BOARD MEMBERS
Matt Weber
COO, Director, Chef
Chef Matt Weber grew up in his Grandmother's kitchen. He took his love of food and cooking with him in 2002 when he followed his Wife Simone to New York City where he attended Culinary School at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Healing. He interned at the James Beard House and Aquavit before taking a Garde Manger position at Candle 79 on the upper east Side of Manhattan. In 2005 Simone and Matt returned to Nebraska to start a family. After a short time at Dish restaurant in Lincoln, Matt took the Executive Chef position at Carol Joy Holling Camp, conference and retreat center (NLOM) in Ashland, NE. Matt co-founded Table Grace ministries in 2008 and opened Table Grace Cafe in 2011. In addition to being the Chef of Table Grace, Matt serves as the Executive Director of Table Grace Ministries. In partnership with Family First Chiropractic, Matt teaches healthy cooking workshops at Natural Grocers several times a year. Matt also leads the catering service of Table Grace Cafe. He also enjoys playing music with Simone at Table Grace, Morningstar Lutheran Church, and beyond. "Table Grace is able to nourish hungry
bodies and souls because we facilitate an environment that incourages a give-give approach to hunger outreach. We bridge the socioeconomic divide. We are a venue where authentic relationships, mutual respect, and an all-around healthy environment help people to be the best versions of themselves every day and take that positive energy with them into the community."
Simone Weber
CEO, Musical Missionary
Simone Weber co-founded Table Grace Ministries in 2008 with her husband Matt and has served as Table Grace’s COO since 2014. Simone’s calling and vision is in music, ministry, hunger outreach and development. She obtained her BME degree and ESL endorsement from UNL with highest honors in 2002. While in college, she worked at Hudson Bay company as a professional fundraiser and traveled on several oversees mission trips to serve in various third world countries. She then went on to sing professionally, teach ESL and work in many restaurants in New York City. In 2005 she returned to Nebraska and worked fulltime as First Lutheran Church’s Director of Music Ministries until 2013. Simone is a Nashville recorded singer and songwriter who has created seven CDs, and part of a musical to date. She has a passion for taking the church outside of the church walls and using music as a vehicle to bring people together, raise funds for Table Grace and inspire all people to use their talents to serve one another. She currently also serves as worship leader at Morning Star Lutheran Church in Omaha.
Cory Lienemann
Member at large
Cory has been a Financial Associate with Thrivent Financial for the last 10 years. He is a co-leader of Rejoice! Men in Mission at Rejoice! Lutheran Church where he’s been a member for over 20 years. He is married to Nancy and they have 3 children.
Vanessa Schmidt
Treasurer
CPA, CHFP, MBA
Client Services Manager
Vanessa has worked extensively in the healthcare and not-for-profit industries since joining the firm in 2012. She received her Masters of Business Administration from Southwest Minnesota State University and graduated with Magna Cum Laude from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics with a minor in Accounting.
Vanessa has experience in providing auditing and accounting services to a variety of governmental, manufacturing, professional, and not-for-profit organizations as well as audits of employee benefits plans. Vanessa has been instrumental in all phases of the audit, accounting and consultation processes associated with these types of entities.
Vanessa is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accounts. Vanessa is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and is active in civic organizations, including serving as Treasurer on the Board of South Dakota State University Alumni Association, Omaha Chapter.
D. Kevin Williams
Member at Large
D. Kevin Williams has been developing his professional and instructional craft in the dramatic arts for over 35 years and is excited to embark on a new journey with the Union in Tell Martha Not To Moan.
His performance credits range from local and regional commercial appearances at 12 years old, to performing radio and television voice overs. Most notably of these are the Emmy nominated children’s series "Liberty’s Kids", the Nebraska and North Carolina Shakespeare Festivals and more recently, the film "For Love of Amy" and then blessed to tour with the National Broadway Company of " The Color Purple."
Of late, D. Kevin has provided drama workshops for the Love’s Jazz and Arts Center while also performing with the African Culture Connection and under the auspices of God’s Deliverance Ministries, singing with Thee Amigos and God’s Deliverance Singers, having released their debut CD. He is also on the artist in schools and communities (AiSC) roster with the Nebraska Arts Council and is one of the voice-over actors for Nebraska Furniture Mart.
D. Kevin is a native of Omaha, NE. God has blessed him with 5 children and 6 grandchildren and to utilize his gifts in his chosen career path.
