Annual Meeting, Business Hall of Fame Set For Feb. 7

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry will hold its 2019 Annual Meeting and Legislative Caucus on Thursday, Feb. 7, at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln.  This is one of Nebraska’s largest business gatherings of the year. (For more information, including how to register, call 402-474-4422 or visit www.NEChamber.com.)
 
According to State Chamber President Bryan Slone, this year’s annual meeting will provide opportunities to learn about the important issues and legislation impacting Nebraska’s economy and business community.  Attendees will hear from Gov. Pete Ricketts, as well as state lawmakers and policy experts.  Three separate discussion panels will be held in the afternoon to spotlight federal issues, state issues and 2019 priorities at the Legislature.
 
The evening banquet will feature a distinguished group of business leaders and entrepreneurs who will be inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.  Established in 1992 by the Chamber and the University of Nebraska College of Business, the Hall of Fame pays tribute to Nebraska’s most accomplished business leaders and their contributions to our free enterprise system.  Candidates are nominated by individuals from the business community, business associations and academia.
 
The 2019 Nebraska Business Hall of Fame class members are:
 

• TALTON ‘TAL’ ANDERSON, Baxter Auto Group, Omaha (deceased) – Tal started pumping gasoline part time for Johnny Baxter in 1957.  By 1984, when Baxter retired, Tal owned 49% of the business and contracted to purchase the remaining stake and keep the Baxter name.  Today, the business has grown to 20 locations in three states and offers 15 brands of automobiles.  The business remains in the family under the leadership of Tal’s son and daughter, Mickey Anderson and Angie Quinn.  Baxter now employs 1,900 people and sold approximately 40,000 vehicles in 2017.

 

• JERRY HUSE, Norfolk Daily News, Norfolk (deceased) – In 1871, Jerry’s great-grandfather founded The Northern Nebraska Journal in Ponca, one of the earliest newspapers in Nebraska.  He purchased the Norfolk News in 1888 and Jerry’s grandfather and father ran it until Jerry took over as publisher in 1956 at age 29.  At the time, he was the youngest publisher of a daily newspaper in Nebraska.  He continued in the role of publisher for the following 56 years.  The family ownership of the newspaper continues today.  Jerry is in the Nebraska Newspaper Hall of Fame and received the Nebraska Press Association’s Master-Editor Award.

 

• BARRY L. KENNEDY, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Lincoln – Barry joined the Nebraska Chamber in 1987 and was named president of the Chamber in 2000.  He served in this role until his retirement in June 2018.  During his tenure, the organization grew in membership, influence and notability.  As a result, Nebraska benefited from a more diverse economy, an improved overall business climate and modernized business incentives, due in large part to the Chamber’s role in the advocacy process.  Prior to Barry’s time at the Chamber, he served as both the national and international president of the Jaycees (also known as the U.S. Junior Chamber), which at the time boasted nearly 400,000 members nationwide.

 

• PHILIP MULLIN, Garner Industries, Lincoln – Phil is the CEO and owner of Garner Industries, a diverse manufacturing company in Lincoln.  Established in 1953, Garner Industries started as a small tool and die company.  Today it is a robust company serving international markets while continuing its commitment to the local Nebraska economy.  Phil began working at Garner in 1968 while still in college and joined full time after graduation.  Under Phil’s leadership, the company outgrew its original site and in 2011 built a new, 115,000-square-foot manufacturing and office facility that houses more than 135 employees.  Mullin has dedicated his career to growing Garner Industries, while supporting Lincoln and the state of Nebraska. 

 

• LOU ROTELLA JR., Rotella’s Italian Bakery, Omaha – Lou Rotella Jr., CEO and president of Rotella’s Italian Bakery, has devoted his career to product innovation and business development, propelling the family business from a local legend to a national leader.  The bakery began in Italy in 1850 and came to Omaha in the early 1900s.  Alessandro Rotella and his wife opened a small bakery and delivered fresh bread with a horse-drawn wagon.  Louis Rotella Sr. came into the business in 1947 and oversaw the 1989 opening of the LaVista facility, which combined cutting-edge technology with old-world techniques.  The fifth generation of Rotellas now sells more than 500 products through stores in five states, while also marketing their products for wholesale across the country.

 
To register for the Nebraska Chamber’s Annual Meeting and Business Hall of Fame Banquet, or for more information, call (402) 474-4422 or e-mail Charlie Volnek at cvolnek@nechamber.com.  Online registration is available at https://web.nechamber.com/events.
 
The State Chamber is Nebraska’s largest statewide business association and has served as the voice of Nebraska’s business community since 1912.
 
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                                      Photos of the 2019 Nebraska Business Hall of Fame inductees are below.

'Tal' Anderson

Jerry Huse

Barry Kennedy

Phil Mullin

Lou Rotella Jr.