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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
402-471-3746
Anthony L. 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 economic opportunities for all Nebraskans.
Tony has a background in operations, where he specialized in global financial services and earned 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, where he led operations in Asia and North America. Tony has held senior-level positions at USAA, Ford Motor Credit Company, Key Bank, QVC and American Express.
Tony is a small business owner, as co-founder of Capital Cigar Lounge in southwest Lincoln. He is deeply involved in the community and serves on numerous boards including the Lincoln and Omaha Chambers; Bryan Health; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. He is Advisor to the Board for I3 Bank; Board Director and Risk Committee Chair for Nelnet Bank; and Board Director for Inceptia, a division of the National Student Loan Program. He is also a faculty member of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
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 four children: a son (Anthony II, assistant basketbal coach at Boston College, married to Dr. Stephanie Goins) and three daughters: Toni (married to son-in-law Anthony Brockman, both in financial services), Briana and Jayla. He has six grandchildren: Jaylin, Jada, Jiya, Journey, Reese and Anthony III.

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 | 402-471-3746 | 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 |
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 |
Justin Pinkerman | Executive Writer | justin.pinkerman@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 |
Nikki Bentzinger | Federal Aid Administrator | 402-471-8613 | nikki.bentzinger@nebraska.gov |
Rick Dey | Federal Aid Administrator | richard.dey@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 |
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 |
Benjamin Coleman |
Economic Development Consultant | 402-471-4668 | benjamin.coleman@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 |
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 | 531-510-6407 | colby.angst@nebraska.gov |
Targeted Industries & Talent
Rose Baker | Talent Team Manager | 402-471-1559 | rose.baker@nebraska.gov |
Sterling Williams | Talent Development Grant Specialist | 402-471-3113 | sterling.williams@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 | 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 |
Compliance
Jennifer Nguyen | Compliance Consultant II | Jennifer.nguyen@nebraska.gov | |
Gregory Nohr | Compliance Consultant II | Gregory.nohr@nebraska.gov | |
Sabrina Roland | Compliance Consultant II | Sabrina.roland@nebraska.gov | |
Audrey Sautter | Attorney III | 402-471-4667 | Audrey.sautter@nebraska.gov |
Jenise Trautman | Compliance Consultant II | Jenise.trautman@nebraska.gov | |
Aaron Vo | External Auditor | 402-471-6710 | Aaron.vo@nebraska.gov |
Economic Recovery
Trevon Brooks | Chief Strategy Officer | 402-312-2004 | Trevon.Brooks@nebraska.gov |
Elizabeth Blanco Rodriguez |
Economic Development Manager | 402-983-0911 | Elizabeth.Blanco@nebraska.gov |
Deisy Coyle |
Economic Recovery Program Manager | 531-500-9577 | Deisy.Coyle@nebraska.gov |
Shereece Dendy-Sanders | Lead Economic Recovery Attorney | 402-890-8028 | Shereece.Dendy-Sanders@nebraska.gov |
Ashley Drake |
Shovel-Ready Grant Program Manager | 531-600-7042 | Ashley.Drake@nebraska.gov |
Lydia Lassen | Economic Recovery Program Manager | 531-893-1836 | Lydia.Lassen@nebraska.gov |
Javier Saldaña | Economic Recovery Division Administrator | 531-283-1589 | Javier.Saldana@nebraska.gov |
Daren Waters | North Omaha Business Manager | 402-480-9004 | Daren.Waters@nebraska.gov |
Ryan ZimmerMas | Lead Economic Recovery Program Manager | 531-207-5020 | Ryan.Zimmermas@nebraska.gov |
Incentives
Benjamin Goins | Attorney II | 402-471-1833 | benjamin.goins@nebraska.gov |
John Adams | Attorney III | 402-471-8605 | john.h.adams@nebraska.gov |
Joseph P. Thompson |
Attorney III | 531-600-7043 | Joseph.Thompson@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 Manager | 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 |
Jeffrey Weiss |
Business Incentives Consultant | 531-600-7041 | Jeffrey.Weiss@nebraska.gov |
Housing
Lynn Kohout | Director of Housing | 402-440-2599 | lynn.kohout@nebraska.gov |
Kylee Bischoff | Application Coordinator | 402-471-2843 c: 402-800-7058 |
kylee.bischoff@nebraska.gov |
Teri Doss | Metro Area Housing Program Representative | c: 531-810-1450 | teri.doss@nebraska.gov |
Nick Dropinski | Housing Specialist | 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 |
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 |
Community Development
Steve Charleston | Community Development Division Director | 402-471-3757 | steve.charleston@nebraska.gov |
Nicole Bartels | Economic Development Manager | 402-471-3765 | nicole.bartels@nebraska.gov |
Gina Doose | Financial Packager | 402-310-9772 | gina.doose@nebraska.gov |
Laura Hart | Program Development Consultant | 308-202-0177 | laura.hart@nebraska.gov |
Amber Helmick | Community Development Specialist | 402-471-3369 | amber.helmick@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 |
Tom Stephens | Financial Packager | 402-471-6587 | tom.stephens@nebraska.gov |
Disaster Recovery
Jenny B. Mason | Director of Disaster Recovery | 402-471-6280 | jenny.mason@nebraska.gov |
Aaron Boucher | Community Development Specialist | 531-207-4024 | aaron.boucher@nebraska.gov |
Susan Nickerson | Disaster Recovery Coordinator | 308-850-0595 | susan.nickerson@nebraska.gov |
Christina Zink | Housing Program Manager | 402-326-4091 | christina.zink@nebraska.gov |
Tia Loftin | Infrastructure Program Manager | 531-810-1929 | tia.loftin@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 |
Otilia Titus | Business Systems Analyst | Otilia.Titus@nebraska.gov | |
Whitney Schumacher | Database Administrator | 402-314-0333 | whitney.schumacher@nebraska.gov |
Jamdan Clang | Website Manager | 402-471-6395 | jamdan.clang@nebraska.gov |