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Department of Economic Development Address
301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor
PO Box 94666
Lincoln, NE 68509
Leadership Team
Anthony L. Goins, Director
Anthony Goins was appointed Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development by Governor Pete Ricketts in August 2019. With his extensive experience building and managing successful teams and organizations at the highest levels of industry, Tony is spearheading the Department’s pursuit of new and expanded economic opportunities on behalf of all Nebraskans.
Tony has a background in operations, where he specialized in global financial services and achieved a reputation as a strategic, results-driven executive. He formerly served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Cabela’s World’s Foremost Bank. Before moving to Lincoln, he was a Senior Vice President and Support Executive at JPMorgan Chase. Tony has held senior-level positions at USAA, Ford Motor Credit Company, Key Bank, QVC, and American Express.
Tony is a small business owner, being co-founder of Capital Cigar Lounge in southwest Lincoln. He is deeply involved in the community, and serves on numerous boards including the Lincoln Community Foundation, Bryan Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, the Omaha Opera, and as Advisor to the Board for Bank of Bennington, among others.
Tony majored in business management at North Carolina A&T State University, and served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. He is married to Kimberly and they have three daughters, Toni (married to son-in-law Anthony Brockman, both in financial services), Briana, Jayla, and a son, Anthony II (assistant basketball coach at Clemson University, married to daughter-in-law Dr. Stephanie Goins). He has five grandkids: Jaylin, Jada, Jiya, Journey, and Reese.
Dan Curran
Deputy Director of Programs
Joseph Lauber
Deputy Director / Chief Legal Officer
Robin Kilgore
Chief Financial Officer
Nichole Reiner
Chief Strategy Officer
Administration & Operations |
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| Bruce M. Carden | Staff Attorney | 402-450-0406 | bruce.carden@nebraska.gov |
| Lori Cole | Administrative Assistant to the Director |
402-471-3746 | lori.a.cole@nebraska.gov |
| Joseph Lauber | Deputy Director / Chief Legal Officer | 402-471-3758 | joseph.lauber@nebraska.gov |
| Internal Auditor | |||
| Nichole Reiner | Chief Strategy Officer | 402-471-3756 c: 402-840-0831 |
nichole.reiner@nebraska.gov |
Financial Office |
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| Holly Hartman | Budget Officer | 402-471-3117 | holly.hartman@nebraska.gov |
| Robin Kilgore | Chief Financial Officer | 402-471-3762 | robin.kilgore@nebraska.gov |
| Joyce Klooster | Staff Assistant | 402-471-3987 | joyce.klooster@nebraska.gov |
| Terry McAuliffe | Federal Aid Administrator | 402-471-3680 | terry.mcauliffe@nebraska.gov |
| Katie Mihulka | Federal Aid Administrator | c: 402-326-0093 | katie.mihulka@nebraska.gov |
Business Development |
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| Dan Curran | Deputy Director of Programs | 402-471-6513 c: 402-450-0088 |
dan.curran@nebraska.gov |
| Joe Fox | Director of Business Development | 402-471-8604 | joe.fox@nebraska.gov |
| Trevon Brooks | North Omaha Business Development Manager | 402-312-2004 | trevon.brooks@nebraska.gov |
Communications |
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| Kate Ellingson | Director of Marketing and Public Relations | 402-471-3749 c: 402-309-3310 |
kate.ellingson@nebraska.gov |
| Renee Lanik | Graphic & Web Designer | c: 402-310-5124 | renee.lanik@nebraska.gov |
| Aaron Mack | Communications Specialist | c: 402-805-3300 | aaron.mack@nebraska.gov |
Business Recruitment |
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| Cobus Block | Director of International and Business Recruitment | c: 402-480-5806 | cobus.block@nebraska.gov |
| Kris Benson | Economic Development Consultant | 402-471-3766 | kristine.benson@nebraska.gov |
| Makayla Leiting | Economic Development Consultant | c: 531-510-1251 | makayla.leiting@nebraska.gov |
| Lorena Reichert | Business Project Manager | c: 402-314-6468 | lorena.reichert@nebraska.gov |
| Lauren Scholfield | Economic Development Consultant | 402-318-2381 | lauren.scholfield@nebraska.gov |
| Daren Waters | Economic Development Consultant | c: 402-480-9004 | daren.waters@nebraska.gov |
Business Innovation |
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| Nisha Avey | Business Innovation Manager | c: 402-853-1391 | nisha.avey@nebraska.gov |
| Ben Kuspa | Business Innovation Manager | 402-471-3794 | ben.kuspa@nebraska.gov |
| Anissa Rasmussen | Business Innovation Consultant | 402-471-7999 | anissa.rasmussen@nebraska.gov |
| Brad Kulwicki | Business Development Consultant | bradley.kulwicki@nebraska.gov | |
Targeted Industries & Talent |
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| Rose Baker | Talent Team Manager | 402-471-1559 | rose.baker@nebraska.gov |
| Gentri Shopp | Talent Development Marketing Coordinator | 402-471-4296 | gentri.shopp@nebraska.gov |
Incentives |
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| Jacquelyn Morrison | Incentives Division Administrator | 402-471-3772 | jacquelyn.morrison@nebraska.gov |
| Ane De Anzola | Business Consultant | ane.deanzola@nebraska.gov | |
| Benjamin Goins | Attorney II | 402-471-1833 | benjamin.goins@nebraska.gov |
| Derek Jones | Economist/Business Incentives Consultant | 402-471-3060 | derek.jones@nebraska.gov |
| Laura Linden | Business Manager | 402-471-1466 | laura.linden@nebraska.gov |
| Darin Lubke | Business Incentives Consultant | 402-471-3116 | darin.lubke@nebraska.gov |
| Thomas Saltzman | Business Incentives Consultant | 402-471-6336 | thomas.saltzman@nebraska.gov |
| Terry VanEaton | Attorney III | 402-471-6284 | terry.vaneaton@nebraska.gov |
International Trade & Investment |
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| Cobus Block | Director of International and Business Recruitment | c: 402-480-5806 | cobus.block@nebraska.gov |
| Susan Rouch | Export Development Manager | 402-471-4668 | susan.rouch@nebraska.gov |
Manufacturing Extension Partnership |
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| Lori Shaal | Business Relations | 402-471-3780 c: 402-890-4624 |
lori.shaal@nebraska.gov |
Business Development Field Staff |
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| Deb Eggleston | Northeast Field Service Rep | c: 402-380-7253 | deb.eggleston@nebraska.gov |
| Kelly Gewecke | Central Field Service Rep | c: 308-627-3151 | kelly.gewecke@nebraska.gov |
| Brittany Hardin | West Central Field Service / Governor’s Office Rep | c: 308-660-9111 | brittany.hardin@nebraska.gov |
| Sheryl Hiatt | Director of Field Operations | c: 402-340-6180 | sheryl.hiatt@nebraska.gov |
| Dave Honz | Southeast Field Service Rep | 402-471-3763 c: 402-440-0412 |
dave.honz@nebraska.gov |
| Ashley Rice-Gerlach | Southwest Field Service Rep | c: 308-655-0919 | ashley.gerlach@nebraska.gov |
Housing |
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| Kylee Bischoff | Application Coordinator | 402-471-2843 c: 402-800-7058 |
kylee.bischoff@nebraska.gov |
| Northeast Housing Consultant | |||
| Nick Dropinski | Housing Specialist | 402-471-2095 c: 402-580-0713 |
nick.dropinski@nebraska.gov |
| Mechele Grimes | Housing Specialist | 402-309-4536 | mechele.grimes@nebraska.gov |
| Central Housing Consultant | |||
| Amy Kienzler | Southeast Housing Consultant | 402-580-7131 | amy.kienzler@nebraska.gov |
| Lynn Kohout | Director of Housing | 402-440-2599 | lynn.kohout@nebraska.gov |
| Kristi McClung | Western Housing Consultant | 308-889-3420 c: 308-289-3935 |
kristi.mcclung@nebraska.gov |
| Benjamin Mellema | Compliance Coordinator | 402-471-4168 c: 402-405-6116 |
benjamin.mellema@nebraska.gov |
| Olivia Otte | Compliance Coordinator | 402-471-3742 | olivia.otte@nebraska.gov |
| Barb Pierce | Housing Specialist | c: 402-936-4587 | barb.pierce@nebraska.gov |
| Ryan ZimmerMas | Metro Area Housing Program Representative | 531-207-5020 | ryan.zimmermas@nebraska.gov |
Community Development |
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| Steve Charleston | Community Development Division Director | 402-471-3757 | steve.charleston@nebraska.gov |
| Laura Hart | Program Development Consultant | 308-202-0177 | laura.hart@nebraska.gov |
| Andrew Moffitt II |
Economic Development Consultant | 402-471-3760 | andrew.moffitt@nebraska.gov |
| Rebecca Schademann | Consolidated Plan Coordinator | 402-471-3172 | rebecca.schademann@nebraska.gov |
| Jason Seamann | IT Analyst Senior | 402-471-3761 c: 402-440-0445 |
jason.seamann@nebraska.gov |
| Tom Stephens | Financial Packager | 402-471-6587 | tom.stephens@nebraska.gov |
| Amber Ward | Community Development Specialist | 402-471-3369 | amber.ward@nebraska.gov |
Disaster Recovery |
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| Jenny B. Mason | Director of Disaster Recovery | 402-471-6280 | jenny.mason@nebraska.gov |
| Mackenzie Waldron | Disaster Recovery Manager | 402-547-1864 | mackenzie.waldron@nebraska.gov |
| Aaron Boucher | Community Development Specialist | 402-471-8605 c: 531-207-4024 |
aaron.boucher@nebraska.gov |
| Susan Nickerson | Disaster Recovery Coordinator | c: 308-850-0595 | susan.nickerson@nebraska.gov |
| Aaron Rozanski | Infrastructure Program Manager | 402-417-8502 | aaron.rozanski@nebraska.gov |
| Christina Zink | Housing Program Manager | 402-326-4091 | christina.zink@nebraska.gov |
Research |
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| David Dearmont | Director of Research | 402-471-3777 | dave.dearmont@nebraska.gov |
| Jennifer Zarek | Chief Data Officer | 402-471-3441 | jennifer.zarek@nebraska.gov |
| Emily Hasenauer | Research Analyst | c: 308-882-0157 | emily.hasenauer@nebraska.gov |
| Michael Lundeen | Research Analyst | 402-471-3788 | michael.lundeen@nebraska.gov |
| Chris Pham | Business Systems Analyst | 402-471-2840 | christopher.pham@nebraska.gov |
| Whitney Schumacher | Database Administrator | 402-314-0333 | whitney.schumacher@nebraska.gov |
| Jamdan Clang | Website Manager | 402-471-6395 | jamdan.clang@nebraska.gov |
Nebraska Film Office |
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| Laurie Richards | Nebraska Film Officer | 402-202-1905 | laurienebraska@gmail.com |