Hall of Fame 2022 Nominees

Joe Thallas
To view the Tribute Video for this honoree please CLICK HERE - Your log-in is: hof

• Joe was born in 1961 in Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Attended high School in Pomeroy, IA and Blair, NE. Attended UNL until the death of his father required him to come home to help his Mom with his 6 younger siblings
• His High School Counselor helped him start his career at Red Lion Hotel where he worked his way up to Sales Manager then Director of Catering, 1980-1995
• Became Food & Beverage Manager at Brandeis Catering, located at the Aksarben Field House & Coliseum, 1995-1997
• Moved operation to Georgetown Club, 1997-2015
• Acquired UNO Thompson Alumni Center 1996-2013
• Acquired Livestock Exchange Ballrooms and hosted the 2008 Hall of Fame while the ICA was under construction, 2004-Present
• Acquired TipTop Ballroom 2007-2015
• Member of Omaha Restaurant Association 1995-Present
• Member National Association for Catering & Events, International Caterers Association, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and has an A+ BBB rating
• Red Lion Sales Manager 120% Club, 1994 and Manager of the Quarter, 1994
• Featured in Midlands Business Journal, 1997, Cover 2002, Cover 2004, B2B Magazine Buy Omaha Profile, 2008 and Strictly Business Cover, 2009
• UNO Centennial Medallion, 2009 and Alumni Outstanding Service Award, 2009, Champion of NACE, 2012
• Winner of B2B Magazine’s Best of in Catering, 2007-2022
• Spends time with partner Scott, of 35 years, their dogs and family and friends