The Nebraska Diplomats Banquet took place on the evening of July 11. At least 250 people attended the celebration at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln.
Governor Pete Ricketts presented the following annual award during the event:
The Ambassador Plenipotentiary Award – Jack Schreiner – Bruckman Rubber Co., Hastings
Mr. Schreiner has worked for Bruckman Rubber Co. for 40 years. He has also spent the last 40 years promoting his community and the state, and understands the importance of growing the economy. Jack has served in a variety of roles, and is currently the company CEO, while serving on the Board of Directors for several other organizations. Bruckman Rubber Co. has been in business since 1961. The company specializes in custom rubber molding, including rubber to metal bonding.
In 2017-2018, the Nebraska Diplomats held five regional events, presenting awards at each event:
Northeast Regional Event (Norfolk) – June 1, 2017
- Business of the Year – Cargill (Columbus)
- Community of the Year – Wayne
- Diplomat of the Year – John F. Lohr (Columbus)
Kearney Regional Event – July 27, 2017
- Businesses of the Year – Chief Industries, Inc. (Grand Island)
Mac’s Creek Vineyards & Winery (Lexington)
- Community of the Year – Broken Bow
- Diplomat of the Year – Mayor Stan Clouse (Kearney)
Scottsbluff Regional Event – October 5, 2017
- Recognized Area Diplomats – Dan Koch & Joel Weins
Power-in-the Partnership – Scottsbluff Public Schools and Aulick Industries (Scottsbluff)
Southeast Regional Event (Seward) – November 2, 2017
- Innovator of the Year – Rare Earth Salts (Beatrice)
- Business of the Year – Ariens Company (Auburn)
- Community of the Year – Beatrice
- Diplomat of the Year – Richard Baier (Nebraska Bankers, Lincoln)
Omaha Regional Event – February 13, 2018
- Business of the Year – Evonik (Blair)
- Community of the Year – Fremont
- Diplomat of the Year – Mike Moylan (Shamrock Development, Omaha)
- Power-in-the-Partnership – OPPD
The 2018 Banquet also marked the induction of the following new Diplomats:
Zach Adams – Adams Industries, Sidney
Rob Bila – First National Bank, North Platte
Patrick Boyle – Metropolitan Community College, Omaha
Rick Chochon – Great Plains State Bank, Columbus
Courtney Dentlinger – NPPD, Norfolk
Debra Ecklund – CFO Systems, LLC, Atkinson
Kent Grisham – Nebraska Trucking Association, Lincoln
Clinton Hamling – Behlen Mfg., Columbus
Justin Hart – ASI Signage Innovations, Omaha
Pat Haverty – Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, Lincoln
Thomas Higginbotham – Northeast NE Economic Development District, Norfolk
Erik Hoegemeyer – Western Integrated Seed, Fremont
Jonathan Jank – Seward Co. Chamber & Development Partnership, Seward
Ellen Kietzmann – Blue Ox-Automatic Equipment Mfg., Pender
Alexander Kumm – Charter Title and Escrow, Omaha
Catherine Lang – Nebraska Business Development Center, Omaha
Starr Lehl – City of Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff
Jamie Linn – Husker IMG Sports Marketing, Lincoln
John Phillips – Fox Theatre, Sidney
Sandra Reding – AKSARBEN Foundation, Omaha
Darren Robinson – KAPPA, Kearney
Michael Salerno – First National Bank, Omaha
Ryan Scholz – Firesping, Lincoln
Jennifer Serkiz – Cass Co. Nebraska Economic Dev. Council, Omaha
Rakesh Srivastava – Innovative Prosthetics Orthotics, Hastings
Jason Tuller – City of Imperial, Imperial
Travis Turek – Bruckman Rubber Co., Hastings
Brad vonGillern – Lueder Construction Company, Omaha
Kenneth West – DLR Group, Omaha
Mary Wilson – Keith Co. Area Development, Ogallala
With a membership of more than 280 business executives and community leaders, the Nebraska Diplomats, Inc. is the largest economic development organization in Nebraska. For more information, visit www.nediplomats.org