About

I’m Megan, and I’m a brand strategist and creative consultant, and owner of Five Nine, a stationery shop, and Ceremony, a clothing shop.

I started my career working as a wedding designer, creating dresses and bouquets for hundreds of brides each year. After being in the wedding industry for years, I started sharing my experiences as a small business owner and designer in books and speaking gigs around the country. As I was transitioning from the business of helping people get married, I opened Omaha’s first coworking space, CAMP, which I closed a few years later to co-found Hello Holiday, an e-commerce startup to support independent fashion designers, and Majorette, a flash sale site. I cannot resist the temptation of passion and excitement for a cause, which led to my work as the founder of Safe Space Nebraska, a 501(c)3 dedicated to fighting the epidemic of sexual harassment and assault. My interests as they relate to my career include community-building in my city that I love and developing our local entrepreneur and creative class. My interests as they relate to my life include collecting art, doing crossword puzzles, solo travel, and dining with friends.

In 2018 I was elected to the Nebraska Legislature. Since 2019, I have introduced 65 bills and resolutions and cosponsored over 175 bills. Fifty-six of these bills passed with the support of our 49-member body and were signed by the Governor. I am most proud of my work in reproductive justice, my bill to allow college athletes to get paid, supports for people facing drug addiction, my work on environmental sustainability, my advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, and the deep friendships I have developed with colleagues of all political backgrounds. This position has led me into all kinds of fundraising and PAC work. If you want to donate to keep things normal in my red state, let me know.

My work as an entrepreneur, designer, and politician has been featured in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Forbes, INC, The Washington Post, Intercept, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, Vice, Pacific Standard, Brides, and more. My 2014 book, Fabric Blooms, sold out of its first printing in under 24 hours and is still available in craft stores nationwide. I was grateful to receive Shout Magazine’s 30 Under 30 honor, was recognized as one of Midlands Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and in 2016 was honored with a Ten Outstanding Young Omahans award. In 2019, I was recognized with the Rising Star Award from the Douglas County Democratic Party, the Pioneer Award from Star City Pride, and the Community Leader Award from New Leaders Council. In 2020, I received the Inspiring Efficiency Leadership Award from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a national recognition, for my work on increasing sustainable environmental practices in Nebraska. In 2021 I received a 20 Under 40 Leadership Award from the Council of State Governments, the nation’s largest nonpartisan organization serving all three branches of state elected and appointed officials. In 2022 I received the Defender of the First Amendment award from the Freedom From Religion Foundation and a Toll Fellowship from the Council of State Governments. I have also given board service to Charles Drew Health Center, Omaha Area Youth Orchestras, Friends of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, CHEER Nebraska, and Friends of the Nebraska AIDS Project.

My daughter, Ash, and I make our home in the neighborhood of Benson in Midtown Omaha with our frenchie mix, Cricket.