2019 Speakers
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Jim Clifton GALLUP Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Futuristic | Individualization | Competition | Activator | Woo jim_clifton@gallup.com gallup.com |
| JIM CLIFTON HAS SERVED AS CEO OF GALLUP, a global leader in public opinion research and advanced analytics, since 1988. Under his leadership, Gallup has expanded from a predominantly U.S.-based company to a worldwide organization with 30 offices in 20 countries and regions.
Mr. Clifton is the creator of The Gallup Path, a metric-based economic model that establishes the linkages among human nature in the workplace, customer engagement and business outcomes. This model is used in performance management systems in more than 500 companies worldwide. His most recent innovation, the Gallup World Poll, is designed to give the world’s 7 billion citizens a voice on virtually all key global issues.
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Elli Aesoph Habitat for Humanity of Omaha Chief Retail Officer eaesoph@habitatomaha.org |
| Elli Aesoph is the Chief Retail Officer at Habitat for Humanity of Omaha. A University of Nebraska graduate, Elli owned her own business for 15 years before finding her true passion in nonprofit work. While assessing employee engagement, workplace culture and the cycle of poverty in many entry-level positions, she felt strongly that employees needed opportunities and support in taking steps to grow and develop. This year, in conjunction with the United States Department of Labor and Metro Community College, she has started a Project Management Apprenticeship Program at Habitat for Humanity of Omaha. She is hopeful this program will help employees learn, contribute and advance their careers. Currently she lives in Omaha and enjoys spending time on the lake with her family, running, and attending Barre Code classes. |
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AshLea Allberry Nanonation, Inc. Chief Operating Officer ashleaallberry@nanonation.net |
| AshLea Allberry is an information technology leader who has served in many operational and organizational capacities within software product and services firms. AshLea is the Chief Operating Officer at Nanonation, Inc., a Lincoln-based digital marketing firm. In her role, she leads company operations and product development, and is involved in leading the firm’s strategic vision.
Prior to joining Nanonation, AshLea was part of the executive team at Xpanxion, LLC, a UST Global Company. At that time, she focused on development of rural outsourcing centers, marketing, human resources and public relations. As a result of rapid growth of the business model, AshLea was able to co-found a small subsidiary company, which is fully operational today as part of the larger organization.
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Kara Asmus Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Coordinator, Workforce Development Program drive45@megavision.com |
| Kara Asmus is the coordinator of the workforce development program for the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce in Columbus, Nebraska.
A fifth generation Nebraskan, Kara is passionate about spreading the message of quality of life and robust job growth in Nebraska, thereby strengthening local businesses for success in the future. She is a strategic thinker, problem solver and catalyst for change.
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Scott Asmus Nebraska Department of Labor Project Manager scott.asmus@nebraska.gov |
| Scott Asmus is the Project Manager for Registered Apprenticeship and Economic Transition Dislocated Worker programs with the Nebraska Department of Labor. Scott is responsible for leading a team expanding Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for Nebraska employers and job seekers. Additionally, Scott and his team assist individuals experiencing job dislocation and connect them with workforce services and job opportunities. |
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Dena Beck Nebraska Community Foundation Affiliated Fund Development Coordinator dbeck@nebcommfound.org |
| Dena works from her home office north of Minden, Nebraska, providing technical assistance to the NCF affiliated funds in south central Nebraska.
Prior to joining NCF in 2018, Dena served as Senior Project Leader and Business Specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs’ REAP program, where she served small businesses in rural communities. She is a “returner,” in that, 10 years after graduating from Minden High School, she moved back to her hometown, where she managed the Minden Chamber of Commerce and helped give life to the Kearney County Economic Development Agency.
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Tim Burke Omaha Public Power District President & Chief Executive Officer lzagurski@oppd.com |
| Timothy J. Burke joined OPPD in April 1997 as Vice President.
He has served as Vice President of Customer Service & Public Affairs, overseeing customer service operations; customer sales and service; customer strategy; economic development; safety and technical training; corporate marketing and communications; operations analysis; governmental affairs; and environmental and regulatory affairs. In May 2015, he became President and CEO.
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Gregg Christensen Nebraska Department of Education Entrepreneurship Education; Work-Based Learning gregg.christensen@nebraska.gov |
| Gregg Christensen serves as the Entrepreneurship and Workplace Experiences Specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education. Mr. Christensen provides curriculum and professional development assistance to educators in the k-12, two-year and four-year postsecondary systems throughout Nebraska. He also works to connect entrepreneurship and work-based learning with economic development and workforce development initiatives and programs statewide. |
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Evan Clark Nebraska Department of Economic Development evan.clark@nebraska.gov |
| Evan Clark was recently appointed Housing Specialist for the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). Evan joined the Department in November 2017 as the Central Housing Region Program Representative. Prior to working at DED, Evan was employed as a Labor Law Specialist with the Nebraska Department of Labor. Evan received a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice, as well as a master’s in community and regional planning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. |
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Aaron Delahoyde Bryan Health Human Resources Partner Aaron.Delahoyde@bryanhealth.org |
| Aaron Delahoyde is a Human Resource Partner at Bryan Health. For the past 19 years he has been involved in many projects and initiatives, including recruitment at all levels within the organization, working with managers to build effective teams and involvement with compliance activities. Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in business administration, and his master’s in management from Doane College. He also earned his Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) credential in 2007. |
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Jim Ediger Hamilton Telecommunications General Counsel and Information Security Officer jim.ediger@hamiltontel.com |
| Jim Ediger is General Counsel and Information Security Officer at Hamilton Telecommunications, headquartered in Aurora, Nebraska. He serves as in-house counsel for the nine diverse business entities that encompass Hamilton Telecommunications. His primary responsibilities include drafting and negotiating contracts, advising senior management and the board of directors on state and federal regulatory issues, compliance requirements and corporate governance matters, and managing outside counsel. |
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Jason Feldman Keller Williams Omaha Chamber Ambassador jason@live402.com |
| Jason Feldman was born in Omaha and raised in Indiana, completing his studies in criminology and serving three years in law enforcement. In his pursuit to discover a career that aligned his strengths and passions, he returned home to Omaha in 2011, though only for a brief stay before setting off to travel internationally. It was during his time living in New Zealand that he rediscovered his entrepreneurial passion from childhood, and discovered opportunities that would ultimately lead him home again to Nebraska. |
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Kristine Gale Nebraska Community Foundation Community Development Coordinator kgale@nebcommfound.org |
| Kristine Gale is a community development coordinator for Nebraska Community Foundation. In this role, she works to empower Greater Nebraska hometowns to set ambitious goals and dream big about the future. She helps volunteers across the state build community awareness and hone the skills necessary for successful fundraising, and enhances community impact through grant making and leadership development. |
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Melissa Garcia Black Hills Energy Program Manager, Community Affairs, Nebraska melissa.garcia@blackhillscorp.com |
| Melissa Garcia, Community Affairs Manager for Black Hills Energy, is passionate about the future of Nebraska, serving in several roles to create opportunities to engage the next generation workforce in meaningful ways. As President of Custer Economic Development, Melissa founded Youth Leadership Custer County and the Custer CAPABLE Corporation, which serves as a conduit between schools and industry. Currently she is serving as a member of the Central Nebraska Manufacturing Partnership, focusing on creatively solving issues to the barriers that can hinder companies from growing in rural Nebraska. She also leads the Black Hills Energy Community Ambassador Program. |
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Jacqui Garrison Nebraska Department of Education Nebraska Career Field Specialist for Communication and Information Systems jacqui.garrison@nebraska.gov |
| Jacqui Garrison is the Nebraska Career Field Specialist for Communication and Information Systems. She taught business and technology classes at Brady and Pleasanton from 2007 to 2014 while serving as the Technology Coordinator. After leaving the classroom, Jacqui served as the ESU 10 Helpdesk Specialist for a year, before transitioning to the Nebraska Department of Education. There, Jacqui serves as the Nebraska Future Business Leaders of America Chairman, Career Field Specialist, and Youth Registered Apprenticeship Grant Project Administrator. |
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Donald Gross Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) Manager of Community and Economic Development dgross@mapacog.org |
| Donald Gross is the Manager of Community and Economic Development with the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA), having joined the agency in January 2017 after 31 years with the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Donald held several positions in the City’s Community Development Department, and served as Director of the department for 26 years. Prior to working for the City of Council Bluffs, Donald was employed by the Southwest Regional Development Commission and the City of Little Falls, Minnesota. |
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Lindsy Gumb Roberts Entrepreneur lindsy_gumb@hotmail.com |
| Lindsy Roberts is an entrepreneur in Burwell, Nebraska. Lindsy attended Chadron State College before transferring to College of Saint Mary, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in photography and marketing. Lindsy has always had a passion for making a positive impact on the well-being of others and her community. After graduating, she moved home to Burwell to open a photography studio, LG Photography LLC, and to join the family business as an Associate Broker at Gumb Auction and Realty, Inc. Most recently she opened an Airbnb with her husband, Brian Roberts, in Burwell. |
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Tanna Hanna ALLO Communications Director of Social Media and Marketing thanna@allophone.net |
| Tanna Hanna grew up in Grant, NE. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Tanna started her career in Denver, CO in sales recruiting.
After marrying Matt Hanna, the two returned to southwest NE, and have called Imperial their home for almost 12 years. They’ve enjoyed being close to grandparents and great-grandparents while raising their two children, Elizabeth and Ethan. |
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Allison Hatch Nebraska Department of Economic Development Talent Development Team Leader allison.hatch@nebraska.gov |
| Allison Hatch is the Talent Development Team Leader at the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. She leads the Department’s talent attraction, retention and development strategy through policy and program development. She is passionate about helping to create a Nebraska where people want to live and stay. |
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Marguerite Himmelberg Southeast Community College Senior Director, Workforce Development mhimmelberg@southeast.edu |
| Marguerite Himmelberg, Senior Director of Workforce Development at Southeast Community College, promotes accessibility to continuing education and workforce development solutions for the College’s 15-county service area. Marguerite is a member of the U.S. Chamber Foundation Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academy. |
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Jeff Hoffman Norfolk Public Schools Norfolk Career Academy Coordinator/ Assistant A.D. jefferyhoffman@npsne.org |
| Dr. Jeff Hoffman has served as the Norfolk Career Academy Coordinator for Norfolk Public Schools for the past four years. As an important component of Norfolk Public Schools’ strategic plan, Dr. Hoffman has been integral in organizing the 13 career academies available to students in the coming 2019-20 school year. |
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Dan Hohensee The Career Academy Director dan.hohensee@thecareer.academy |
| Dan has been the Charter Director of The Career Academy (TCA) since it opened in the fall of 2015. Prior to that, he completed 31 years in the classroom as a math and entrepreneurship teacher at LPS. TCA is completing its fourth year, and is making a difference by offering real-world, hands-on experiences to students while they earn both high school and college credit as well as certifications. TCA is proud to announce that it had its 600th graduate this year. As of August 12, TCA will have a record enrollment of approximately 700 students for the coming year. |
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Leon Holloway Duncan Aviation Enterprise Human Resource Manager leon.holloway@duncanaviation.com |
Leon is entering his eighth year as the Enterprise Human Resource Manager for Duncan Aviation. He is currently serving in his 4th year on the Greater Lincoln Workforce Board, and previously served seven years when the board was known as the Greater Lincoln Investment Board. Leon holds a BA in organizational management and an MBA in human resources. Aside from leading the obvious day-to-day HR functions and focuses for Duncan, Leon invests a great deal of time focusing on:
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Jonathan Jank Seward County Chamber & Economic Development Partnership President & CEO Jonathan@CultivateSewardCounty.com |
| Jonathan Jank is the current President and CEO for the Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership, which serves the economic and community development needs of Seward County, Nebraska. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration from Concordia University, Nebraska. Jonathan received his Executive Development Certificate through the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. He recently completed his training at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management. Jonathan has spent his career working with and leading nonprofit organizations in various professional and volunteer positions. |
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W. Todd Johnson Gallup Global Channel Leader, Entrepreneurship & Job Creation todd_johnson@gallup.com |
| W. Todd Johnson joined Gallup in 1995 and currently serves as the Global Channel Leader, Entrepreneurship and Job Creation. Todd builds partnerships with governments, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to create jobs by deploying Gallup economic and management science at the macroeconomic level and across economic sectors. Currently, Todd leads the development and deployment of Gallup Builder Profile 10 (BP10), which focuses on identifying and engaging individuals with high-potential entrepreneurial talents and provides the foundation of Gallup’s approach to helping cities and nations grow and prosper. |
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Heidi Kaschke University of Nebraska Medical Center Director, High School Alliance hkaschke@unmc.edu |
| Heidi Kaschke grew up in Humboldt, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in psychology.
After college, Heidi moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for Congressman Doug Bereuter (retired) and U.S. Senator and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (retired) as an immigration specialist.
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Derek Kowalski Nucor Detailing Center Manager derek.kowalski@nucor.com |
| Derek graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering, and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Nebraska.
During his career at Nucor Corporation he has held various technical and leadership positions at multiple facilities. He is currently the manager of the Nucor Detailing Center in Norfolk, Nebraska. |
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Greta Leach Nebraska Community Foundation Director, Community Development Philanthropy gleach@nebcommfound.org |
| Greta Leach, Director of Community Development Philanthropy for Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF), helps Nebraska communities use philanthropy and asset-based approaches as tools for rural community development. Greta directs educational and capacity-building programs for NCF’s network of more than 1,400 volunteer community leaders. She leads NCF staff members and partners in implementing activities to strengthen leadership, grow local assets and enhance community impact. Greta also serves as the primary contact and resource person for a number of NCF affiliated funds. |
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Dawn Lindsley Nebraska Department of Education Assistant State Director, Nebraska Career & Technical Education dawn.lindsley@nebraska.gov |
| Dawn Lindsley is the Assistant State Director for Nebraska Career & Technical Education. Her primary responsibilities include providing state-level leadership and management of the Strengthening Career & Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (known as Perkins V) with Nebraska school districts, educational service units and community college personnel, as well as management of the Center for Student Leadership and Expanded Learning, which includes all NDE recognized Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). She is an active education professional at the local, state and national levels. Dawn has served as a CTE teacher and CTSO advisor, administrator and state leader in multiple states across the Midwest for close to 20 years. |
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Andy Long McCook Economic Development Corporation Executive Director andy@mccookne.org |
| Andy Long serves as Executive Director of the McCook Economic Development Corporation. Prior to his current position, he spent a decade in community college administration, worked for the Gallup Polls, and taught high school social studies and coached basketball at South Platte HS and Cozad HS. Andy and his wife, Kerri, have three kids, Quincy, 11, Brooks, 7, and Willow, 2. In his free time, Andy operates the nonprofit Cultivate Rural Leaders, which is dedicated to improving leadership in rural communities. |
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Robert McClenaghan Contitech of Continental AG Human Resources Manager robert.mcclenaghan@continental.com |
| Rob McClenaghan has been a part of Continental for over six years, and has been the HR Manager at the Norfolk Plant since September of 2017. Rob started his career in Continental’s Fairlawn, Ohio office, and has worked in various human relations roles throughout his career. Rob and the Continental team in Norfolk are excited to be the first company in Norfolk to implement a youth apprenticeship program at its facility. |
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Kayla Meyer Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group Coordinator kaylameyer@lcoc.com |
| Kayla Meyer is the Lincoln Young Professionals Group Coordinator at the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. A lifelong Nebraskan, Kayla is proud to be leading the largest Young Professionals group in the state, with over 2,000 members. The Lincoln Young Professionals Group, a division of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, is dedicated to empowering young professionals with educational, leadership and networking opportunities. Kayla lives in Lincoln with her husband and her two young children. |
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Darby Paxton Holt County Economic Development Executive Director darby@growholt.com |
| Darby Paxton has served as the Executive Director for Holt County Economic Development for the past three years. Darby’s experience in building community comes from being a returner to his own home town of Stuart and serving on various committees and boards for the past 15 years. From his 12-year stint as a stay-at-home dad for five boys, Darby has a unique perspective on creating an environment where people would want to move their families. Growing the population by expanding businesses and building community remains the main focus of HCED. |
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Yesenia Peck Nebraska Public Power District Diversity Manager mypeck@nppd.com |
| Yesenia Peck is originally from Lima, Peru, where she worked as an attorney for the Supreme and Superior Courts. Peck holds a master’s degree in leadership from Bellevue University and has studied workforce diversity management at Cornell University and Bellevue University. Peck is a diversity manager for Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD). She is appreciative of NPPD’s concerted efforts in advancing community cohesiveness and for the opportunity she has been given in her chosen field of professional practice. |
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Karina Perez Centro Hispano Executive Director karina@centrohispanos.com |
| Karina Perez was born in Los Angeles, California, and was raised in Columbus, Nebraska from the age of seven. Karina has a big love for family, being raised by two immigrant parents from El Salvador along with four siblings. She attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, studying communications and Spanish, and being the first to move away from home. Karina is married to Aaron, and they have two little girls, Zoey Isabella and Jade Sarai. Currently, Karina is the Executive Director for Centro Hispano in Columbus, Nebraska, a position she has held since 2017. The organization’s programming is focused around immigration, education, business and civic engagement. |
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Dan Phillips Career Pathways Institute Director dphillips@gips.org |
| Daniel Phillips has recently moved into the position of Director of Innovation for Career & College Readiness for Grand Island Public Schools, overseeing the academy implementation, all career and technical education programs and dual education partnerships within the district. He is responsible for all curriculum implementation as well as managing partnerships for all CTE programs. Prior to his role with Grand Island Public Schools, Daniel taught drafting and architecture for 10 years in Wichita, Kansas, and coached boys’ and girls’ golf and girls’ basketball. |
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Barb Pierce Greater Fremont Development Council Existing Business Director barb.pierce@fremontecodev.org |
| As the Existing Business Director for Greater Fremont Development Council, Barb assists Fremont businesses with expansion projects, conducts annual business visits, collaborates with area nonprofits on quality of life and workforce-related initiatives, and enjoys being a resource connector for Dodge County business and industry. She serves on the board of Omaha Area Dream It Do It, the Metropolitan Community College Diesel Tech Advisory Board and on the board of the Fremont Habitat for Humanity. Barb graduated from Wayne State College and is a member of the 2012 class of Heartland Basic Economic Developers and a 2013 graduate of Leadership Fremont. She is a member of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association (NEDA) and the Mid-America Economic Developers Council (MAEDC). |
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Roberta Pinkerton Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry Executive Director Leadership Nebraska rpinkerton@nechamber.com |
| Roberta Pinkerton is the Executive Director for the Nebraska Chamber’s Leadership Nebraska. She has been with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry since January of 2014. Pinkerton has over 25 years of economic development experience, including 15 years with the Omaha Public Power District and 10 years with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. She has been a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) since 2000, and is actively involved with several economic development groups. |
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Rachel Placzek Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development Director of Talent Strategy rplaczek@selectlincoln.org |
| Rachel Placzek is the Director of Talent Strategy at the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. A lifelong Nebraskan and University of Nebraska graduate, Rachel is proud to be leading initiatives that help grow and retain talent in the state. She lives in Lincoln with her husband and her dog. |
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Brianna Pribbeno ALLO Communications Social Media Director brianna@agroots.com |
| Brianna Pribbeno grew up in southern California but fell for a Nebraska boy in college. She and her husband Logan have lived in San Francisco and Santa Barbara, and spent a few years traveling in Central and South America before settling down and calling Imperial home. When not chasing after their two young daughters, Logan manages their family operation, Wine Glass Ranch, and Brianna works in social media for ALLO Communications. Brianna enjoys her involvement with the Imperial Community Foundation Fund because it gives her an opportunity to really connect with their entire community and give back in meaningful ways. |
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Bryan Seck Prosper Lincoln Employment Skills Developer bryan.seck@prosperlincoln.org |
| Connecting people with part-time jobs to full-time careers has become a passion for Bryan Seck. Prior to joining Prosper Lincoln as the Employment Skills Developer, he was the Homeless Outreach Specialist for Lincoln Public Schools, where he helped 500 homeless students each year. Before relocating to Lincoln, Seck was a program evaluator/auditor of federal public health programs as a Senior Associate for ICF International in New York City, and also served in the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. Seck holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Wagner School at New York University. |
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Mart Sedky Omaha Public Power District Vice President Human Capital & Assistant Secretary msedky@oppd.com |
| Martha L. Sedky was promoted to Vice President Human Capital (HC) in December of 2016 after serving the Omaha Public Power District for five years as Division Manager of Human Resources. In her current position, Sedky has overall responsibility for OPPD’s Human Capital functions, including Labor and Compliance, Total Rewards, Organizational Development, Business Partnering, Talent Acquisition, Change Management and Diversity and Inclusion. |
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Nicole Sedlacek Nebraska Public Power District Economic Development Consultant njsedla@nppd.com |
| Nicole Sedlacek is an Economic Development Consultant for Nebraska Public Power District. As a consultant, she works to help prepare communities and rural areas for economic development opportunities. Nicole joined the economic development team at NPPD in 2016. Prior to NPPD, she served as Executive Director for Holt County Economic Development for nine years. |
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Kim Sellmeyer Greater Omaha Chamber Creative Director ksellmeyer@omahachamber.org |
| Kim Sellmeyer, Creative Director at the Greater Omaha Chamber, leads a dynamic marketing team that is responsible for enhancing the region’s image and promoting the Greater Omaha area as the right choice for business and talent. Kim works on behalf of the Chamber’s 3,000 member companies and the six-county regional economic development partnership. She supports the Chamber’s vision to be a catalyst organization that ensures Greater Omaha is a vibrant place to do business, work and live. She counts among her proudest achievements the pivotal role she played in bringing the creative community together to develop the We Don’t Coast brand for the region. |
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Justin Shaddick Scottsbluff High School Assistant Principal jshaddick@sbps.net |
| Justin Shaddick currently serves as the Assistant Principal for Career Academies and Specialized Programming at Scottsbluff High School. Justin received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education through Chadron State College, and last year completed his Educational Specialist from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Prior to entering administration, Justin taught business and marketing courses, and served as the assistant sponsor for the Scottsbluff High School DECA program. |
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Megan Spargo City of Benkelman CRA Coordinator mcspargo@gmail.com |
| Megan is the Benkelman Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) Coordinator. Since 2016, the Benkelman CEA has been leading community and economic development in Benkelman. In 2016, a community needs assessment was conducted which identified housing, jobs and town aesthetics as the most urgent priorities that needed to be addressed to keep Benkelman alive. Since, Megan has been working diligently with diverse individuals and organizations, both inside and outside of Benkelman, to address these urgent concerns. |
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Gabriel Steinmeyer Norfolk Area Chamber Director, Workforce Development gabriel@norfolkareachamber.com |
| Gabriel Steinmeyer is the Director of Workforce Development for Norfolk, Nebraska. He received his undergrad from Berry College in Rome, GA, and a master’s degree from Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel. Prior to his role in Norfolk, Gabriel served as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Neligh, and was Regional Coordinator for Development with BGA Management America. His extended background involves the implementation of AI systems and advanced technologies for smart cities, precision agriculture, responsive logistics and value-added job creation. When Gabriel is not out saving the world one business at a time, he enjoys playing golf, paintball, studying ancient history and watching Game of Thrones. |
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Rhonda Veleba Connecting Young Nebraskans York Chamber of Commerce Coordinator rhondav@yorkchamber.org |
| Rhonda Veleba is the coordinator of Connecting Young Nebraskans, a statewide network designed to connect, empower and retain young Nebraskans. She’s been a member of the network since 2014, and became coordinator recently in May. She played an instrumental role in developing York Young Professionals in York, NE, and currently serves on the committee. Veleba lives in Fairmont with her husband and two children. She is actively involved in York Rotary, Fairmont Community Club, and PEO. She also volunteers for the American Freedom Defenders Veterans Memorial and the American Red Cross. |
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Scott Volk MetalQuest Vice President / COO scottv@metalquest.net |
| Scott Volk is the Vice President and COO of MetalQuest Unlimited, Inc., a precision machining and assembly contract manufacturer in Hebron that serves large manufacturing firms throughout the United States. Scott oversees the management and operations of the company, manages customer and supplier relationships, and has a key role in defining business strategy. |
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Megan Weaver Wayne Community Housing Development Corporation Executive Director wchdc@wayneworks.org |
| Megan Weaver is originally from rural southwest Iowa, where she worked as an administrative manager for a small manufacturing company. Seven years ago, when her husband received a promotion, they and their four young children relocated to Wakefield, NE, where he is currently the Plant Manager of Michael Foods, Inc. It was during this move when Ms. Weaver experienced firsthand the struggles of finding housing, whether to rent or purchase, in rural northeast Nebraska. After failed attempts to purchase two different homes — one due to lack of appraisal and the other a lack of rural fire services — they were finally able to purchase a home in Wakefield. When presented with the opportunity to be a part of the effort to develop housing in the area, Ms. Weaver eagerly took a position working as the Executive Director of NEHI, Inc., in Allen, NE. In addition to NEHI, Inc., Ms. Weaver has been serving as the Executive Director of Wayne Community housing for the past three years. Most recently, she has taken on a new role as Economic Development Director for the City of Wakefield, where she intends to continue to promote housing development and preservation. |
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Ray Welsh Welsh Financial Group welsh_ray@hotmail.com |
| Ray Welsh is a community leader in Pender. In his professional life, Ray is an advisor with MassMutual. In his community life, Ray spends his time giving back to his hometown. He has served or is presently serving on the following groups: Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce, Hospital Foundation, House Memorial Library, Pender-Thurston Education and Community Foundation Fund, Summer Recreation, and School Bond Chairperson. He served nine years on the board of directors for the Nebraska Community Foundation, serving as audit chair and a member of various committees. |
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