Alumni Spotlight: Joe Wherry
Interview conducted by Ann Huddleston, Alumni Relations
1996 Elkhorn High School alum Joe Wherry is a former detective with the Omaha Police Department, and current local business owner – Mathanisum and Junk King. Math is one of those subjects that just doesn’t come easily to everyone. Some of us might need a little extra help turning on that light bulb. Following a positive experience with his son and Mathnasium, Joe opened Mathnasium in Elkhorn on 205th St. in 2022. After graduating in ‘96, Joe studied Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He then interned for the Omaha Police department in 2000, joining the force the next year. In 2005, Joe became a detective and then a sergeant in 2007. He spent time in the North Investigations and Homicide divisions before transitioning to Internal Affairs in 2018. In 2020, Joe returned to Elkhorn to work in patrol at the West Precinct. He retired from the police force on February 1st, 2025, in order to focus his attention on his businesses. And since Joe likes to stay busy, he signed on to be a part-time School Resource Office for Omaha Public Schools. Joe and his wife, Andrea, live in Elkhorn with their two sons, Grant, ESHS Class of 2023 and Alex, ESHS Class of 2026.
What are some of your standout memories of your time in Elkhorn and Elkhorn High School?
One memory that stands out is when I recently volunteered with the West-O Chamber to deliver food baskets to families in need. It really brought me back to my own childhood. Growing up on the outskirts of Elkhorn, my family often needed help, especially since my parents were both sick. We got food baskets and other support from the community, which made a huge difference. I’ll never forget when classmates would drop off meals after my mom passed away. The Elkhorn community really came through for us.
Another memory is biking to school along the Old Lincoln Highway and stopping for ice cream at Dairy Chef afterwards. Also, my first job at Gateway Lanes was great. I loved being able to bowl for free whenever I wanted!
Do you have any favorite teachers?
I remember Mrs. Weckerman (though we called her Mrs. Watermelon). She was a fun, friendly teacher, and I remember her swinging on the swing set at Hillrise during recess. It was so out of the ordinary, but it made me realize how cool she was.
In high school, I connected the most with the football coaches—Mr. Wortman, Mr. Koll, and Mr. Bacus. I had a lot of respect for them and always enjoyed being in their classes.
How did you decide to major in Criminal Justice?
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a police officer. Growing up, we didn’t have much, and we only had one TV in the house, which my dad controlled. He watched old westerns, Andy Griffith, and military shows, and I think that influenced me. Those shows always had good guys standing up for what’s right, and I wanted to be like them. We also had positive experiences with local law enforcement, and I admired their professionalism. I figured a Criminal Justice degree would help me get where I wanted to go in my career.
Can you share any interesting stories from your time as a detective?
I spent about 15 years as a detective, so there are a lot of cases I could talk about, but one that sticks out was one of my first homicide cases. At the beginning, we didn’t have much to go on, but through careful work, we brought in a suspect. During the interview, I could tell the suspect was starting to crack. Then, there was this moment when he became emotional, sighed deeply, dropped his head and confessed. It was a huge relief, and it felt great to give the family the answers they needed.
Another story I remember is when Elkhorn was annexed by Omaha. I was assigned as the detective covering the newly added Elkhorn area, and a lot of people were upset. As someone who grew up there, I could relate to their concerns and reassure them that crime wasn’t going to increase just because they didn’t have their own police department anymore. It helped to have that personal connection with the community.
You opened Mathnasium in July of 2022, what inspired you to open Mathnasium?
The idea for Mathnasium came from my son. When he was in 8th grade, he was really struggling with math, and his test scores were below the district average. I found a Mathnasium center nearby, and after a few months, he came home and said, “Math is easy now.” That was a big turning point for him, and I noticed how many other kids could probably use that same kind of help. So, when I returned to patrol, I realized it was the perfect time to try something new. I reached out to Mathnasium, and even though they initially told me Elkhorn wasn’t big enough, I convinced them to give it a shot. After a discovery day in Los Angeles, I bought the territory and opened the center in 2022.
How does it work? Why is it different?
What makes Mathnasium different is that we don’t just help kids with their homework; we address the root of the problem. If a student is struggling with division word problems, for example, we’ll look at their foundational skills and find that they might be missing something basic like understanding how to halve odd numbers. Once they master those building blocks, things like division become a lot easier. It’s not just a quick fix—it’s about building confidence and skills that last.
Traditional tutoring tends to only fix the immediate problem. A student might get help with a specific topic, but they’ll continue to struggle with other concepts if their foundation isn’t solid. At Mathnasium, we make sure they fully understand the fundamentals before moving on. And for advanced students, we push them ahead of their grade level. I’ve seen students test out of subjects like Algebra because they’ve already mastered it at Mathnasium!
Do you have any new projects in the works?
I’m excited to share that I’ve recently acquired the rights to a Junk King franchise, covering the entire metro area as my service territory. Junk King is North America’s leading junk removal company, with nearly 200 locally owned locations across the U.S. and Canada.
At Junk King, we make junk removal easy, affordable, and eco-friendly. Our trucks are 20% larger than the competition, providing more value per load. Plus, Junk King’s model requires franchisees to recycle or donate at least 60% of everything we haul—helping to keep items out of landfills.
I’m currently preparing for launch, with two weeks of training scheduled this month and an active search underway for the right location to set up shop. I plan to open between April and May and can’t wait to bring Junk King’s trusted service to the community!
What do you do in your spare time?
Right now, I exercise at Crossfit Elkhorn (formally OneGym Elkhorn) 4-5 days a week at 5 am. I am a fair-weather bicyclist. I like to ride from my house around Lake Zorinsky and back. It is a great way to decompress and listen to podcasts. On my days off from Omaha Police, you’ll often find me working other off-duty police jobs at local events. I like to stay busy. I also like to take at least one vacation a year, we have gone to Disney World a few times, Cancun Mexico (Moon Palace is great 3-times), and Las Vegas several times.
What is your advice for current high school students?
My advice would be to do your research before jumping into a career or business. Find something that suits your skills and passions. Also, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. When I thought about opening a business, I was really stressed about the uncertainty, but I did my homework, reached out to other business owners, and felt much more confident in my decision.
And, of course, math is super important. A lot of jobs in STEM fields require strong math skills, and that’s only going to grow in the future. If you search the top 20 highest-paying jobs out of school, you see most if not all have a basis in math. It’s a great way to open doors for your career!
