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LINCOLN, Nebraska — August 28, 2023 — The top 16 contenders in the second annual “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” contest have been announced. Public voting for the top 16 products in the bracket-style competition will be held Tuesday, August 29, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 4. Manufacturers, students and all Nebraskans are invited to vote for their favorite product manufactured in Nebraska each week through the month of September at nemanufacturingalliance.com. The contest, hosted by the NE Manufacturing Alliance and powered by the NE Chamber and Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) – together with your local public power utility, celebrates the state’s thriving manufacturing industry with Nebraska residents, students, educators, community leaders, manufacturers and especially, the more than 100,000 Nebraskans working in manufacturing every day. The following Nebraska manufacturers and their products made it to the top 16 tournament.
“We are more than excited to launch the second year of this fun, public and friendly competition,” said Mike Johnson, NE Chamber Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Manufacturing. “It’s all about highlighting the cool things made right here in our own backyards and the proud, skilled, innovative, and hardworking Nebraskans — our neighbors – who make them. We are calling everyone to vote to crown the Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska!” The tournament will once again lead Nebraskans into the annual celebration of NE Manufacturing Month this October. The champion will be announced October 10 at the NE Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where the finalists will also be invited to display their products. “It’s great seeing industries from all over the state represented in this year’s contest, along with a diverse mix of products that many people may not know are made right in their community,” says NPPD Economic Development Manager Nicole Sedlacek. “NPPD and our wholesale power partners are proud to be able to help highlight these businesses that are doing incredible work and making cool products used across the country and the world.” ### About NE Manufacturing Alliance
Five statewide manufacturing groups have pledged to coordinate efforts to grow manufacturing and STEM workforce in Nebraska over the next decade. Learn more at nemanufacturingalliance.com.
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 August 28, 2023 — The top 16 contenders in the second annual “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” contest have been announced. Public voting for the top 16 products in the bracket-style competition will be held Tuesday, August 29, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 4. Manufacturers, students and all Nebraskans are invited to vote for their favorite product manufactured in Nebraska each week through the month of September at nemanufacturingalliance.com. The contest, hosted by the NE Manufacturing Alliance and powered by the NE Chamber and Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) – together with your local public power utility, celebrates the state’s thriving manufacturing industry with Nebraska residents, students, educators, community leaders, manufacturers and especially, the more than 100,000 Nebraskans working in manufacturing every day. The following Nebraska manufacturers and their products made it to the top 16 tournament.
“We are more than excited to launch the second year of this fun, public and friendly competition,” said Mike Johnson, NE Chamber Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Manufacturing. “It’s all about highlighting the cool things made right here in our own backyards and the proud, skilled, innovative, and hardworking Nebraskans — our neighbors – who make them. We are calling everyone to vote to crown the Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska!” The tournament will once again lead Nebraskans into the annual celebration of NE Manufacturing Month this October. The champion will be announced October 10 at the NE Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where the finalists will also be invited to display their products. “It’s great seeing industries from all over the state represented in this year’s contest, along with a diverse mix of products that many people may not know are made right in their community,” says NPPD Economic Development Manager Nicole Sedlacek. “NPPD and our wholesale power partners are proud to be able to help highlight these businesses that are doing incredible work and making cool products used across the country and the world.” ### About NE Manufacturing Alliance Five statewide manufacturing groups have pledged to coordinate efforts to grow manufacturing and STEM workforce in Nebraska over the next decade. Learn more at nemanufacturingalliance.com.   August 1, 2023 — Manufacturers and all Nebraskans are invited to nominate their favorite product to compete in the second annual “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” tournament. To qualify, products must be manufactured in Nebraska. Nominations are accepted online at nemanufacturingalliance.com.
“This exciting contest is an opportunity to showcase just how broadly manufacturing is at the heart of success in our communities and our families, not to mention the level of pride Nebraskans have in Nebraska-made products,” said Mike Johnson, NE Chamber Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Manufacturing. “Last year’s competition exceeded our expectations with the excitement it created. We can’t wait to see how the public embraces it and who will take the championship title this time!” The tournament will once again lead Nebraskans into the annual celebration of NE Manufacturing Month this October. Nebraskans are then invited to vote for their favorite Nebraska-made product in a head-to-head, bracket-style competition during September. The champion will be announced October 10 at the NE Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where the finalists will also be invited to display their products. The contest, hosted by the NE Manufacturing Alliance and powered by the NE Chamber and Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) – together with your local public power utility, celebrates the state’s thriving manufacturing industry with Nebraska residents, students, educators, community leaders, manufacturers and especially, the vast number of Nebraskans working in manufacturing every day. “Nebraska Public Power District is proud to provide power to many of Nebraska’s manufacturers across the state who, in turn, help to power our state’s economy. We’re excited to shine a spotlight on these industries, while highlighting the incredible economic impact they have on Nebraska,” said Courtney Dentlinger, NPPD Vice President of Customer Services and External Affairs and Chief Customer Officer. Nominate your favorites online at nemanufacturingalliance.com.  August 1, 2023 — NE Chamber President Bryan Slone today announced the hiring of Laurel Oetken as the first executive director of Tech Nebraska, a new organization created to cultivate Nebraska’s tech community and drive collaboration, growth and policy for Nebraska businesses.
“Laurel comes to Tech Nebraska with a strong record of bringing tech leaders, entrepreneurs and community and state policy leaders together,” Slone said. “We’re excited to have her leading the efforts of the new organization to further connect technology interests throughout the state and grow Nebraska’s technology brand.” A native of Omaha, Oetken most recently served as director of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. She spearheaded Omaha-area work with Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP) to cultivate a short- and long-term strategic plan for growth in the innovation ecosystem. She engaged 40 Omaha-based tech startups and 400 business and community leaders during Startup Omaha Week. Prior to that, she worked as a project manager at Ervin & Smith and a marketing project manager at Flywheel. She’s the current fundraising director for the Junior League of Omaha and was a leader in the Greater Omaha Young Professionals Council. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Journalism degree. “I’m incredibly proud of Nebraska and the advancements our state has made collectively toward becoming a leader in technology. Tech Nebraska has the unique opportunity to continue building on past momentum, advancing our state’s technology interests and reputation as a leader in technology and innovation even further,” Oetken said. “To be a part of accelerating this growth through Tech Nebraska and to serve as its first executive director is truly exciting. I can’t wait to get started.” Christopher Dill, Vice President and CIO at Kiewit, said Tech Nebraska’s new leader will be key in growing the state’s tech sector. “Every Nebraska company is impacted by technology,” Dill said. “We are confident that Laurel, as the new director of Tech Nebraska, will be a leader in helping those Nebraska businesses collaborate, partner and ultimately become leaders in the technology ecosystem." “Laurel will be a leader in guiding statewide strategy as the director of Tech Nebraska,” said Assistant Vice President & Lead Engineer for IT at Union Pacific Railroad. “We look forward to her working directly with CIOs and CTOs across the state to move our state forward in the technology ecosystem.” Tech Nebraska’s mission is to strengthen the state’s position as a leader in the future of technology and innovation, advocating for tech-forward public policies and developing a diverse technology community. The organization announced its formation in December, and is in the process of building capacity, with senior level information and technology officers helping to create the founding board. Companies interested in engaging their chief information and technology officers may contact the NE Chamber for more information at [email protected], or by calling 402-474-4422. For more information, visit technologynebraska.com |
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