It all began in 1975, when Vic Gutman helped found the Omaha Summer Arts Festival. Inspired by the success of this event and the belief that events bring communities together, Vic incorporated Vic Gutman & Associates (VGA) in March 1978. Over the next 46 years, VGA became a regional leader in event management and marketing. Beloved community events started and managed by VGA include The Omaha Summer Arts Festival; The Omaha Farmers Markets in the Old Market and Aksarben Village; The City of Omaha’s Memorial Park Concert and Fireworks Show; Holiday Lights Festival; and more.

Vic’s community focus also spurred the growth of the company’s work with nonprofit organizations, and VGA became widely recognized for its experience, service, and expertise in management, fundraising, project management, marketing, and planning. Over the years, VGA provided services for The Rose Theater, Girls Inc. of Omaha, Tri-Faith Initiative, Latino Center of the Midlands, OneWorld, Nebraska Journalism Trust, Completely Kids, and more. VGA also raised over $35 million annually in operating, program, and capital grants for its clients.

2024 began a new era as VGA employees Mary Hubl and Shane Pekny assumed ownership and management of VGA’s former grant writing and management contracts. Mary, Shane, and their team continue to provide grants management, fundraising strategy, and donor communications to help nonprofits raise the money they need to accomplish their missions.

At the end of 2024, Vic also handed off VGA’s public events to former employees.

Vic remains active as President of Vic Gutman & Associates Consulting, offering fundraising, consulting, management strategy, and mentoring services for operations, programming, and capital campaigns. The consulting company no longer offers grant writing services and lists VGA Grants & Fundraising as its preferred grant writing company, but can work with a grant writer chosen by the client as well. Vic Gutman & Associates Consulting and VGA Grants & Fundraising collaborate frequently and continue to share a website, resources, and office space at 19th and Farnam in downtown Omaha.

Most importantly, the spectrum of services for both companies continues Vic’s longstanding, sterling reputation for commitment to community, outstanding execution, and upholding the highest ethical standards and principles in all its practices.

That will never change!

More About Vic

Following his passion for community betterment, Vic founded VGA in 1978. Since that time, he has provided fundraising, communications, organizational development, and event management services for hundreds of nonprofit organizations in Nebraska, Iowa, and Michigan. Vic’s in-depth knowledge of Omaha’s philanthropic community has helped raise millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations including capital campaigns for The Rose Theater/Omaha Theater Company, Girls Inc., The Tri-Faith Initiative of Omaha, in COMMON, and the American Muslim Institute.

Vic’s other accomplishments include:

• Providing executive services for the Rose Theater, the Tri-Faith Initiative, Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha Farmers Markets, and the Holiday Lights Festival.
• Sharing his knowledge and expertise, mentoring nonprofits including Rock & Soul Forever Foundation, the International Council of Refugees & Immigrants, and MENTOR Nebraska.
• Working on more than 100 events including the 300^th anniversary celebration for the City of Detroit, Nebraska’s Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration, and Omaha’s 150^th birthday celebration.
• Helping found the Summer Art Fair and the Guild of Artists and Artisans, both in Ann Arbor (MI).
• Leading the effort to establish the Omaha Summer Arts Festival in 1975, managing the Festival through its 50^th anniversary in 2024.
• Spearheading the revival of the farmers market in the Old Market in 1994, managing both the Old Market and Aksarben markets through 2024.
• Shaping the Millennium Lights Festival in 1999, which became the annual Holiday Lights Festival and was managed by VGA for 25 years.

More About Lisa

Lisa has over 30 years of professional experience in marketing, communications, strategic planning, and project management for nonprofit organizations including the Rose Theater, Girls Inc. of Omaha, the Tri-Faith Initiative, the American Muslim Institute, Rock & Soul Forever Foundation, and MENTOR Nebraska.

Lisa’s other achievements include:

• Serving as Marketing Director for the Rose Theater, and continuing to secure sponsorships for the Theater’s mainstage productions and its annual Rockin’ Rosie fundraiser, as well as assisting the Rose Outreach program with project management, sustainability, and fundraising.
• Collaborating with national performer Daniel Beaty to manage and produce outreach programming for the Rose, including organizing workshops and performances; assisting with video documentary production; and coordinating film premieres.
• Acting as Operations Manager for the Tri-Faith Initiative, and as Project Manager for major TFI events including the inaugural United We Walk in 2022 and the 2018 Dinner in Abraham’s Tent fundraiser.
• Planning/executing milestone events for Girls Inc. and managing logistics, communications, and PR for GIO’s annual Lunch for the Girls fundraising event.
• Developing, managing, and executing fundraising and specialty campaigns for clients including MENTOR Nebraska, the American Muslim Institute, and the statewide Do Right, Right Now COVID-19 Prevention & Education campaign.

“VGA’s secret sauce is respect for their clients – they didn’t come in as outsiders to make us look like them, they joined our team to help us be our best selves, and it’s working.”

Bill Carbone – Executive Director, Rock & Soul Forever Foundation

“VGA has long been a committed partner to The Rose Theater, sharing their expertise in strategy and programming that has helped make The Rose a household name, and an integral part of the Omaha and Council Bluffs communities. From community outreach programs to several successful capital campaigns, we are fortunate to work alongside them and heartily endorse them to anyone looking to grow and expand their organizations.”

Julie Walker – Managing Director, Rose Theater

“I had the privilege of hiring Vic Gutman & Associates Consulting to assist with strategic planning, fundraising, and event organization, including planning our open house. Vic is highly knowledgeable and well-connected within the local philanthropic community. His strategic planning has meaningfully enhanced the work we were already doing. He has generously contributed his time, energy, and resources, even when ICRI was unable to reimburse him. Beyond his professional support, he has been both a thought partner and a mentor to me in both my professional and personal life.”

Dekow Sagar – Chief Executive Officer, International Council for Refugees and Immigrants, Inc.

“VGA’s creativity and flexibility has helped us meet the needs of our community, even amid many unanticipated challenges.”

Albert Varas – Executive Director, Latino Center of the Midlands

• Vic Gutman – Visionary Award (Nebraska Tourism Industry Awards, 2025)
• Aksarben Village Farmers Market – American Farmland Trust #1 Farmers Market in Nebraska (2024, 2023, 2022)
• Do Right, Right Now COVID-19 Prevention & Education Campaign – Paper Anvil Award of Excellence (Nebraska PRSA, 2021)
• VGA – Excellence in Innovation Award (Greater Omaha Chamber (2021)
• Rose Outreach Documentary Films – Telly Awards (2018, 2017, 2016)
• Omaha Summer Arts Festival – Omaha’s Choice Award 1^st Place (2017)
• VGA – Small Business of the Month (Greater Omaha Chamber, 2006)
• The Gutman Gallery – a fine art gallery in Ann Arbor (MI) operated by The Guild of Artists & Artisans as a community gathering space for workshops, classes, and events celebrating the arts – named in honor of Vic, who founded the Guild in 1973

Contact Vic at vgutman@vgagroup.com or 402-708-1820