Meet The Team

Katie brings over 26 years of experience in property management and nearly a decade in the insurance industry.

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Her commitment to this mission is deeply personal. As a young mother at 21, Katie survived an extremely abusive relationship, and she knows how life-changing it would have been to find a resource like Marigold Lane.

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Today, she dedicates herself to ensuring other women and families have access to the safe, transitional housing and support she wished she had, creating pathways to healing, independence, and hope through Marigold Lane.

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Katie believes in the power of community support and second chances.

Sami Hawthorne has worked in public health for six years, currently serving as the Health Services Supervisor at East Central District Health Department. She is currently a nursing student at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Sami also serves as an out of state member of the Omaha Immunize Task Force.

In her free time she likes to watch Nebraska sports and hang out with her family and friends

Hope Freshour is the Executive Director at Columbus Area United Way. She attended the University of South Dakota double majoring in English and Public Relations. Hope went onto complete her master’s in education at National University in La Jolla, California.

She is a certified Third Sector Interim Executive Academy, trained life coach, Bridges Out of Poverty facilitator, and ToP method facilitator.

Hope has been working and serving in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. Hope has a passion to empower and serve single parent women with children and believes that through Marigold Lanes lives are transformed for generations to come.

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I lead the Community & Family Partnership (CFP) collaborative which is an initiative of the Columbus Area United Way. CFP collaborates with many agencies in the four-county service area to help children, families, and individuals access resources early to assist them with health and financial stability. This, in turn, helps to prevent families from entering higher systems of care. The goal of CFP is to help our children and families thrive because when they thrive, our communities thrive.

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In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being in the kitchen making food and trying new recipes, taking walks, and reading.

Born and raised in Columbus, NE, I have deep roots in the community and a passion for serving others.  My wife and I met in high school and are blessed with three children.  Professionally, I serve as Vice President of Administration at OneNebraska Federal Credit Union. 

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and supporting our children as they participate in activities such as band, dance, baseball, soccer, and gymnastics.  I believe life presents challenges for everyone at some point, and I enjoy working alongside other like-minded individuals to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

As Executive Director of Center for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Survivors (Center for Survivors) in Columbus, Nebraska, I work alongside a dedicated team to support and empower individuals affected by violence. With over a decade of experience in the human services field, I have a deep commitment to advocacy, compassion, and community-centered care.

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Outside of my professional work, I value time spent with loved ones. I have been married to my husband, Maurice, for 25 years, and together we have raised two sons. We enjoy traveling and making meaningful memories with family and friends.

Katy Allsman is a Realtor® with  Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate⁠ and a dedicated single mother who is passionate about helping others create stable, successful futures. Having personally overcome an abusive relationship, Katy is committed to supporting and empowering individuals facing difficult life transitions. Through both her professional work and community involvement, she strives to be a strong advocate for those seeking independence, stability, and a fresh start.

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