WHAT: Nebraska business leaders were inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame at a recognition banquet on February 2. The Nebraska Business Hall of Fame was established in 1992 by the NE Chamber and UNL College of Business. Nominations are solicited annually from the business community, business associations and academia.
HONOREES: Mildred “Millie” Brown, Omaha Star (posthumous) Jim Clifton & Jane Miller, Gallup of Omaha Ralph & Beverly Holzfaster Family, Agribusiness / Community Development of Paxton Anthony “Tony” Messineo, Jr., Valentino’s of Lincoln Wilfred “Dick” Tegtmeier, Encore Mfg. Co. of Beatrice (posthumous) Biographies VIDEO LINKS: Videos provided below feature the video presentation at the banquet, as well as footage of the award presentation and acceptance remarks. Please contact Holley Salmi if a different format is needed. Brown: https://youtu.be/CsJFhTZJgUM Clifton & Miller: https://youtu.be/sfm1cFCW1Ew Holzfasters: https://youtu.be/jPUjg9LHuWs Messineo: https://youtu.be/OzM4DnqASUo&t Tegtmeier: https://youtu.be/bmzVVsRFoEo The NE Chamber is the largest, statewide business association, proudly serving its members since 1912. It is where members of the business community gather to help make Nebraska the best place to own, operate and grow a business. Focused on delivering economic and workforce growth and a competitive business climate, members also gain a network of experienced, connected business leaders across the state. Learn more at nechamber.com.
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NE Chamber leaders welcomed a new chair and 17 new members to its Board of Directors at its annual meeting last week. Ryan Parker, President & CEO of Endicott Clay Products Co. of Fairbury will serve as chair for the 2023 term.
“I’m excited to get going this year and help find new ways to accelerate our state,” Parker said. “Workforce, tax modernization and statewide innovation are front and center for our members. We are focused on addressing these challenges and unleashing economic growth.” The following individuals began their terms on the board this year.
“Our board is made up of individuals with a track record of leadership, both in their companies and in their communities, and a passion for the Good Life,” NE Chamber President Bryan Slone said. “We’re fortunate that they are volunteering their time and talent to help keep our businesses competitive and growing.” New board members are nominated by the current board and elected by the broader NE Chamber membership. Board members promote economic growth across the state and establish the association’s policies with input from members and 12 councils. The NE Chamber is the largest, statewide business association, proudly serving its members since 1912. It is where members of the business community gather to help make Nebraska the best place to own, operate and grow a business. Focused on delivering economic and workforce growth and a competitive business climate, members also gain a network of experienced, connected business leaders across the state. Learn more at nechamber.com. From left: NE Chamber President Bryan Slone; Whitney Schwisow, Beatrice; Ryann Haburchack, Ewing; Emalie Wightman, Omaha; Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen; Tommy Pugsley, Omaha; and Brogan Jones, Allen. Not pictured: Jerry Brito-Mendoza, Omaha LINCOLN, Nebraska — The NE Chamber recently announced the recipients of six, $2,000 scholarships named for past Nebraska Business Hall of Fame honorees.
2023 scholarship winners include:
Students must be sophomores or juniors in a business-related field, show demonstrated leadership in extracurricular activities, and maintain at least a 3.0 grade point-average to be considered. Since 1997, the NE Chamber Foundation has awarded over $238,000 in scholarships to 119 students across Nebraska. “Nebraska has long been a state with pioneering business leaders, and they are committed to helping pave the way for young, aspiring minds,” NE Chamber President Bryan Slone said. “It’s wonderful to bring these young intellectuals in to connect with the larger business community.” The scholarship winners were recognized at the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame Banquet on February 2 in Lincoln. At the banquet, the following business leaders were inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame: Dick Tegtmeier of Encore Manufacturing Co. in Beatrice; Tony Messineo of Valentino’s in Lincoln; Mildred Brown of The Omaha Star in Omaha; Ralph and Beverly Holzfaster family in agribusiness/community development in Paxton; and Jim Clifton and Jane Miller of Gallup in Omaha. The NE Chamber is the largest, statewide business and industry association, proudly serving its members since 1912. It is where members of the business community gather to help make Nebraska the best place to own, operate and grow a business. Focused on delivering economic and workforce growth and a competitive business climate, members also gain a network of engaged, connected business leaders across the state. Learn more at nechamber.com. LINCOLN, Nebraska — January 12, 2023 — The NE Chamber and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) College of Business today announced the 2023 inductees into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame, including: • Mildred “Millie” Brown, Omaha Star (posthumous); • Jim Clifton & Jane Miller, Gallup of Omaha; • Ralph & Beverly Holzfaster Family, Agribusiness / Community Development of Paxton; • Anthony “Tony” Messineo, Jr., Valentino’s of Lincoln; and • Wilfred “Dick” Tegtmeier, Encore Mfg. Co. of Beatrice (posthumous). These leaders will officially be inducted at the NE Chamber Annual Meeting and Nebraska Business Hall of Fame Banquet Thursday, February 2, at a 5:30 p.m. reception and 6:30 p.m. banquet held 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. “This year’s honorees embody the vision, grit and community loyalty often ingrained in our boldest-thinking Nebraskans,” said NE Chamber President Bryan Slone. “The impact each of them has had on our communities, quality of life, and state reputation and identity is awe-inspiring.” These individuals join a distinguished group of more than 130 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. “We are excited to recognize and salute the accomplishments of the 2023 Nebraska Business Hall of Fame honorees whose contributions to Nebraska’s economy and business environment are broad and far reaching. This group includes entrepreneurs, exceptional business leaders and highly engaged citizens who made a tremendous impact on the state,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Dean of the UNL College of Business. 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. MILDRED “MILLIE” BROWN, Omaha Star, Omaha (awarded posthumously) Mildred Brown was the owner, publisher and editor of the Omaha Star, the nation’s longest-operating, Black-owned newspaper run by a woman. Launched in 1938, the newspaper helped steer Omahans through racial segregation, the 1960s civil rights movement and additional racial unrest through the early 1970s. Her coverage of civil rights and riots earned her commendations from President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Star featured positive news about the Black community, celebrating family stories, role models and accomplishments. Readers were encouraged to vote and run for office. Brown died in 1989, but her legacy lives on. Today, the Omaha Star is the only remaining African American newspaper in Omaha and the only one still printed in Nebraska. The biweekly publication is available by print or digital subscription with a circulation of about 30,000 in 48 states. JIM CLIFTON, Gallup, Omaha Jim Clifton is chairman of Gallup, a global analytics and advice firm. Under his leadership as CEO from 1988 to 2022, Gallup expanded to a worldwide organization with 30 offices in 20 countries and regions. He created The Gallup Path, a metric-based economic model that establishes the linkages among human nature in the workplace, customer engagement and business outcomes. It is used in performance management systems in more than 500 companies worldwide. The Gallup World Poll, another of his innovations, gives the world’s 7 billion citizens a voice on virtually all key global issues. In addition to authoring four bestselling books and several articles on global leadership, he serves on many national boards. The Clifton Foundation and Gallup were essential in establishing the Don Clifton Strengths Institute at the University of Nebraska, which supports early identification and accelerated development of thousands of gifted entrepreneurs and future business builders in Nebraska. JANE MILLER, Gallup, Omaha Jane Miller is retired president and chief operating officer of Gallup. In that role, she oversaw worldwide operations, ensuring all systems, resources and – and most importantly – people were in place and aligned to achieve organizational goals across all client servicing and market direct functions. She is committed to creating strong communities that begin with strong workplaces, as evidenced by her leadership as a director or trustee for Peter Kiewit Foundation, TeamMates Mentoring, Kiewit Luminarium, Omaha Zoological Society, Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Foundation, in addition to serving on several boards in the past. Miller was the recipient of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Women in Leadership Award and was inducted into the organization’s Business Hall of Fame in 2017. RALPH AND BEVERLY HOLZFASTER FAMILY, Agribusiness / Community Development, Paxton Ralph and Beverly Holzfaster began their early agricultural careers in custom harvesting and proving new stubble mulch practices on dry land wheat, which led to a stint farming in British Columbia. Embracing pivot irrigation technology in 1969, Ralph opened a Lindsay Manufacturing dealership in Ogallala. His ongoing commitment to advancing agriculture, economic development and ethanol opportunities is evident in his service on several boards over the years, including Nebraska Ethanol Authority & Development Board, Nebraska Public Power District, Keith County Economic Development Board and Foundation and Mid-Plains Community College Foundation, as well serving on boards for private ethanol and bioenergy companies. The Holzfaster family co-hosted the Cattleman’s Ball in 2013, and remain active locally, statewide and nationally in agriculture, economic development, housing and tourism initiatives, including managing Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge. ANTHONY “TONY” MESSINEO, JR., Valentino’s, Lincoln In 1972, Anthony Messineo and his brother, Ron, purchased Valentino’s, a pizza business started in the Campus Fruit Market near University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s East Campus. The 60-seat restaurant was small, but the takeout pizza business quickly boomed. Today, Valentino’s employs more than 500 Nebraskans at 40 locations and ships frozen pizza nationally and internationally, in addition to offering its popular sauces and frozen pizza in Nebraska grocery stores. As the official pizza of the Huskers, Valentino’s sells over 22,000 slices per home football game. An active philanthropist, Messineo contributes time and talent to Cedar’s Home for Children, Catholic Social Services, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Lincoln Public Schools’ High Five program, and TeamMates, among others. He has received several honors, including Restauranteur of the Year twice and Rotarian of the Year, and was inducted into the Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame. WILFRED “DICK” TEGTMEIER, Encore Mfg. Co., Beatrice (awarded posthumously) A pioneer in the lawn mower industry, Wilfred Tegtmeier turned sketches drawn in his basement into two successful businesses, eventually employing more than 600 Nebraskans and giving Beatrice the unofficial title of “Lawn Mower Capital of the World”. He designed his first line of lawn mowers at Kees Manufacturing in the 1970s before starting Exmark Manufacturing with partners in 1983 and launching a new line. In 1988, he formed a new mower company, Encore Manufacturing, which grew quickly. Both companies remain major drivers of Beatrice’s economy. Exmark is now a division of Toro Company. Encore was sold to China-based World Lawn Power Equipment on the condition that the facility continue operating in Beatrice. Tegtmeier was active in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Beatrice Optimists, Gage County Economic Development and Nebraska Diplomats, in addition to representing Nebraska on several trade missions. He died in 2013. LINCOLN, Nebraska — January 9, 2023 — NE Chamber President Bryan Slone today welcomed Alex Reuss to the NE Chamber team. Alex will serve as Executive Vice President, Legislation and Policy, leading legislative advocacy efforts for the organization’s 1,000 members statewide. “Alex’s experience and expertise in both the state and national policy arenas will be a strong asset for our members,” Slone said. “Her energy and focus will be invaluable in our work to make Nebraska the best place to own, operate and grow a business.” A native of Bennington, Alex most recently served as Governor Pete Ricketts’ Director of Strategic Communications, where she advised the Governor on issue management, communications, and stakeholder engagement. Prior to that, Alex served as a member of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer’s policy team and as a legislative advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. She also co-founded Penn Ave Strategies, a Nebraska-based boutique communications firm. Reuss earned her Bachelor of Arts from Hillsdale College, where she graduated with academic honors. She currently resides in Elkhorn with her husband and their daughter, Lincoln, and son, Clive. 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. ###
TechNebraska, a new statewide technology organization, will unite the state’s tech community12/16/2022 December 16, 2022 — Today, NE Chamber President Bryan Slone announced the formation of Tech Nebraska, a new, statewide organization to cultivate Nebraska’s tech community and drive collaboration, growth and policy.
Tech Nebraska will unite and strengthen Nebraska’s statewide technology community by helping drive industry growth and position the state as a leader in the future of technology and innovation, advocate for tech-forward public policies and support the development of a diverse, talented workforce. The organization is in the early stages of formation with senior level information and technology officers joining the founding board, including representatives from Kiewit, Google, Methodist Health System, Union Pacific, Meta, and Workshop, among others. “Nebraska needs a thriving, unified tech sector to help drive its economy, compete for top talent and solve the challenges of tomorrow,” Slone said. “It’s imperative – regardless of whether you run a business in the urban core of Omaha, the shop floor in Columbus or from a pasture in the Sandhills. Every company is a tech company.” The organization is being launched on a solid foundation. Nebraska outputs nearly $4.5 billion in GDP from the information technology sector and ranks in the top 15 states for most tech jobs per capita, a tribute to the work already underway by technology leaders, partners and governmental agencies, Slone said. “We’ve grown our Silicon Prairie reputation by leaps and bounds over the past decade, but our tech community hasn’t reached its full potential yet,” he said. For example, the Milken Institute’s State Technology and Science Index in 2022 ranked Nebraska 34th out of 50th, a modest gain from 38th in 2020. The Milken Index measures state-level knowledge economies, including their capability to support business formation, job creation, and wage growth. Nebraska also ranked 46th of 50 in the 2022 Global Innovation Index’s most and least innovative states list. Tech Nebraska will leverage the collective expertise of its members – from McCook to Valentine, Scottsbluff to Omaha – to align with progress in peer states, many of which have had statewide-focused technology associations for decades. It will also partner with existing technology advocates and stakeholders in various regions of the state to build Nebraska’s reputation as a top-tier tech state. In the coming months, Tech Nebraska will continue to recruit new members and begin to set future fundraising goals, as well as hire an executive director and staff. More information will be made available soon, and a website and social media accounts will launch. Companies interested in engaging their chief information and technology officers may contact the NE Chamber for more information at nechamber@nechamber.com or 402-474-4422. NE Chamber, University of Nebraska System co-host first statewide innovation and tech summit12/7/2022 University of Nebraska (NU) President Ted Carter and NE Chamber President Bryan Slone today announced the agenda for “Innovative State”, Nebraska’s first statewide innovation and tech summit co-hosted by the two organizations. The summit is December 16, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Drive.
Business executives, CIOs, operations and systems leaders, developers, researchers, educators and innovators are invited to attend, especially those in agriculture, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, technology and logistics. Tickets for the event are on sale now. For more information, or to register, visit nechamber.com. Conference passes will be available to members of the news media. Bryan Slone, NE Chamber president, said Nebraska has the potential to be a leader in the technology ecosystem. “Global competition in tech and innovation has been heating up for years. The Blueprint Nebraska report identified that tech enablement in our largest sectors is vital to continued economic growth and how Nebraska-made food, goods and services compete globally,” he said. “If we don’t at least keep up, we fall behind. Ideally, though, we lead.” The event also includes sessions on:
Joe Kava, Google’s vice president of data centers, will deliver the luncheon keynote address entitled, "Demystifying the Internet: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Where the Internet Lives". Event sponsors include Google, Nebraska Public Power District, NextEra Energy, 21st Century Equipment, LLC, Cox Communications, and Hamilton Telecommunications. LINCOLN – Lincoln Premium Poultry (LPP) and Aulick Industries have been named Nebraska Manufacturers of the Year. Aulick received the award for small-sized manufacturers, while LPP received the award for large manufacturers. The award recognizes Nebraska manufacturers that implement innovative ways to conduct business using products, processes, technologies and other strategies. The companies were honored today at the annual NE Chamber Manufacturing Summit, with top sponsor RSM US LLP, a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services to manufacturing and wholesale distribution industries. More event sponsors are recognized at nechamber.com “This year’s honorees are helping equip and feed the world,” said Bryan Slone, NE Chamber president. “Their hard work, innovation, and commitment to building strong futures for Nebraska families are admirable and appreciated. Our goal is to make Nebraska the best place for companies like Aulick and Lincoln Premium Poultry to operate and expand for decades to come." Small Manufacturer of the Year - Headquartered in Scottsbluff, Aulick is a manufacturer of agricultural transportation equipment. Its Belt Trailers and silage boxes are designed for easy loading, hauling and unloading of any farm commodity. Aulick has also expanded into construction, landscaping, and dump boxes, and most recently, goose neck trailers. The operation traces its beginnings to a gas station opened in 1952 by Harry Aulick. In Harry’s downtime, he began rewinding alternators and starters. When demand for the business took off, he sold the gas station and moved into a shop down the street where he began working on truck frame modifications, leading to the innovative design of the silage box in the 1970s. By the early 2000s, Aulick officially grew into manufacturing various trailers and boxes. Operations are currently in transition from the second to the third generation of Aulick’s. Now occupying four buildings along the South Beltline in Scottsbluff, the company has more than 130 employees in 12 locations, across the U.S., including Grand Island and Benkelman. This year marks Aulick Industries’ 70th year of business. “Nebraska’s largest industry is ag. The fastest growing industry in Nebraska is manufacturing. We cater to both of those,” said Austin Aulick. “Our work impacts the state, not just through the initial sale of our products, but through every load that’s hauled by our customers.” A long-time corporate citizen, Aulick has recently been recognized for its innovative approach to reinvesting in workforce development, including offering high school internships, helping start up a high school diesel technicians’ experiential learning program (housed onsite at Aulick’s), and creating college apprenticeships. In 2009, Aulick received the Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce Trail Blazer Award. Large Manufacturer of the Year - Lincoln Premium Poultry is a Nebraska company established in 2016 for Costco to serve as the poultry management company in its new poultry complex in Fremont. The state-of-the-art processing facility, hatchery and feed mill represents a $500 million investment in the region, with an additional $400 million investment by local grower partners. The facility employs 1,200 Nebraskans and delivers an estimated total economic impact of $1.2 billion annually, approximately 1% of Nebraska’s gross domestic product. “Before we opened this facility, we traveled the world, literally. We looked at technology in many other countries. We toured both manufacturing and poultry facilities with a couple of goals in mind – automation and safety,” said Walt Shafer, chief operating officer of Lincoln Premium Poultry. “We wanted to take care of all our team members before we even hired them.” LPP is involved in numerous state and local organizations including the Greater Fremont Development Council, the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, and the NE Chamber, in addition to engaging nationally in the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and the National Chicken Council. NE Manufacturing Nebraska is home to more than 1,500 manufacturers employing 101,000 workers. One in 10 jobs is in manufacturing. The industry contributes more than $14.1 billion annually to Nebraska’s gross state product. Average annual wages in manufacturing exceeded $67,000 in 2019, the most recent year data is available. The NE Chamber is the largest, statewide business association and Nebraska’s affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. It has proudly served as an advocate for Nebraska’s business and industry since 1912. ###Award videos available at https://www.nechamber.com/ne-manufacturers-of-the-year.html
The New York City Transit Authority’s modern R211 rail car, manufactured by Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. in Lincoln, Nebraska, has been named the “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” for 2022. Manufacturers, students, and all Nebraskans were invited to vote in a head-to-head, bracket-style matchup of 16 finalists to determine the 2022 winner. Learn about each of the finalists at nemanufacturingalliance.com. In total, the four rounds of voting drew more than 20,500 votes total. “This was an exciting contest for Nebraska’s manufacturing community. We saw friendly face-offs on social media and employees seeking votes from family, friends and communities,” said Mike Johnson, chief operations officer and vice president of manufacturing for the NE Chamber. “But in the end, we’re all aligned in highlighting the global problem-solving and world-class, high-tech products coming out of our hometowns across Nebraska every day.” The champion was announced October 11 at the NE Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where the 16 products featured in the tournament were also invited to display their products. The contest, hosted by the NE Manufacturing Alliance and powered by the NE Chamber, 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. ### 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. Mike Johnson, NE Chamber COO, awards Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. President, Mike Boyle, with the 2022 Winner award for the Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska. Kawasaki nominated their NYC Subway car. Click the photo to see the top 16 products in the Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska Contest. LINCOLN – Two Nebraska-made products are in a head-to-head race to claim the championship title in Nebraska’s first ever “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” tournament. Manufacturers, students, and all Nebraskans are invited to vote for their favorite product now through October 9. Online voting is available at nemanufacturingalliance.com.
The following Nebraska manufacturers and their featured products are finalists:
The champion will be announced October 11 at the NE Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where the 16 products featured in the tournament are also invited to display their products. The contest, hosted by the NE Manufacturing Alliance and powered by the NE Chamber, 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. ### 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. |
Media Contacts:Please email Meg Hatfield at mhatfield@nechamber.com with your media requests or call 531-278-1262 Archives
April 2024
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