Begin with the End in Mind

Join us for the Bonus Begin With the End in Mind Speaker!

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All lectures in this series will take place from 1–2 P.M. at the Thompson Alumni Center and will also be simulcast on Zoom.

June 27, 2025

• Josh Planos – APR, Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Public Relations for the Better Business Bureau and a freelance writer.

• Lecture title: Stay Safe, Stay Smart: Scam Prevention Best Practices from BBB

Josh Planos, APR, is the Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Public Relations for the Better Business Bureau, and is a freelance writer. Josh serves as the spokesperson of the BBB’s International Investigations Initiative and oversees and executes all external and internal communication efforts. His writing has been published by Atlanta Magazine, Atlantic, FiveThirtyEight, GQ, Guardian, New York Times, SLAM Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. Planos was a longtime contributor to CNN Philippines and served as a featured speaker at TEDxUNO. He is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy, FINRA’s Fighting Financial Fraud program and was named to Midlands Business Journal's 40 Under 40 class. He has emceed and presented at businesses, international conferences and universities on a variety of topics including advertising, business ethics, consumer protection, crisis communications, cybersecurity, earned media strategy, fraud, journalism, marketing, digital media and the creative process.

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If you have a question about the series, contact the UNO Department of Gerontology at 402.554.2272 or Kara Negley at knegley@unomaha.edu.

Past Speakers:

2025

Denise Craft, Craft Lifestyle Management

Anne Marcotte, Will and Power of Attorney Fundamentals

Steve Doran, MD, To Die Well

2024

Michael James, textile artist and writer, Emeritus Professor and Chair, Dept. of Textiles at UNL, author of Dear Judy–A Love Story Rewritten by Alzheimer’s

Mary Lou Buss, MSW, PhD -- The power of reflecting on grief practices at each stage of the grief journey.

2023

Katie Ransdell, MS, CCLS - Grief and Loss

Cassidy Taladay-Carter, MA & PhD student in Communication Studies - UNL - Bereavement Stories and End-of-Life Disparities

David M. Thompson, PhD, JD - Legal Aspects at End-of-Life

Margaret Schaefer, Centralized Intake Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of Nebraska - Legal Aspects of Death and Dying

2022

Margaret Schaefer, JD - Legal Aspects and End-of-Life

Mark Gilbert, Ph.D. - Art and End-of-Life

Physician Panel - Palliative Care

2020
Tom Belford, John A. Gentleman Mortuaries. TOPIC: Funeral planning and preparation.
Mindy Crouch, LCSW, LIMHP, Pando Geriatric Counseling. TOPIC: Tears are normal--coping with grief.

2019
Kerry Beldin, Ph.D. TOPIC: The gift of illness.
Melissa Johnson, M.D. TOPIC: The basics of palliative care.
Abby McConnaughhay, JD, MA. TOPIC: Legal issues at end of life.

2018
Cathy Fox, MSW of Grief 's Journey. TOPIC: Disenfranchised Grief: A grief not recognized by others.
Gary George, Exec. Dir. Josie Harper House. TOPIC: Spiritual Aspects: End of life from a hospice perspective.
Dr. Amy Haddad, Creighton University. TOPIC: Advance Directives: The ups and downs.

2017
Marcia Adler, Ph.D., R.N. Director of UNO Health. TOPIC: Women’s retirement experiences.
Timothy Lenaghan, Legal Aid of Nebraska. TOPIC: How to ensure your wishes are carried out at end of life.

2016
Ron Jensen, JD, Baird Holm Law. TOPIC: Prevention of financial abuse through effective estate planning.
Domingo Maynes, III, MD, CHI Health. TOPIC: Palliative care.

2015
Shane Kotok, MS. TOPIC: Writing your ethical will.
Margaret Schaefer, JD, Elder Access Line/Legal Aid of Nebraska. TOPIC: Discussing the legal aspects at end of life.

2014
Paige Toller and Dr. Julie Masters, University Nebraska Omaha. TOPIC: Write your own obituary.
Tom Belford, Owner, John A. Gentleman Mortuaries. TOPIC: – Plan your funeral/memorial service.
Helen Chapple, Creighton University. TOPIC: Talk about your wishes: It’s all about the conversation.