kearney works board of directors and staff
Kearney Works is managed by a nine member board of directors, who oversee the non-profit organizations, its programs, and the executive director.
The board comes from a diverse set of criteria, including one member from a social service agency, one member from the Economic Development Council, one from the Chamber of Commerce, one member from the education sector, one member from a local employer with more than 25 employees and one from an employer with less than 25 employees, and three members from the community at large.
The board comes from a diverse set of criteria, including one member from a social service agency, one member from the Economic Development Council, one from the Chamber of Commerce, one member from the education sector, one member from a local employer with more than 25 employees and one from an employer with less than 25 employees, and three members from the community at large.
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Angela Smith, Executive Director
Angela’s education includes an associates degree and bachelor's degree in Human Services. Angela later went on to pursue her love of learning to obtain a Master’s degree in Public Administration through Bellevue University. She has an extensive background working in the Human and Social Service field. Angela is married to Jason, who is a service technician at Select Sprayers, together they have a daughter; Taylee. Angela participates in the Young Professionals Network and volunteers with Junior Achievement. In her free time she enjoys yoga, repurposing items, and spending time with family, pets and friends. |
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Kathy Gifford, Volunteer Coordinator
Kathy graduated from Kearney State/UNK with a Bachelor of Science in 1973 and a Masters in Adult Vocational Education in 1991. She taught Family and Consumer Sciences in Sutton for 1 year, Wood River for 20 years and FCS and Health Science at Kearney High for 20 years. Kathy has working with career student organizations for all of the 41 years to prepare students for life, college, and careers. Kathy retired from teaching in 2014. She has been actively involved in the community through various organizations such as CASA, Teammates, Buffalo County Community Partners, KPS Foundation Board and Kearney Public School Board. Kathy also does volunteer work through her church and at Kearney High school with FCCLA, FBLA, and HOSA when advisers of those organizations request assistance. She now works part time with Kearney Works and is responsible for developing the mentoring program. |
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Judi Sickler, Kearney Area Community Foundation, Board President
Judi Sickler was named the Kearney Area Community Foundation executive director in January 2001. She is a native of Kansas, but has lived in Kearney since 1989. With a background in management, marketing and communications, she worked for a couple of corporations and an advertising agency before moving into the nonprofit world.
The Kearney Area Community Foundation manages more than $16.5 million in assets and oversees 200+ funds with their mission “to improve the quality of life in the Kearney by promoting the spirit of charitable giving and effectively responding to the community’s needs." Judi has extensive training and experience working with grants, special events, fundraising, planned gifts, endowments and donor relations since joining the Foundation, not to mention the wide variety of life experience through volunteerism. Judi has served on numerous boards in Kearney and currently enjoys volunteering as a TOPSoccer coach and program coordinator for kids with disabilities. Judi has a B.A. from Kansas State University in Journalism and Mass Communications, with an emphasis in Public Relations. She and her husband, Terry, live in Kearney and have two daughters in college and a grown son. |
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Jonathan Nikkila, Kearney City Council, Past President
Jonathan Nikkila is a member of the Kearney City Council. He was elected to his second term in 2016. Facilitating better communication between residents and city government has been a particular passion of his in that role. Professionally, he manages a division of a national non-profit organization that focuses on increasing educational options for low-income Americans.
Jonathan was born-and-raised in Kearney and lives here with his wife, Miriam, and four children. In addition to his work with the Kearney Works board, he serves as an assistant track and cross country coach at Kearney Catholic High School. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys outdoors and nature. He is a certified "Master Naturalist," volunteers with nature conservation projects, and speaks to children about insects. He also enjoys wildlife photography and running. |
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Kelly Christensen, Central Community College, Vice President
Kelly Christensen is the Dean for Central Community College-Kearney and also serves as the administrator of the Training & Development Division. Since 2013, he has been the administrator for the Holdrege and Lexington Centers as part of the Extended Learning Services Division.
His employment with CCC began in 1998 on the Hastings campus as the supervisor of Learning Support Services and in 2000 he became the Associate Dean for Skilled & Technical Sciences. Previously, Kelly was employed as both an educator and sales in the Kearney area. Kelly earned his undergraduate and Masters degree from UNK and a Certificate and Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the UNL. In his free time, Kelly likes to spend time with his wife Michelle, and their two adult children, Caitlin and Chase. |
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Lisa Lieth, Kearney Salvation Army
Lisa Lieth is the Case Manager at the Kearney Salvation Army and has been employed there since 2018. She is responsible for the Food Pantry, Disaster and Christmas planning and has worked closely with other Kearney nonprofits, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the 2019 flood.
Lisa and her family moved to the Kearney area in 1989 from Southern California. Over the years, Lisa has served in the following capacities: Early Childhood Education, Purchasing Agent, Production Planner, Insurance Consultant, Accounting, Customer Production Liaison, Office Manager, and Senior Trainer. She traveled to Shanghai, China to spearhead, initiate and train the production planning team of a sister plant. Lisa serves as the Parent Facilitator for the Right Turn Kearney adoption support group, as well as in a Parent-to-Parent Advocate capacity. Lisa was on the executive board of the Kearney Area Disaster Recovery Group after the 2019 flood. She has previously served as the Chair for the Kearney Chamber of Commerce Diversity Committee and the Eaton Diversity Council, has been a member of Kearney Internationals, and she was on the board for the American Red Cross. She was a co-founder for Fiesta Kearney. Lisa and her husband, Terry, have seven children and fourteen grandchildren, so far. She enjoys spending time with her large flock, cooking, traveling, and crafting. |
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Linette Butler, BD Construction, Inc, Secretary
A northeast Nebraska native, Linette Butler has made central Nebraska her home since her days as a student at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. A few years after graduating with a bachelor’s in business administration, Linette was hired as the accounts payable clerk at BD Construction and today leads the firm as its general manager.
Since 2007, Linette has served on the board of the Associated General Contractors of America—Nebraska Building Chapter where she has held a variety of leadership roles, serving as the chair of the membership committee and, in 2011, as the organization’s first woman president. She is a graduate of Leadership Nebraska Class XI and an Envoy for the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce. Linette also donates her time to Buffalo County Relay for Life, American Heart Association Go Red for Women, and Junior Achievement. In her free time, you can find Linette enjoying the outdoors and being with family. She and her husband, John, have two daughters and five grandchildren. |
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Jeffrey Ensz, Kearney County Deputy Public Defender
Jeffrey Ensz was born and raised in Wayne, Nebraska and graduated from UNK in 2005. He went on to law school where he graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2008. He has been an attorney/partner at Lieske, Lieske, & Ensz in Minden for 12 years and was a Deputy Buffalo County Public Defender from May 2016 to December of 2018. Ensz is currently working, and has since September 2013, as the Kearney County Deputy Public Defender. He is currently serving roles on the Kearney Community Theatre board, performer, and volunteer, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Vestry member, Buffalo County Citizen Advocacy board, and the Chapter Advisor for UNK Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Jeff is married to Brette Ensz, the Assistant Director of the First Year Experience Program at UNK. They have two sons, Elliott, five and Emory, two.
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Shawna Erbsen, City of Kearney
Shawna Erbsen is the Director of Administrative Services for the City of Kearney where she serves as the Human Resources, Risk Management, and I.T. Director as well as the Civil Service Examiner and Secretary. She is a Kearney native with a Comprehensive Criminal Justice degree from Kearney State College.
In addition to the Kearney Works board, Shawna serves on the Kearney High School Small Learning Committee and the Holy Cross Lutheran Church Board of Directors. She is a Leadership Kearney graduate, a UNK Gold Torch member and the past president of the Kearney Area United Way. Shawna and her husband Mike have 3 children and love living in such a vibrant, progressive community. In her free time she enjoys bible study, teaching adults and children, spending time with family and friends, and taking care of any type of animal in need of rescue. |
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Derek Rusher, Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce
Derek Rusher is President/CEO of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also the President of a nonprofit business and he possesses more than 15 years of experience as a teacher and many more as a former collegiate athlete and coach. Derek has worked part time for a consulting company working on employee engagement and leadership development for the last 4 years. He has also occupied a seat on the Leadership Kearney board and is currently on the Junior Achievement Board. He is passionate about supporting the growth and education of others. Derek along with his wife, Meggie, continues to pass this teaching on to their four daughters.
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Darren Robinson, Economic Development Council of Buffalo County
Darren Robinson is a Kearney native that began his technology career as a network technician for the University of Nebraska at Kearney. His technology background includes working for IBM in field service, managing Cabela’s call center technologies, and general manager of Frontier Communications. Darren’s economic development career includes working for Cabela’s securing sites and incentives for Cabela’s retail stores across the country. Darren has secured over $100M in economic development incentives for the private sector. Today, he represents his hometown as the president of the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County. Darren is married to Jennifer and has two children, daughter Madelynn age 16 and son Alexander age 14. In his free time he enjoys hunting and fishing with friends and family.
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I have enjoyed being a mentor for Kearney Works. Being a part of this program has been such a great experience. Helping others through difficult situations, watching them grow, overcoming challenges, and reaching triumph brings great joy to me. I am thankful for this opportunity to help others in similar situations, which I have been through. - C.G.