Anne Branigan, Ed Pechar receive Citation awards
The UNO Alumni Association bestowed its Citation for Alumni Achievement award upon UNO graduates Anne Branigan and Edward Pechar during the university’s spring commencement ceremonies Friday, May 3, at Baxter Arena.
Branigan, senior vice president for innovative services with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, was recognized at UNO’s 9 a.m. ceremony for three colleges. Pechar, chairman and principal owner of McCormick Distilling Company, was recognized at the 3 p.m. ceremony for UNO’s four other colleges.
Inaugurated in 1949, the Citation is the association’s highest honor. It encompasses career achievement, community service, involvement in business and professional associations, and fidelity to UNO. It now has been issued to 180 graduates.
Anne Branigan
Anne Branigan earned a bachelor’s degree from UNO in 1984 in human resources and family sciences and a master’s degree in public administration in 1986.
She has been with the Greater Omaha Chamber over three decades in a variety of capacities. The chamber is a nonprofit membership organization representing the interests of 3,000 businesses in the metro area. As senior vice president of innovative services, Branigan is responsible for the organization’s member services, special events, leadership development programming, marketing, business intelligence and technology efforts. She also graduated with the chamber’s Leadership Omaha Class 28.
Branigan represents the chamber and her passion for the community on several civic boards and committees. She joined the Omaha Public Library Foundation board of directors in January 2016 and currently serves as its president. She also serves on the Better Business Bureau advisory board for the Omaha region and participates in: the American Chamber of Commerce Executives; the University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor’s Board of Counselors; and, the UNO Chancellor’s Strategic Planning Committee.
Her support of women and girls includes service with the Women’s Fund of Greater Omaha (including two terms as board president), the Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA) and other organizations. The WCA in 2011 recognized her as one of its Tribute to Women award honorees.
Branigan and her husband of more than 30 years, Brian, have two children.
Ed Pechar
Omaha native and first-generation college student Ed Pechar graduated from then-Omaha University with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication in 1963. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour in Vietnam. He then earned a law degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law and was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in 1972.
Pechar then became an attorney for Schenley Distillers, where he was a purchasing agent during law school. He held several executive positions with the company, becoming its president in 1984. In 1987, Pechar and business partner Mike Griesser (since deceased), acquired Virgin Islands Rum Industries. They grew the company into the largest bulk rum supplier in the U.S. In 1993, the duo purchased McCormick Distilling in Weston, Missouri. The company traces its roots to 1856 as the oldest continuously operating U.S. distillery west of the Mississippi River. It now distributes to all 50 states and to 77 countries.
In 2009, Pechar through the University of Nebraska Foundation created the Edward A. Pechar Scholarships, full-tuition assistance for UNO students who need financial assistance to attend college but who are ineligible for federal Pell grants.
Pechar is a contributor to various civic charities, providing educational opportunities and contributing to research on Multiple Sclerosis and related neurological diseases. He also is a past board member of Court Appointed Special Advocates in Collin County, Texas.
Pechar and his wife, Maxine, have three children and four grandchildren. They divide their time between homes in Dallas, Texas, and Bel Air, California.