WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 9 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. CDT, COLUMBUS, NE
 
WHAT: Nebraska manufacturing leaders meet with disruptive technology experts to discuss mapping out their Manufacturing 4.0 technology journey. The day includes sessions on:

• Women in Manufacturing – Nebraska Chapter breakfast (7:45 – 8:45 a.m.)
• Discussions on modernization threats and opportunities, financial options and challenges, and best practices
• Live technology demonstrations
• Social hour, networking and LIVE “Manufacturing Happy Hour” podcast (4:30 p.m.)

 
Nebraska currently ranks 36th in research and development spending in the nation, with 60% automation potential yet to be realized. Manufacturing Nebraska’s Future is designed to help Nebraska manufacturers consider their options and build a plan for tech-enabled production that keeps them competitive nationally and globally in a tight labor market.
WHEN:  Wednesday, May 11, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. CDT
                             
WHERE:  Central Community College, North Education Center, 4500-63rd Street, Columbus
 
WHO:  Manufacturing executives, plant managers, engineers and technicians, Women in Manufacturing - Nebraska Chapter and operational leaders in related logistics, processing and supplier sectors will be attending.
 
RESERVE A MEDIA PASS IN ADVANCE:
Conference passes will be available to members of the news media for those interested in covering the speakers or engaging with manufacturers. Please reserve your pass in advance by contacting Holley Salmi, NE Chamber, hsalmi@nechamber.com, 402-763-0007.
 

LINCOLN – The NE Chamber and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) College of Business today announced that 2022 honorees will be inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame at an NE Chamber banquet on May 2. Honorees include:

• Mike McCarthy, McCarthy Capital of Omaha;
• John Sampson, Sampson Construction of Lincoln; and
• Gloria Thesenvitz, Nova-Tech, Inc. of Grand Island.

 
The Nebraska business Hall of Fame Banquet will be held Monday, May 2, with a 5 p.m. reception and 6 p.m. banquet, at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel. To join in honoring these individuals and their families, register at web.nechamber.com/events or contact the NE Chamber at 402-474-4422. To sponsor, contact James Berringer at 402-474-4717 or jberringer@nechamber.com.

“Our honorees this year really embody the ingenuity, determination and service to community and neighbor that characterize the Good Life,” said Bryan Slone, NE Chamber president. “Their personal drive and vision of growth have literally brought about game-changing opportunities in both their communities and the quality of life for others.”
McCarthy, Sampson and Thesenvitz join a distinguished group of more than 120 business leaders whose work to grow their businesses in Nebraska have made a significant impact on the free enterprise system, Nebraska’s economy, overall job opportunities and quality of life in their communities. Candidates are nominated by individuals from the business community, business associations and academia. The program was established in 1992 by the NE Chamber and UNL College of Business. 

“Our three inductees are leaders in their industries and great examples for our students and other entrepreneurs who want to lead the future of business. Gloria, John and Mike also give back to their communities and the state through advocacy, service and support,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Dean of the UNL College of Business.
 
“Celebrating the success of strong, civic-minded members of our business community means celebrating strong communities and decades of growth and good jobs,” Slone said. “They give us an example to which we can aspire.”
The NE Chamber is the largest, statewide business association, proudly serving as the voice of Nebraska’s business community since 1912. The organization promotes and protects Nebraska’s free enterprise system by ensuring a competitive business climate, economic growth and greater prosperity for all Nebraskans. Learn more at nechamber.com.
 

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NEBRASKA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
2022 HONOREES
 
MIKE MCCARTHY, McCarthy Capital, Omaha
Mike McCarthy is the founder of McCarthy Capital, a private equity firm headquartered in Omaha since its founding in 1986. After moving to Omaha with his wife, Nancy, and four children, Mike and his co-founder, Rich Jarvis, opened an investment bank focused on funding small businesses. Mike also began a long career of community involvement, serving on the boards of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha Community Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, the Omaha Zoological Society, Creighton University and other not-for-profit organizations. He currently serves as a board member of Lasting Hope Recovery Center and is chair of the Heritage Services board of directors. Mike also continues as an active Chairman of Bridges Trust, while serving on the boards of Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc., Union Pacific Corporation, Election Systems & Software and McCarthy Group, LLC. Mike and Nancy were honored as United Way Citizens of the Year in 2012, and Mike was earlier inducted into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame in 2006.
 
JOHN SAMPSON, Sampson Construction, Lincoln
John has been the President and CEO of Sampson Construction since 1995. Under his leadership, Sampson Construction has completed over $3 billion in commercial building projects in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Nevada and Illinois. Throughout his commercial construction career with Sampson, John has served in all types of project management and development roles.  His day-to-day focus is to manage the assignment, deployment, and use of the firm’s resources at each of its five locations. As a result, he forms strong, ongoing relationships with project management teams, project owners, subcontractors, and community leaders.  These relationships allow Sampson Construction to stay on the leading edge of the market and continue to deliver high-quality construction services across the Midwest.
 
GLORIA THESENVITZ, Nova-Tech, Inc., Grand Island
Gloria Thesenvitz is founder and board chair for Nova-Tech, Inc., a nationally recognized provider of custom aseptic fill manufacturing services and private label IV fluids to the animal health industry throughout the United States and Canada. In 2011, the site transfer of manufacturing into a new plant located in the Platte Valley Industrial Tract in Grand Island laid the foundation for three additions, each bringing significant growth through growing production and technical capabilities. A strong advocate for education, quality jobs, women entrepreneurs and rural Nebraska, Gloria has reinvested her talents, time and resources serving on multiple community and state boards. Gloria is the recipient of the Governor’s Bioscience Award and the Grand Island Independent’s Woman of the Year in 2017.

​LINCOLN – A statewide coalition of chambers and economic developers Thursday thanked state leaders for adopting plans that direct nearly $700 million in one-time, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and budget funds to initiatives that aid economic recovery by attracting and retaining talent, building communities and supply chain, and creating new opportunities for all Nebraskans
 
Bryan Slone, president, NE Chamber
“Today is a good day for the Good Life. From committee hearings to floor debate, state senators have been committed to delivering game-changing investments with federal ARPA funds that truly enhance the quality of life in communities throughout the state and our ability to compete. Their plan contains many of our recommendations for post-pandemic economic recovery investments, including expanded job training and apprenticeships, workforce housing, community college workforce development resources, shovel-ready capital projects, and greater childcare capacity. These investments are key to positioning our communities and our businesses to compete and win the race for talent, new residents, and economic growth.”
 
Walker Zulkoski, president, Nebraska Economic Developers Association
“Nebraska businesses, communities, and workers were hit hard by the scope and duration of the pandemic. NEDA is pleased to see Nebraska's legislators prioritizing closing the gap on the state's housing shortage, workforce development, and economic recovery for our employers.”

Jason Ball, president, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
“The Lincoln Chamber is thrilled to see these initiatives moved forward that will help grow our state through targeted investment, expansion of programming and transformational projects. This funding will have a profound impact on the continued development of our local economies and greatly enhance how our people and our businesses can grow together in Nebraska.”

Derek Rusher, president, NE Chambers Association; president / CEO, Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce
“As we near the end of the legislative session, we would like to extend our thanks to our senators who continue to prioritize the development of Nebraska’s workforce and infrastructure, both of which will strengthen our local communities. As we continue to navigate the major issues that are impacting Nebraska, we welcome these one-time, game-changing investments that will attract and retain talent, prepare future generations of workers, and grow our economy to build a more prosperous Nebraska.”

David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
“Just like every community in Nebraska, Omaha is in a race to attract and retain talent with cutting-edge jobs. The competition is stiff. While we have certainly competed well for major projects, the opportunities knocking on our door today can bring monumental growth. The state’s commitment to investing in workforce, growing opportunities for our underrepresented communities, infrastructure, innovation and community building is critical to our ability to land the next generation of opportunities. Between thoughtful tax relief and a strategic recovery plan, legislators made a statement today that will definitely turn heads and bring deals, next-era jobs and new residents from all walks of life our way.”
​
Between the ARPA funding package (LB1014 and LB1024) and the budget adjustment package (LB1011, LB1012, and LB1013), nearly $700 million will be invested in the following “Good Life Game Changer” priorities or similar initiatives through FY2024:

• $129.5 million in rural and urban workforce housing grants to help attract new talent;
• $75 million to support community college capital projects, as well as workforce development and dual-credit programs for high school students;
• $110 million for recovery grants in qualified census tracts, primarily targeted to North and South Omaha;
• $36 million to scale up and increase participation in apprenticeship and customized workforce training programs;
• $4 million to expand childcare capacity;
• $60 million for a Rural Health Complex to be located at the University of Nebraska at Kearney;
• $47.5 million in incentive payments for direct care staff at licensed Medicaid-certified nursing facilities;
• $50 million in support of new, industrial rail park infrastructure, paving the way for supply chain resilience in Nebraska’s core manufacturing, transportation and logistics sectors;
• $60 million in site and building development support for a North Omaha Industrial Park project;
• $25 million for an Agricultural Research Service National Center to jumpstart innovation and aid technology transformation; and
• $100 million to alleviate pandemic-related setbacks for shovel-ready capital projects building arts, culture, humanities and sports amenities across the state.

 
The budget adjustment package also allocates more than $200 million to enhance outdoor recreation across the state, adjusts Nebraska’s Business Innovation Act to spur additional investment, and expands the state’s high-skill, high-demand, high-wage (H3) career scholarship program.
 
In January, the “Good Life Game Changer” coalition, comprised of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association, the NE Chamber, the NE Chambers Association, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, unveiled policy priorities to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime economic opportunities and federal recovery funds to help Nebraskans, their communities, and their employers compete better globally over the coming decades. The proposals align with priority initiatives identified in the Blueprint Nebraska plan for economic growth through 2030. Learn more at nechamber.com.

​LINCOLN – NE Chamber President Bryan Slone offered the following comment on final passage of LB873, a bill offering significant income and property tax relief in phases through 2026.
 
The bill:

• Reduces individual and corporate income tax top rates down over five years to 5.84%;
• Offers income tax credits for property taxes paid to community colleges;
• Boosts total income tax credits available for property taxes paid to local schools to $548 million for 2022 and $567 million for 2023; and
• Completely phases out income taxes on social security income.

 
“A dynamic, growing economy with lots to do and cutting-edge job opportunities is critical to attracting and retaining more people in Nebraska, especially our talented, young generations entering the workforce,” said Bryan Slone, NE Chamber President. “You get less of what you tax, and Nebraskans need more right now – more in their pockets to support their families, more private investment, more innovation, more high-tech jobs. We appreciate the work of our state leaders in helping us build a game-changing strategy for growth.”
 
Income tax relief was one of the priorities identified by the “Good Life Game Changer” coalition, comprised of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association, the NE Chamber, the NE Chambers Association, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, unveiled policy priorities to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime economic opportunities that help Nebraskans, their communities, and their employers compete better globally over the coming decades.  Learn more at nechamber.com.

​LINCOLN – NE Chamber President Bryan Slone offered the following comment on second-round passage of LB873, a bill offering significant income and property tax relief in phases through 2026.
 
“The actions by the Legislature to take advantage of our good economic health and further advance the ball on income and property tax relief is essential and appreciated. Thank you for this leadership.
 
“Nebraska’s income tax burdens in many respects have not been sufficiently competitive for years, and the competitive pressure is increasing as other states lower their rates to better attract residents, workforce, businesses and jobs. Our communities, our children, and our grandchildren deserve every opportunity we can give them to build their Good Life and their families right here. Controlling our tax burdens is important to that vision.”
 
Income tax relief was one of the priorities identified by the “Good Life Game Changer” coalition, comprised of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association, the NE Chamber, the NE Chambers Association, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, unveiled policy priorities to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime economic opportunities that help Nebraskans, their communities, and their employers compete better globally over the coming decades.  Learn more at nechamber.com.