LINCOLN, NEB. (September 12, 2008)—The Nebraska Diplomats Passport Weekend picked up where the state’s first Reverse Trade Mission (September 10-11) left off, treating its guests to the many advantages that make Nebraska a great place to work, play and live.

The Diplomats hosted 500 government, industry and economic development leaders from ten countries, four states and throughout Nebraska. Governor Heineman welcomed special guests from Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and New Jersey, as well as from Brazil, Canada, China, Columbia, Hong Kong, Japan, Nicaragua, Spain, South Africa and South Korea.  

The Governor also presented the following Diplomats’ annual awards during the banquet:

Diplomat of the Year Award went to Joe Ferguson, Director of Business & Industry/Economic Development at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb. Ferguson participates in business and industry expansion and retention visits with development professionals throughout the region, and recruitment visits with area chambers of commerce and development organizations in Norfolk, Wayne, West Point, South Sioux City, O’Neill, Neligh and the four-county Elkhorn Valley Economic Development Partnership. For the past six years, Ferguson has been a Nebraska Diplomat and currently serves as the organization’s membership and recruitment chair.

Community of the Year Awards went to Albion and Grand Island.

Albion, located in the middle of Boone County in northeast Nebraska, has experienced business growth, including the addition of VeraSun Albion, LLC, a 100-million-gallon per year ethanol plant, home construction, community revitalization projects and a vibrant business district. Albion Manor, an 8-plex for low-income senior citizens was built in 2002. Samaritan Estates, completed in 2004, provides 20 assisted living units. Boone County Health Center, the largest employer in the county, employs 216 workers and is undergoing a three-phase expansion that will add a new clinic and rehab department.

Grand Island, the fourth largest city in Nebraska, has taken on a number of projects including development of the 440 acre Heartland Public Shooting Park, construction of the new $25 million 7,500 sq. ft. Heartland Events Center, expansion of the Case IH plant, a $67.3 million expansion of St. Francis Medical Center into a true regional health complex, and extensive retail growth along Highway 281 corridor. These and many more projects have resulted in creation of more than 4,346 net jobs since 2002—1,000 of these jobs within the past 12 months alone. Successful passage of a half percent sales tax in 2003 also has allowed the city to proceed with many overdue improvements to public facilities, including a new $3 million fire station, a $7 million expansion to the current library, and a much anticipated Police/Sheriff Law Enforcement Center at a cost of more than $8 million.

Industry of the Year Awards went to Beef Products, Inc., (BPI), South Sioux City, and Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Snyder.

BPI believes in the power of the number “four.” The globally-recognized lean beef operation has initiated a four-year expansion of its flagship facility in South Sioux City that involves a $400 million investment and will lead to the eventual creation of 300 jobs by 2010.

The company also is conducting an independent four-phase expansion of its patented internal processes and technologies, with the goal of developing new products and pursuing new markets. BPI’s products can be found throughout the U.S., and in Canada and Mexico. Future targeted markets include Central America, Europe and Pacific Rim countries. 

Who knew a leaking fire truck tank in 1963 in Snyder, Nebraska would lead to the creation of Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. that today employs 325 people, produces 225 fire trucks per year and operates a second facility in Neligh, Nebraska?

Company founder Donald Smeal was the “go to guy” that Snyder village officials counted on when machinery needed fixing. After all, Smeal had owned his own repair shop since 1955. So when the village’s only fire truck sprang a leak in its tank, the Snyder Rural Fire Board asked Smeal (also a volunteer firefighter) to fix it. When he realized it was beyond repair, he made the Board an offer they couldn’t refuse. If they would purchase new chassis, he would design and build a new fire truck with a portable and PTO water pump, a 1,200 gallon water tank and a body with an enclosed crew cab and 42’ hydraulic aerial ladder. This was the first truck of its kind to include all features on one truck.

Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. is known today throughout the U.S. and Canada as a premier manufacturer of aerial ladders, platform aerials and pumpers. Employee pride is evident not only in each truck, but in the fact that 30 employees also volunteer for their respective fire departments throughout the region.

Power-In-The-Partnership Award went to the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership (GO!).

An offshoot of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, this organization has served the economic development needs of Omaha for many years, helping grow and develop business and industry. Launched in 2004, GO! Adopted a more regional approach to economic development by partnering with Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation and Washington County’s Gateway Development Corporation, allowing it to operate beyond city limits and county lines. Also working with partners including OPPD, Black Hills Energy, Union Pacific, MUD, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and local governments, GO! Expanded its pool of resources and talent to provide one-call solutions for new and existing metro area businesses. Most recently, Cass County has committed to join the partnership. During GO!’s four-year program (2004-2007) the economic development team closed on 154 projects totaling 10,705 jobs and $2.1 billion in investment with 52 percent of these projects being companies new to the metro area and 48 percent being local expansions. In total the Greater Omaha area experienced a net gain of 20,600 jobs during the past four years. For every dollar invested in GO! There was an annual impact of $537 in direct capital investment and $134 in direct wages.

The 2008 Banquet also marked the induction of the following new Diplomats:

Aurora—Brian Baxter, Hamilton Telecommunications
Columbus—Robert Blackburn, Columbus Telegram
Fremont—Bart Qualsett, Fremont National Bank & Trust
Grand Island—Roger Bullington, Chief Buildings; Jay Vavricek, G.I. Family Radio
Greenwood Village, Colo.—Joe Samuel, First Data
Kearney—Stanley Clouse, Nebraska Public Power District
Madison—Otto Knapp, Otto Knapp Transportation, Inc.
Norfolk—Mark Hall, eSelling4u.com, Inc.; Tom Schommer, Telebeep Wireless
Omaha—John McClelland, Mutual of Omaha; Kandace Miller, AIM Institute; Scott Newman, Axa Advisors, LLC; Paul Warfield, First National Bank of Omaha; Daniel Wintz, Fraser Stryker PC LLC
Seward—Jill Wild, Wild Chiropractic & Acupuncture
South Sioux City—Douglas Garwood, Siouxland Ethanol, LLC
Tecumseh—Steve Darling, Tecumseh Federal Bank
Wahoo—Rob Brigham, JEO Consulting Group, Inc.
Wayne—Tammy Young, Wayne State College
West Point—Dave Wimmer, Wimmer’s Meat Products
Wisner—Steven Ausdemore, Citizens National Bank

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Patty Wood at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1559, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it