Meet Kacey Russell, Director of Operations at Strictly Business (strictlybusinessomaha.com).

Tell us a little about your business. – Strictly Business is a local news and direct marketing magazine in Omaha and Lincoln. We are all about branding names and faces because people like to do business with people they know, like and trust. We are proud of our reputation as a reliable and positive publication and grateful for the opportunity to promote so many amazing local businesses and organizations in print and online each month.

How did you get started in the business? – I have a background in marketing and sales because I enjoy working with people and building those relationships. When starting at Strictly Business, I was looking for a change of pace but wanted to keep the focus of building relationships. I was excited to I join the Strictly Business team because I would be working directly with our clients, building and fostering those relationships.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – I would say graduating college in May of 2020 at the height of the pandemic and trying to enter the workforce with a lot of uncertainty still up in the air.

Tell us a little about your family. – My husband, Owen, and I grew up in Lincoln and call it home for us. We got married in 2021 and have a one-year-old little boy that is definitely keeping us on our toes with his spunky personality.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Besides chasing around a toddler, you can find me either curled up on my couch with a book and coffee or on the hunt for a new breakfast place to try.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I was a collegiate Track and Field athlete at the University of Central Missouri and I am on the school’s Top 10 List for the 60m, 100m and 200m. So I guess you can say I am kind of fast…

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – Dory said it best in Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.”

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Compassionate.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? – “I’ll Be There For You” – the Friends theme song.

If you could have a sper power, what would it be? – Teleportation. The amount of times I say I just to snap my fingers and be where I am going is unreal. Plus it would save time on traveling and open an endless list of place I could go.

Which talent would you most like to have? – Honestly, I would love if I could knit or crochet.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – Owning my own coffee shop! That is the dream for one day, we’ll see if we make it there.

What is your favorite local Omaha restaurant? – The Drover.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – kacey@strictlybusinessomaha.com | (402) 466-3330 | strictlybusinessomaha.com