The Fremont Area Community Foundation recently welcomed three new members to its board of directors: Amber Barton, Sam Heineman and David Mitchell, all residents of Fremont.
“We are blessed to have a board of directors that is committed to the work and growth of our organization,” said Melissa Diers, executive director. “And I’m confident that these three individuals will be a wonderful addition to this group.”
Amber Barton has worked at Pinnacle Bank since graduating from Midland University 21 years ago. She is currently a senior vice-president and commercial loan fficer and manages the loan department.
Throughout her career she has enjoyed volunteering on many non-profit and civil boards in the Fremont community. She currently sits on the Trinity Lutheran Church Leadership Board, the Midland University Board of Trustees and is Acting Chairman of the Dodge County Head Start. She is also helping spearhead the FEVR Rail to Trail initiative.
Barton’s past volunteering experience includes Care Corps’ Life House, Fremont Area United Way, Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity, Fremont Planning Commission and Fremont Housing Rehabilitation Board. She and her husband, Jeremy, have lived in the Fremont community for more than 20 years. They have three kids: Isaac, 16, is a junior at Bergan Catholic, Reese, 13, is an eighth-grader at Trinity Lutheran School, and Adalyn, 11, is a sixth-grader at Trinity Lutheran School.
Sam Heineman began his professional career in public accounting with Seim Johnson in Omaha but left the firm to pursue a career as an entrepreneur.
He purchased his first Anytime Fitness franchise in 2011 and eventually owned seven of the highest performing franchise locations nationwide before selling the businesses to pursue real estate. Heineman founded Dodge County Realty Group in 2017 and served several years as managing broker before becoming a full-time real estate investor. Today, he owns and manages a diverse portfolio of commercial, hospitality, and residential real estate, and is proud to be participating in the redevelopment of downtown Fremont.
Heineman
Heineman has done this both as an investor/developer and serving in his current role as the president of MainStreet of Fremont.
He also serves as an appointed board member on the Downtown Business Improvement District. Sam was born and raised in Fremont, graduating from Fremont High School and Midland University. He and his wife, Jessica, have a 6-year-old daughter who attends Trinity, a 2-year-old son, and they are currently expecting.
David Mitchell is a personal injury and commercial litigator with over 30 years of experience in the courtroom. With a client base of large and small businesses, families and individuals, Mitchell also devotes his practice to LLC/Corporation formation and planning; real estate; wills, trusts and estate planning; commercial business planning and transactions; employment; and a multitude of related areas of law.
He has served multiple boards and charitable initiatives including: the Greater Fremont Development Council, Fremont Family YMCA, and the Encore Campaign to refurbish the Nell McPherson Theater at FHS. Mitchell is also the co-creator and champion of Wishing Wheels, a fiscal sponsorship fund under the FACF umbrella that raises money to provide bikes to area kids in need. Mitchell and his wife, Kim, have two grown daughters and are members of First Lutheran Church.
Founded in 1980 with a single estate gift, the Fremont Area Community Foundation connects donors, nonprofits and community leaders with the needs of the community, creating positive local impact. Over the life of the foundation so far, more than $38 million has been distributed throughout Fremont and the greater Dodge County area in the form of scholarships and grants in five areas of interest including arts and culture, civic improvement, education, health and recreation, and social services.
The foundation currently administers over $32M in community assets. For more information about the Fremont Area Community Foundation, call 402-721-4252 or visit www.facfoundation.org.
