Joe Cooper, ’95

Joseph Cooper is the manager of East Coast union hourly compensation for the Walt Disney Theme Park and Resorts. In this role, he provides leadership and direction for development and administration of compensation programs for more than 30,000 Disney cast members. Cooper's career with the Walt Disney World Co. encompasses a wide variety of experiences in food and beverage operations, organization development, human resources, and most recently as manager of union hourly compensation. Prior to joining Disney, Cooper held numerous leadership positions with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and McDonald's while also serving the U.S. Army Reserves, where he was stationed in Southwest Asia during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Cooper has been recognized by Disney with the prestigious Disney Partners in Excellence award and by the Army with the Army Commendation and Achievement Medals for exceptionally meritorious achievement for his service to the U.S. Army Reserves. Cooper is a graduate of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a B.S. in restaurant management and holds a B.S. in business administration from Stetson University in Deland, Fla. Joseph and his wife, Jennifer, live in Clermont, Fla.

Paul Hogan, ’85

Watching his late grandmother thrive with devoted at-home care of family inspired Paul Hogan to conceive the dream for a non-medical senior care company that would help keep people at home for as long as possible. In 1994 that dream became a reality when Paul and his wife, Lori, founded Home Instead Senior Care®. Now the largest senior care company in the world, Home Instead Senior Care has served more than 350,000 seniors through 750 franchise businesses in the U.S. and 11 other countries. Home Instead Senior Care is the undisputed industry leader, and has received top rankings from Franchising Times and Entrepreneur magazines. In recent years the company has been featured on National Public Radio, Fox News, CNN, and in the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and Family Circle magazine. Paul, a 1985 graduate of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, began his career with Merry Maids where he was franchise sales manager. He serves as a founding board member of The Home Instead Senior Care Foundation and the National Private Duty Association and a founding member of the Nebraska chapter of the Young Entrepreneur Organization. He also serves on the board of Family First Nebraska. Paul was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” for 2006 by the International Franchise Association.