of humanitarian service with the Red Cross, Jill Orton is the Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Nebraska-Iowa, which serves more than five million citizens with a workforce of around 1,700 volunteers and more than 50 paid staff. In addition to overseeing operations in Nebraska and Iowa, she also is responsible for three counties in Wisconsin, one county in Illinois and one county in South Dakota.

Jill is a Central Nebraska native with a wide-ranging Red Cross career. Prior to becoming CEO, she served as the Region Disaster Officer from 2013-2014. During that time, she served as Job Director for multiple disaster responses, including tornado and flood relief operations. Her leadership assisted the Red Cross in delivering food, shelter, comfort and care to those affected.  

In addition to answering the call for help within the region, Jill regularly deploys nationally as part of the Red Cross’  Elected Official Liaison Network. She has served on disaster response operations around the nation, including Hurricanes Michael, Florence and Irma, Superstorm Sandy, Thurman (Iowa) Tornado and Missouri River Flooding.

She started her Red Cross story in the early 1990s as a volunteer in Hastings, Nebraska. Jill’s first paid Red Cross position came in 2000 as part of the Training Services staff for the Heartland Chapter in Omaha and she became that program’s director in 2006. She then served as Executive Director for the Loess Hills Chapter in Council Bluffs, Iowa, from January 2010-August 2013.

Her honors include being an Alumni Cohort of the Red Cross Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) program. She is a Rotarian, having served as president of the Council Bluffs Noon Club. Jill is an alumnus of the Institute of Career Advancement Needs (ICAN), Influence Defining Leadership for Women, Leadership Council Bluffs Class XXIII, and the Non-profit Association of the Midlands Executive Institute. She is a graduate of Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota, where she earned a biology and chemistry degree.

Brooke Mehaffey joined the American Red Cross in June of 2008. She supervises business operations and is responsible for all regional operations, fleet and facilities and administrative functions. Brooke coordinates with national headquarters to accomplish the region’s Finance, HR, IT, Fleet Management, Real Estate, Facilities Management, and Risk Management goals and responsibilities, and she ensures that the region’s responsibilities correlating to these functions are accomplished. Brooke has previously served as an executive director and regional communications director with the American Red Cross. Brooke earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance at Auburn University.

Brandon Holstrom joined the Red Cross in 2007.  He oversees disaster preparedness, response and recovery for the Nebraska-Iowa region.

Brandon has held several disaster leadership positions throughout the Midwest, including State Client Casework Director, Regional Functional Support Manager and Disaster Program Manager. He also has several years’ experience in working with State and County Emergency Management Agencies, State VOADs, local COADs, LEPCs, LTRGs and NGO partners. During his Red Cross career, he has had the opportunity to support several large national response operations in Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

Brandon is a graduate of Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing.

Becky Greenwald joined the American Red Cross as a Central Iowa board member, then stepped into her current role in 2018. As the Regional Volunteer Services Officer, Becky leads a team that assists all lines of service and departments and is subject matter experts in volunteer engagement, recognition and appreciation. She ensures that volunteers find their ideal opportunities and remain engaged.

Becky earned a Bachelor of Science in Human and Consumer Science from Iowa State University, conducted a research project and study from Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Drake University.

Josh Murray joined the American Red Cross in October 2018. He is responsible for directing the all communications functions for the Nebraska-Iowa Region.

Before joining the Red Cross, he spent 18 years at the University of Missouri—10 years with the Department of Athletics and eight years with the Office of Undergraduate Studies. During his career, Josh has been responsible for a wide variety of media relations, communications, public relations and marketing activities.

He holds two degrees from the University of Missouri—a Bachelor’s of Journalism Degree and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Communications.

Krystal Steward became the Executive Director of the Southeast Nebraska Chapter of the American Red Cross in August of 2024, after 2 ½ years as the Region Executive Coordinator/Chief of Staff. She has experience in building relationships, recruiting and serving with volunteers, and engaging in the community. In her previous role, Krystal aided in strengthening partnerships for mission delivery to the community and worked closely with the region leadership to support each line of service.

She is also part of the Nebraska-Iowa Red Cross Regional DEI Steering Committee and Regional Green Team.

Her career began at the Omaha World-Herald and later she worked with the Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs. She then held positions with the Durham Museum in Omaha, before moving into the banking industry. Krystal earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and public relations/advertising from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Neal Bohnet joined the American Red Cross in July of 2017. As the Regional Chief Development Officer, Neal cultivates relationships and works with partners to support the Red Cross mission throughout the region.

Prior to joining the American Red Cross, Neal worked in development with other nonprofit organizations. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Waldorf University.

Kristin Brockshus joined the Red Cross as the Regional Service to Armed Forces/International Services Director in July of 2024. Kristin retired as an Air Force Reserve Colonel/O-6 with extensive experience guiding and mentoring multi-organizational teams through complex projects requiring a collaborative team-based philosophy. Over a 20-year military career, she developed significant joint, interagency, and international expertise with a proven track record of initiative and in-depth operational creativity. Just prior to joining the Red Cross, she was assigned to STRATCOM at Offutt Air Force Base.

During her Air Force career, Kristin was selected to represent the Command at the DoD Domestic Resilience Seminar, a senior level forum to address interagency coordination of domestic resilience actions with a focus on critical infrastructure requirements, protection, and recovery. She also led senior officers in enterprise-level reserve program initiatives and coordinated all Air Force Reserve requirements for the stand up of United States Space Command. She supported humanitarian and disaster relief planning and execution, and provided assistance for 10 natural disasters in the Pacific theater. Additionally, Kristin deployed as the Current Operations Cell Chief to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait with forward deployment to Afghanistan.

Leslie Schaffer has spent much of her 25 year non-profit management career with the American Red Cross. Over that time, she has led change as the Red Cross restructured, first consolidating 19 chapters in Iowa into three chapters. She served as the Regional Executive in Iowa for eight years and led field realignment efforts as Nebraska and Iowa became one region.  

In her current role, she manages the day-to-day operation of the Central Iowa chapter, building relationships and furthering the Red Cross mission.

Leslie holds an undergraduate degree from Oregon State University and a graduate degree from Washington State University.

Tammy Lee joined the American Red Cross as a volunteer CPR/First Aid instructor in 1991. She currently serves as an Executive Director, growing Red Cross relationships and presence in Northwest Iowa and Northeast Nebraska.

Tammy has spent her entire professional career with the American Red Cross, starting after she was a volunteer as a graduate student.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master’s degree in Youth and Human Services Administration.

Rachelle Lipker joined the American Red Cross team as the Executive Director in 2015, after having volunteered for the Red Cross as a Preparedness, Health & Safety Instructor since 2001.

Prior to joining the Red Cross, Rachelle worked with other non-profit organizations for 20 years.  

She holds a degree in Human and Social Service Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Sam McCafferty joined the Red Cross in May of 2025 as the Region Executive Coordinator and brings experience in farm management, caregiver, event coordinator, healthcare and higher education.

She previously worked with her grandparents and uncles on their dairy farm and a beef ranch around the South Dakota and Nebraska area during the weekends and summer months. She also worked alongside her parents with their electrical and trenching business and their rental properties.

Sam was raised in Yankton, South Dakota, and is a direct descendent of Sitting Bull and the first leader of Plymouth Rock. She received two degrees from University of Nebraska – Omaha: Bachelor of Science in Data Analysis with minors in Business and Native American Studies and a master’s degree in communications.

Chris Georges serves as the Executive Director of the American Red Cross-Eastern Iowa Chapter, bringing more than seven years of dedicated service to advancing the Red Cross mission. His commitment to service is rooted in a lifelong connection to disaster response and community resilience, beginning at age sixteen when he joined his family in emergency response efforts along the Mississippi River.

Before stepping into nonprofit leadership, Chris built a career as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, developing processes to ease pain for those facing illness. He also led environmental sustainability projects on both local and international scales, strengthening his ability to connect science, service, and community impact.

In his role with the Red Cross, Chris works with volunteers, donors, and community partners to support the organization’s lines of service. He is dedicated to fostering strong relationships, empowering local teams, and ensuring the Red Cross remains a trusted partner before, during, and after emergencies.