Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities 2024 - Sidney

Larry has been the Dean of NCTA for almost 4 years. During his tenure he has focused on one mission: student success. Prior to moving to Nebraska, Larry worked for the National FFA Organization for 14 years. He has also served as the state supervisor for agricultural education in both Nebraska and Kansas. He is a lifelong agricultural educator having taught in southeast Kansas for 24 years.

Nancy Daniels is a Community Vitality Specialist for K-State Research and Extension. She works with communities to appreciate their assets and build on their possibilities. In addition to teaching Grant Writing Basics, Daniels conducts the First Friday e-Call to highlight resources to build Kansas’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Brennan Costello currently serves as the Chief Business Relations Officer of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska. A pioneer at heart, Brennan empowers students to envision entrepreneurship beyond academia. Specializing in connecting students with real-life entrepreneurs, he leads classes on idea generation, negotiation, and prototyping, and guides students through the intricate journey of starting and scaling businesses.

Alisha Juelfs of Potter, Nebraska was hired March 2023 by E3, Energizing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, as the Entrepreneurial Navigator for Cheyenne County, Nebraska. The role is the first of its kind in Western Nebraska and is becoming a paradigm for strong economic development across the state. With a background in education, customer service, business, training, and community prosperity, Alisha uses her passion for serving people to help business owners get connected to resources based on their individual needs. She also works with local high schools to support and encourage career development pathways.

After her five-year career as a high school teacher and forty-four years as an Instructor/Administrator in the Business Administration program and Director for the Entrepreneurship (E-Ship) Center at Central Community College she retired. While at the E-Ship Center she developed a middle school in-school Entrepreneurship program and summer Entrepreneurship and STEM Camps. Ms. Lux next adventure was to create a high school EIA nine month program. Currently she is working with UNL Extension on a Community Entrepreneurship grant as an eCoach.

Caleb Pollard is owner/operator at Scratchtown Brewing Company with his three business partners in Ord, Nebraska. Starting in 2012, and opening their doors in 2013, Scratchtown has been dedicated to a dual purpose: brewing world class beer in rural Nebraska and catalyzing positive change through investment and business activity. Caleb calls this 'positive transformation through fermentation'.

Since 2013, Scratchtown has won numerous accolades and awards for their beer quality, put Ord USA on the map, and built a community mainstay that acts as both a hub for fun and fermentation. With his team, they have demonstrated that world class, small business operations can exist in rural America and make a real difference on the economic trajectory of rural communities.

In July 2022, Caleb began part-time contract work with UNL Extension serving as an entrepreneur and business coach in the Nebraska Sandhills. Caleb served this role in Valley, Cherry and Custer counties. In December of 2023, Caleb accepted the role of Valley County Economic Development Executive Director, a role he held from 2008-2013, when he left to open Scratchtown.

Caleb lives in Ord with his wife of 21 years, Christina, and his youngest son Elijah (16). Caleb's oldest son Calen is a sophomore biosystem engineering major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In his free time, Caleb enjoys gardening and tending to his small orchard, small scale fermentation farming, hunting, fishing, kayaking and long walks on the Calamus beach.

Jordan Diedrich is the Executive Director of Twin Cities Development. He started with the organization in January of 2022. He has lived in Nebraska for 12 years, 7 of those years in Western Nebraska. Jordan was previously the Deputy Director of Public Works for the City of Scottsbluff for five years. He has a passion for community engagement and has been involved with NEXT Young Professionals, Riverside Discovery Center, and United Way. He is also a graduate of Leadership Scotts Bluff. Jordan has a 6-year-old daughter, Olivia who is a kindergartener at St. Agnes, and a two-year-old, Charlotte. His wife is a counselor at Gering Public High School. He looks forward to continuing to work with entrepreneurs, local businesses, and the many communities to serve the TCD mission to connect business to possibilities.

After her five-year career as a high school teacher and forty-four years as an Instructor/Administrator in the Business Administration program and Director for the Entrepreneurship (E-Ship) Center at Central Community College she retired. While at the E-Ship Center she developed a middle school in-school Entrepreneurship program and summer Entrepreneurship and STEM Camps. Ms. Lux next adventure was to create a high school EIA nine month program. Currently she is working with UNL Extension on a Community Entrepreneurship grant as an eCoach.

Lisa Tschauner is Associate Professor of Practice and Chair of Entrepreneurship at Doane University and previously served as the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development at UNK. She is a member of the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Task Force and the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers. She is active in the startup community in the Lincoln area.

Odee has 22 years of experience serving small businesses throughout Nebraska. Clients include all phases of business planning and operations, from start-up planning and launch through growth and expansion, and on to exit and succession planning. He is also an experienced business owner and has training in financial forensics. He has worked on projects valued up to $260 million. He is a credentialed business valuation analyst and exit planning advisor. He has completed over 500 valuation engagements and is recognized as an expert in business valuation.

Cory Keen masterfully combines entrepreneurship with tech savvy, steering an innovative AI company aimed at small businesses and a forward-thinking CAD company. Balancing a rich family life with his professional ventures, Cory's journey showcases his intellect, creative spirit, and unwavering commitment to small business innovation.

Sarah Sinnett has her Master's in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and a diverse work background in multiple fields of business. Sarah is an advocate for Sidney and rural prosperity. She is most proud of her work with the Sidney Park Project and Cheyenne County’s E3 chapter which, combined, have privately fundraised over $1 million dollars back to local community in less than three year’s time.

Ashley Fehringer is a proud native of Sidney, Nebraska. After graduating from Sidney High School in 2005, she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln earning a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Accounting. Equipped with a solid foundation in business, Ashley ventured into the corporate world, where she gained invaluable expertise across diverse sectors. Driven by a passion for giving back and effecting positive change, Ashley made a pivotal career transition into the classroom. Drawing upon her extensive background in business, she brings a wealth of practical knowledge and real-world insights to her role as a high school business teacher. Ashley is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of business leaders and empowering her students to make meaningful contributions to their community.  Ashley inspires her students to explore the boundless opportunities within the business world through the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, a competition created to challenge youth, encourage business community members to partner with and mentor the younger generations, and foster a community spirit for entrepreneurship.