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Nebraskans are known for their friendliness.

If we can’t give you a handshake, we’ll settle for the next best thing. Reach out to us directly and we’ll be happy to help.
Not sure who to contact? Use the DED general contact form.
Leadership Team

Anthony L. Goins, Director
anthony.goins@nebraska.gov
402-471-3111
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 – Operations /
Chief Legal Officer

Robin Kilgore
Chief Financial Officer
Administration & Operations
Anthony L. Goins | Director | 402-471-3111 | anthony.goins@nebraska.gov |
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 – Operations / Chief Legal Officer |
402-471-3758 | joseph.lauber@nebraska.gov |
Terry VanEaton | Compliance Team Manager | 402-471-0135 | terry.vaneaton@nebraska.gov |
Communications
Kate Ellingson | Director of Marketing and Public Relations | c: 402-309-3310 | kate.ellingson@nebraska.gov |
Renee Lanik | Graphic Designer | c: 402-310-5124 | renee.lanik@nebraska.gov |
Aaron Mack | Communications Specialist | c: 402-613-1287 | aaron.mack@nebraska.gov |
Financial Office
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
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 |
Business Recruitment
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
Nisha Avey | Business Innovation Manager | c: 402-853-1391 | nisha.avey@nebraska.gov |
Ben Kuspa | Business Innovation Manager | 402-613-8119 | ben.kuspa@nebraska.gov |
Anissa Rasmussen | Business Innovation Consultant | 402-471-7999 | anissa.rasmussen@nebraska.gov |
Brad Kulwicki | Business Development Consultant | c: 402-480-9380 | bradley.kulwicki@nebraska.gov |
Rick Feis | Business Innovation Consultant | c: 402-480-0044 | rick.feis@nebraska.gov |
International Trade & Investment
Cobus Block | Director of International and Business Recruitment | c: 402-480-5806 | cobus.block@nebraska.gov |
Colby Angst | Export Development Consultant | colby.angst@nebraska.gov |
Targeted Industries & Talent
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 |
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Lori Shaal | Business Relations | 402-471-3780 c: 402-890-4624 |
lori.shaal@nebraska.gov |
Field Operations
Dave Honz | Southeast Field Service Rep | 402-471-3763 c: 402-440-0412 |
dave.honz@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 |
Deb Poehling | Northeast Field Service Rep | c: 402-380-7253 | deb.poehling@nebraska.gov |
Ashley Rice-Gerlach | Southwest Field Service Rep | c: 308-655-0919 | ashley.gerlach@nebraska.gov |
Incentives
Jacquelyn Morrison | Incentives Division Administrator | 402-471-3772 | jacquelyn.morrison@nebraska.gov |
Benjamin Goins | Attorney II | 402-471-1833 | benjamin.goins@nebraska.gov |
John Adams | Attorney III | 402-471-8605 | john.h.adams@nebraska.gov |
Thomas Saltzman | Business Incentives Manager | 402-471-6336 | thomas.saltzman@nebraska.gov |
Jessica Anderson | Business Incentives Manager | 402-471-3367 | jessica.anderson@nebraska.gov |
Ane De Anzola | Business Incentives Consultant | 402-471-3769 | ane.deanzola@nebraska.gov |
Ethan Bell | Business Incentives Consultant | 402-471-3788 | ethan.bell@nebraska.gov |
Tanner Hiemer | Business Incentives Consultant | 402-471-3794 | tanner.hiemer@nebraska.gov |
Darin Lubke | Business Incentives Consultant | 402-471-3116 | darin.lubke@nebraska.gov |
Housing
Kylee Bischoff | Application Coordinator | 402-471-2843 c: 402-800-7058 |
kylee.bischoff@nebraska.gov |
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 |
Morgan Pearson | Central Housing Consultant | c: 308-224-8846 | morgan.pearson@nebraska.gov |
Amy Kienzler | Southeast Housing Consultant | 402-580-7131 | amy.kienzler@nebraska.gov |
Christine Rasmussen | Northeast Housing Consultant | c: 402-575-0798 | christine.rasmussen@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 |
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
Steve Charleston | Community Development Division Director | 402-471-3757 | steve.charleston@nebraska.gov |
Gina Doose | Financial Packager | 402-471-3515 | gina.doose@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 Helmick | Community Development Specialist | 402-471-3369 | amber.helmick@nebraska.gov |
Disaster Recovery
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 | c: 531-207-4024 | aaron.boucher@nebraska.gov |
Susan Nickerson | Disaster Recovery Coordinator | c: 308-850-0595 | susan.nickerson@nebraska.gov |
Christina Zink | Housing Program Manager | 402-326-4091 | christina.zink@nebraska.gov |
Research
Jennifer Zarek | Chief Data Officer | 402-471-3441 | jennifer.zarek@nebraska.gov |
David Dearmont | Director of Research | 402-471-3777 | dave.dearmont@nebraska.gov |
Emily Wiseman | Economist | c: 308-882-0157 | emily.hasenauer@nebraska.gov |
Derek Jones | Economist | 402-471-3060 | derek.jones@nebraska.gov |
Chris Pham | Business Systems Analyst | 402-471-2840 | christopher.pham@nebraska.gov |
Inderpreet Kaur | Business Systems Analyst | 402-471-3749 | inderpreet.kaur@nebraska.gov |
Whitney Schumacher | Database Administrator | 402-314-0333 | whitney.schumacher@nebraska.gov |
Jamdan Clang | Website Manager | 402-471-6395 | jamdan.clang@nebraska.gov |