NBDC News |
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PTAC Welcomes New Graduate Assistant
New Center Director in Lincoln
Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) Procurement Technical Assistance Center Relocation
The Lincoln NBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) will be relocating within the Southeast Community Center (SCC) building to the second floor next to the SCC Entrepreneurship Center effective 1 Dec 2012. Jason Bousquet, the Lincoln PTAC counselor, will continue to support Lancaster county business register, compete and win government contracts from his new office, Suite 210, at 285 South 68th Street Place, Lincoln, NE 68510. The new locations offers easier access to clients and a greater array conference and training rooms. Jason says being at the SCC is one of the best locations in Lincoln to serve small business, since its home to the SCC Entrepreneurship Center, Service Corps Of Retired Executives, Community Development Resources, and Grow Nebraska. Jason is looking forward to showing off his new ‘digs’ and helping clients get competitive in the government sector. He can be reached at 402-472-1177 or via email at jbousquet@unomaha.edu. Columbus Business Receives 2012 Small Business Person of the Year
 From left: Patricia and Duane Ohlrich, Loren Kucera Duane and Patricia Ohlrich, owners of Industrial Systems and Supply Inc were the 2012 recipients of the Nebraska Small Business Person of the Year Award. The company is based in Columbus, Nebraska The Ohlrichs purchased the company in 1991. In 2009 the company relocated into a 14,200 square foot facility.Loren Kucera, Director of the NBDC office in Wayne, nominated the Ohlrichs for the award. Loren packaged the SBA 504 loan for the new facility and continues an ongoing relationship with the company. Loren encouraged the Ohlrichs to enroll in the 2012 Gallup EAS program and is their guide in that program. Omaha Business Receives Champion of Small Business Award
 From left: Cliff Mosteller, Kelly Newell, State Senator Harr, Bob Bernier Kelly Newell received NBDC's Small Business Champion of the Year award in a ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol on March 15. Newell is owner of Scout Dry Goods & Trade, a successful clothing store in Omaha's Dundee neighborhood. The store deals in slightly used shoes, clothing and accessories. A long-time client, Newell is planning to rely upon the experts at NBDC to open a second store in the near future. |
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Omaha center welcomes new graduate consultant
 Lakelyn Hogan, a master of business administration student from Omaha, NE joined NDBC as a new consultant in January. Lakelyn graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a B.S. in Marketing, a minor in Communication Studies and an emphasis in Advertising. In addition to her MBA, Lakelyn is also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Social Gerontology and worked for the Gerontology Department during the fall 2011 semester. She is actively involved in the MBA Association and the Gerontology Honors society Sigma Phi Omega. After finishing her master’s degree, Lakelyn plans on working for a business that serves the elderly. |
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Omaha center welcomes new graduate consultant
 Elizabeth Rouse, a Master of Business Administration candidate at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has worked as a graduate assistant at the Nebraska Business Development Center since January 2011 focusing on market research. She joined the Business Consulting team in January 2012. Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Art degree in Fine Art from Creighton University in 2007. She worked in Human Resources at MSI Systems Integrators, a technology solutions company, and in management at the clothing retailer J.Crew before returning to school. Elizabeth plans to pursue a career in Marketing and Sales. |
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PTAC welcomes new graduate assistant
 Kelly Grant is an Industrial Organizational (I/O) Psychology Masters student from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She joined NBDC as a new PTAC graduate assistant in January. Kelly graduated in December 2010 from University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in General Business Concepts. Kelly will be pursuing an MBA in addition to her Masters in I/O Psychology. She is interested in a career in consulting, either for a consulting firm or private organization, or human resources for a private organization. |
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P2 Calendar gets a new look and more environmental dates
 The annual P2 calendar was completely remodeled for 2012. The calendar featuring the photographs of Scott Butner and Tim Fitzgerald, invites the viewer to locate the Fight Waste logo in each month, in sort of Where's Waldo? fashion. Now even more anniversary dates relevant to environmental issues are included as well as ideas for reducing waste and increasing resource efficiency. Also new this year are web pages connected to each month's topics providing interactive discussion opportunities and additional resources. download high resolution PDF or purchase. |
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NBDC wins competitve award for biofuel development
 NBDC received an award from the U.S. Small Business Administration to coordinate efforts of business development centers in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri to commercialize biofuel technologies. The $200,000 awarded for the project will be managed by Jean Waters, manager of NBDC's energy efficiency program. NBDC was the only small business development center funded for a regional project. |
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Sustainability Expert Speaks at UNO
 Bob Willard, a leading expert on demonstrating and selling the business value of corporate sustainability strategies, has given hundreds of keynote presentations to corporate, government, university, and NGO audiences. He is author of The Sustainability Advantage (2002), The Next Sustainability Wave (2005), and The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook (2009).Willard presented to audiences in several events from Oct 12 through 14 in Lincoln and Omaha. In addition to leading workshops and lectures, he participated in a Mayor's open forum and was the keynote speaker for the Wastecap Sustainability Champions event in Lincoln. His persuasive and researched presentation of the business case for sustainability was well received by audiences of university students, community environmental activists and business leaders. Willard's appearance was sponsored by WasteCap Nebraska, Cleaner Greener Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration, University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and local businesses. Download Willard presentation slides (ppt) large file |
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NBDC Opens Business Consulting Center in Grand Island
 Sara McMillan is the Business Consultant for the new Grand Island center. Her office is located downtown, in the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. McMillan will provide assistance to individuals considering opening their own business, companies thinking of expansion, or those seeking bank or SBA funding. Services include development of business plans, financial projections, financial analysis of an existing business, loan packaging, SBA loan applications, premium market research, strategic planning, business valuation reports, and business exit planning.
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First Veterans in Business Forum Award  On April 1, 2011, Karen Hoefler of the Principal Financial Group received the first-ever Veterans in Business Forum (VIBF) award at Mammel Hall, UNO College of Business, for her volunteer work with the forum. For two years Hoefler has scheduled guest speakers for the monthly forums and introduced them at each event. Hoefler consistently met the challenge of finding quality speakers that would interest the audience of veteran business owners. The award, an art piece made at the Jim Prouty Studio in South Omaha, was presented by Andy Alexander, NBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Program Manager.
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New Bilingual Consultant Joins NBDC
 Luis Munoz, a master of economics student from Bogota, Colombia joined NBDC as a new bilingual consultant in January. Munoz graduated from from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana ( Bogota-Colombia). He gained experience in finance working for Columbian companies including Newspaper El Tiempo, GNB-Sudameris Bank, Heinhson Software House and Alpina S.A (a multinational company). He has participated in projects as such Share Service Center, Business Continuity Planning and quality certification processes. After finishing his master’s degree, Munoz would like to work for the government or start his own business.
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New Bilingual Consultant Joins NBDC
 Cesar Galindo, an MBA student from Bogota, Colombia. joins NBDC as a new bilingual consultant in January. Galindo graduated in June 2009 from Bellevue University with a Bachelor of Science in Networking.
He holds a networking certification and is a Cisco systems professional. Galindo is pursuing a master's degree in information science in addition to an MBA. He worked in accounting and general services for the Archdiocese of Colombia for three years and recently worked as a Latin America IT representative for a computing company. Galindo is interested in a career in the informatics field.
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