Marian Beethe, Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture, Lincoln, NE

Missy Black, idea.logic.marketing

Kathy Bourque, The UPS Store, North Platte, NE

Being a small business owner, I appreciate any ideas from others in situations like me. I believe if we all share what works for us, it makes our whole community stronger.

Bob Broweleit, Coordinator, Sandhills Resources Conservation and Development (RC&D), Mullen, NE

The MarketPlace is an opportunity to expand businesses and develop new business ideas while expanding networks to make Nebraska businesses more successful.

Leslie Carlholm, City of Imperial, Imperial, NE

Gregg Christensen Entrepreneurship and Career Education Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education, Lincoln, NE

MarketPlace in Nebraska is an incredible opportunity not only to celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week, but as a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs to network, learn from the "pros" and expand their arsenal of knowledge.

Jim Crandall, Associate Director of the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Holdrege, NE

Rural Nebraska can be a place where a business can flourish and grow. New business creation is vital to keep our rural communities vibrant and sustainable. MarketPlace is a tool, to help make that happen.

Dennis Demmel, Organic Farmer, Demmel Farm, Ogallala, NE

This is an opportunity to bring a host of progressive thinkers together to bring about change in rural areas for the betterment of society. Family farms and small towns have much to offer in terms of sustainable food, farming and social values. The MarketPlace provides an opportunity for sharing what works to bring about our dreams for the future.

Deborah Drbal, USDA Rural Development, Lincoln, NE

I have attended the 2007 and 2008 MarketPlace and believe this event to be an excellent opportunity for Nebraskans. While there is a limited amount of information that can be shared in one day, the MarketPlace and the individuals responsible for making the MarketPlace possible strive and obtain a wide variety of information bites, potentially a wide enough variety to give just that taste to those in attendance that they will pursue further interest and opportunities to become Nebraska entrepreneurs.

Scott Finney, Adams Bank & Trust

Melissa Garcia, Center for Enterprise, Mid Plains Community College, North Platte, NE

MarketPlace is a first class way to support those ready to take on the challenge of owning a business. In addition, it is a key component in developing a culture of entrepreneurship in our region. You really can do ANYTHING from here!

Jerome Gilg, Sales Manager, Eagle Radio, North Platte, NE

MarketPlace is a way to provide service and support for small business as well as networking opportunities.

Randal Gunn, Coordinator, South Central Nebraska Resources Conservation & Development (RC&D), Doniphan, NE

Small business & entrepreneurs are the foundation of our rural economy. MarketPlace provides an opportunity for existing and prospective entrepreneurs to connect with experts in a wide variety of disciplines, as well as network with other entrepreneurs.

Dennis Hall, Economic Development Manager, Nebraska Public Power District, Columbus, NE

MarketPlace offers a great venue to learn of new rural economic development strategies and meet and visit with rural economic development colleagues.

Pam Hansen, Director of Marketing, Frontier Technologies LLC, Curtis, NE

MarketPlace Nebraska represents the ability for anyone involved or wanting to be involved in entrepreneurship and rural development to meet in a one-stop shop setting. It facilitates and fosters critical relationships between those who can provide services, and those in need of those services.

Sharon Hueftle, Executive Director, South Central Economic Development District, Holdrege, NE

LeRoy Jons, Coordinator, Loup Basin Resources Conservation & Development (RC&D), Ord, NE

MarketPlace, Nebraska provides an opportunity for small or start up businesses to attend a wide variety of informative sessions and meet the various service providers that are available to them. The response from the first two conferences has been positive.

Karen Kollars, Agritourism Development Consultant, Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development, Division of Travel & Tourism, Sidney, NE

MarketPlace NE provides a wealth of information and resources to entrepreneurs, small business owners, community leaders and many others to help them succeed in rural Nebraska. We are very fortunate to have an organization willing to spearhead this program for Nebraska and all the individuals that give of their time to make it successful.

Don Lucas, Small Business Owner, Swan's Furniture, North Platte, NE

Alan Mais, Small Business Owner, The Camera Doctor, Kearney, NE

Tim Mittan, Director - Entrepreneurship Center, Southeast Community College, Lincoln, NE

It has been my pleasure to partner with an organization that is creating something that is forward thinking and has the potential to change every person it touches. This project is exponential in its value to participants as well as its impact on economic and social entrepreneurial structure.

Jack Morris, Small Business Owner, State Farm Insurance, North Platte, NE

Rural Nebraska is full of creative and innovative people and they need access to resources also.

Rex Nelson, Mccook Economic Development, McCook, NE

Kathy Swain, North Platte Chamber of Commerce, North Platte, NE

Weldon Sleight, Dean, NCTA – University of Nebraska, Curtis, NE

The MarketPlace event is an opportunity for rural residents to come together and discuss innovative ideas that will aid in the revitalization of rural communities throughout Nebraska. The new emphasis on youth is very important since it is our youth who must rebuild our rural communities.

Randy Vlasin, Executive Director, Future Force, Lincoln, NE

Any time we can bring entrepreneurs together for sharing ideas, it is beneficial to our state, especially in rural areas. If Nebraska is to be economically competitive in the future, we must foster a since of entrepreneurship and life long learning among our citizens. MarketPlace plays an important role in this effort.

Crystal Welch, Area Program Manager for the Center for Enterprise, Mid-Plains Community College, North Platte, NE

Through the college we are always looking at different avenues to strengthen entrepreneurship. MarketPlace is a great opportunity for our area small businesses and rural communities to learn and grow.

Travis Wenzel, Senior Territory Manager, Pfizer Animal Health, Hyannis, NE

I am involved in MarketPlace because it provides educational opportunities to the people that will make Nebraska thrive.

Steve Williams, Business Development Consultant, Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development, Lincoln, NE

The Marketplace is a wonderful opportunity for small business to network among each other and service providers and where we can all learn a thing or two about helping our small businesses succeed. In this age of telecommunications, and in this vast state of small businesses often far apart from each and services, the Marketplace is a simply a chance to get together and share who we are, what we know and talk about where we might go from here to make Nebraska a place where more people can succeed in more ways than before.

Center for Rural Affairs Staff Committee Members

Joy Marshall, MarketPlace Planner, Center for Rural Affairs, Omaha, NE

Jon Bailey, Director of the Rural Research and Analysis Program, Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, NE

Monica Braun, REAP Women’s Business Center Director, Center for Rural Affairs, Seward, NE

Amber Bridges, Accounting Assistant, Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, NE

Traci Bruckner, Assistant Director of the Rural Policy Program, Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, NE

Adriana Dungan, REAP Hispanic Business Center Director, Center for Rural Affairs, South Sioux City, NE

Nancy Flock, REAP Hispanic Business Specialist, Center for Rural Affairs, North Platte, NE

Wyatt Fraas, Assistant Director of the Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program, Center for Rural Affairs, Hartington, NE

Marie Powell, Communications Associate, Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, NE

Kathie Starkweather, Director of the Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program, Center for Rural Affairs, Lincoln, NE

For more information on MarketPlace, contact Joy Marshall, 402.614.5558 or joym@cfra.org.