Professional of the Year Award
Every year the NEDA organization recognizes two members that have done exceptional work in their jobs and NEDA would like you to nominate that person. Applications can be found below.
There are many successful economic developers in our membership that deserve recognition. The award winners will be recognized at the 2024 NEDA Annual Meeting on June 13, 2024. The Board feels this is a very worthwhile endeavor to show the people of Nebraska the achievements that economic developers around the state are making to the economy.
NEDA's past recipients of this award can be found below.
Please submit completed forms or direct questions to Kylie at staff@neda1.org or mail it to:
Nebraska Economic Developers Association
521 First Street
PO Box 10
Milford, NE 68405
Previous Year Winners
2023
Ron Tillery Executive Director Phelps County Development Corporation
Sharon Hueftle Executive Director South Central Economic Development District
2022
Susan Norris
Director
Plainview & Pierce County Economic Development Corporation
Kelly Gewecke
Business Development Consultant
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
2021
Lisa Hurley
Executive Director
York County Development Corporation
Dan Curran
Deputy Director
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
2020
Starr Lehl
Executive Director
City of Scottsbluff
Brook Aken, CEcD
Manager of Economic Development
Omaha Public Power District
2019
Jonathan Jank
President/ ECO
Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership
Loren Kucera
Director
Nebraska Business Development Center
2018
Miles McGinnis
Economic Development Director
City of Central City
2017
Deb Cottier
Executive Director
Nebraska Northwest Economic Development Corporation - Chadron
Roberta Pinkerton, CEcD
Leadership Nebraska Executive Director
Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce & Industry - Lincoln
2016
Sheryl Hiatt
Manager Field Services
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Patricia A. Wood
Vice President
Nebraska Trucking Association
2015
Tim O’Brien
Manger Economic Development
Omaha Public Power District
Joe Pepplitsch
City Manager
City of Lexington
2014
Cheryl Brandenburgh CEcD
External Affairs Manager
Black Hills Energy-Lincoln
Gary Person
City Manager/Economic Development Director
Sidney
Mary Plettner CEcD
Senior Economic Development Consultant
Nebraska Public Power District - Columbus
2013
Toby Churchill
Executive Director
Sarpy County Economic Development Corporaton
Devin Meisinger, CEcD
Senior Economic Development Coordinator
Omaha Public Power District
Jennifer Wolf
Executive Director
Dawson Area Development
2012
Rod Moseman
Vice President of Economic Development
Omaha Economic Development Partnership
Omaha
Richard Baier
Executive Vice President
"Forging Nebraska's Future"
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Lincoln
2011
Lance Hedquist
City Administrator
South Sioux City
Roger Christianson CEcD
Manager, Economic Development
Omaha Public Power District
2010
Dee Haussler
Executive Director
Hastings Economic Development Corporation
Paula Hazlewood
Executive Director
Gateway Development Corporation