NE Diplomats honor visitors, leaders at 39th Passport Weekend

LINCOLN, NEB. (September 11, 2006)—The Nebraska Diplomats hosted government, industry, and economic development leaders from across Nebraska, nine states and three countries at the 39th Annual Passport to Nebraska Banquet. Governor Dave Heineman presented the Diplomats’ annual awards.

The Governor welcomed guests from California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio, as well as from Canada, Germany and Japan.

"The Nebraska Diplomats help our state put its best foot forward in terms of economic recruitment, retention, and expansion," Gov. Dave Heineman said. "The program and its connections represent an important part of our overall emphasis on engaging in public-private partnerships for the creation of job opportunities for Nebraskans and their families."

The following presentations were made during the banquet:

Ambassador Plenipotentiary Award (the highest Diplomat honor) went to Ken Gnadt of Grand Island, and Stu Miller, recently retired deputy director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED).

Gnadt served as mayor of Grand Island from 1994-2002. Most recently, he served as president of the League of Nebraska Municipalities. Gnadt’s career also includes living in Tokyo and Taipei, Taiwan, during which time he managed Cargill Taiwan Corporation until retiring in 1989. He grew up in Alma, Kan., and earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and master’s degree in Animal Science from Kansas State University.

Miller served as DED’s deputy director from 1991-June 2006. He also served as the department’s director of research. Before moving to Nebraska in 1973, he taught Economics classes and conducted research in Regional Development and Industrial Location at Montana State University in Billings and the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Economics from the University of Oregon.

Diplomat of the Year Award went to C. Lloyd Castner, business development representative with Kirkham Michael in Columbus. In his current job, Castner helps obtain public funding for Kirkham Michael projects. Prior to joining Kirkham Michael in 1996, Castner led the Area Development Department for the Nebraska Public Power District, and served as city administrator of Columbus from 1976-1987. Caster was a leader in the League of Municipalities during his service as city administrator, and in the Nebraska Economic Developers Association during his work at NPPD. Castner earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and performed graduate work in Personnel Administration, Public Administration and Industrial Psychology at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore.

Community of the Year awards went to Columbus and Ord.

Known as “The City of Power and Progress,” Columbus (2004 pop. est. 20,881) stands as the state’s most industrialized city per capita, with an enviable base of manufacturing companies providing employment to more than 5,700 people throughout the area, and as the state’s public power headquarters. The city’s economy has grown considerably during the past five years with the expansion of several manufacturers and commercial businesses, and construction of a new regional hospital, attached medical office building, and the Village Centre Mall. The city’s vitality and interests can be attributed to diverse economic activities, including manufacturing, education (home to Central Community College), government (serves as the county seat), farming, livestock feeding, retail and wholesale sales, tourism, conventions, and transportation. While the city is vigilant about providing quality affordable housing and outstanding inpatient and outpatient health care and services, residents also enjoy their leisure time, be it shopping at one of nine retail malls or center, golfing at one of four public and private courses, or enjoying outdoor activities at one of 14 parks (including a new 15,645 sq ft water park), two area lakes or several recreational trails.

Ord (pop. 2,269) has enjoyed a robust economy during the past five years. The city’s aggressive agenda not only led it to be named 2005 Governor’s Showcase Community, but to become the state’s first Economic Development Certified Community. Ord has now set its sights on being recognized as the #1 small city in Nebraska and as a model for other small towns throughout the U.S. A sampling of Ord’s accomplishments in 2005 include 14 ribbon cuttings for business openings, three groundbreaking ceremonies, a partnership with Valley County to create the Valley County Visitors Bureau, sales of $18,000 in Ord Chamber bucks, a $6,880 Nebraska Worker Training grant to provide Best II Customer Service training, a $8,000 Tourism Marketing grant for ExtraORDinary Days, participation of 14 businesses in EDGE 2005, and a $4,000 Nebraska Worker Training grant to host Dr. Ann Atkinson’s “Trends, Strategies & Profitability seminar and board retreat. Not content to rest, Ord officials’ goals for 2009 are Growth and Sustainability. Stepping stones to meet these goals include actively recruiting a community college “mini-campus,” pursuing additional grant opportunities that support the mission, actively filling empty buildings, and encouraging the business community to participate in more educational training through the Nebraska Worker Training Program.

Industry of the Year Awards went to Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, and Valmont Industries, Inc., in Omaha.

For 50 years, Duncan Aviation in Lincoln has served as a premier place for aviation professionals to chart their course for outstanding service and unparalleled attention. The company services all major business aircraft, including Falcons, Hawkers, Challengeres, Gulfstreams, Astras, Westwinds, Citataions and Learjets at its complete service facilities in Lincoln and Battle Creek, Mich., avionics install and line service facilities in Denver, Colo., Dallas, Tex., Las Vegas, Nev., Teterboro, N.J., and Van Nuys, Calif., and avionic line service facilities in 15 other key locations nationwide. The company’s specialized teams service, paint, overhaul, install, modify, inspect, troubleshoot, fuel and repair aircraft, always striving for the highest customer satisfaction possible in any service industry. Duncan’s people, facility cleanliness, perceived value, and customer commitment are qualities that have been inherent since it opened its doors in 1956, leading its Lincoln headquarters to be named #1 Best Avionics Center determined by reader ballots in the 2006 Professional Pilot Prase Survey. As one customer wrote “There absolutely is a difference in a Duncan Aviation-maintained aircraft. It is the opinion of more than one broker that I have dealt with that a Duncan Aviation log book entry will enhance the resale of an airplane.”

In 1946, after serving in World War II as a Marine, Robert B. Daugherty invested virtually his entire life savings of $5,000 in a small manufacturing company owned by inventor Sam McCleneghan. Situated on a farm west of Valley, Neb., Daugherty named the company Valley Manufacturing and began building farm elevators. In 1952, Valley Manufacturing looked for ways to diversify following recession among the farm industry. A search led to Columbus, Neb., and what would become the company’s premier product: center pivot irrigation systems. In 1967, the company name was changed to Valmont (a combination of Valley and Fremont, Nebraska) Industries, Inc., to avoid confusion with other companies using “Valley” in their name. Since its beginning, Valmont has made a name for itself in the manufacture of center pivot irrigation systems, lighting poles, and in 2001, wireless communication towers and components. Today, Valmont is headquartered in Omaha and maintains facilities and employees throughout the world.

The Power in the Partnership Award went to the Nebraska Community College System. The primary role of Nebraska’s community colleges is to provide applied technology (vocational) and occupational education leading to associate degrees, diplomas, or certificates. In FY2004-2005, the colleges recorded a record enrollment 28,491.38 full time equivalent students. Of that number, 80.2 percent were enrolled in applied technology and occupational education and 19.8 percent in academic transfer programs. Of those students who complete their community college education, 95.5 percent found jobs that met their needs. State agencies and local government organizations collaborate with the community colleges to provide more services and opportunities at the local level. Here is a sampling of current partnerships:

Southeast Community College and Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and John Deere for specialized training programs.

Western Nebraska Community College and the City of Alliance—The college and Alliance Public Library share a facility built by the City of Alliance.

Metropolitan Community College and the City of La Vista—The Sarpy Center houses the La Vista Public Library and a Metro educational center.

Metropolitan Community College and the Douglas County Historical Society—The nonprofit historical society is located at the Fort Omaha Campus. Metro and the Society share in the upkeep of the campus. The Crook House and Library/Archives Center are open to the public and maintain information about the area’s history.

Opportunities/Jobs/Careers is a collaboration between Metro, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and business leaders. The organization works with high school students at their schools to prepare them for work.

Metropolitan Community College and the Omaha Public Library are working together to build a library on the South Omaha Campus available to South Omaha residents and Metro students.

Northeast Community College and Wayne State College: NCC and WSC officials are working toward building a joint use facility.

The 2006 Banquet also marked the induction of the following new Diplomats:

• Albion—Robert E. Racek, Cargill Ag Horizons
• Aurora—George Hohwieler, Aurora Cooperative
• Blair—David L. Ward, Washington County Bank
• Burwell—Dan Morgan, Morgan Ranch American Wagyu Beef
• Columbus—Matthew R. Gotschall, Central Community College, Columbus Campus; Joseph F. Moore, Nebraska Public Power District
• Fremont—Ronald D. Kranz, First State Bank & Trust Co.
• Grand Island—Gary D. Greer, City of Grand Island; Doug Redman, Subway Restaurants; Jay Vavricek, City of Grand Island
• Holdrege—Robert J. McCormick, Attorney at Law
• Imperial—Russell D. Pankonin, Allo Communications/Johnson Publications
• Lincoln—Brent Bunz, Nebraska Emergency Medicine, P.C.
• Norfolk—Lowell Beckenhauer, Beckenhauer Construction, Inc.
• Omaha—Richard P. Jeffries, Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson & Oldfather; C.L. Landen III, Security National Bank; Nizar Mamdani, Healthcare Services UNMC; Neil Trout, INSPRO, Inc.
• Waverly—Ron Melbye, City of Waverly
• Wayne—Timothy E. Keller, Farmers & Merchants State Bank

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Lori Shaal at 800-426-6505, 402-471-3780, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it