SWNEBR.NET - More than 425 business, community, government and economic development leaders from throughout Nebraska, the United States, Canada, Germany and Japan attended the 36th Annual Nebraska Diplomats banquet on Friday, Aug. 29, to celebrate the positive aspects of doing business in Nebraska.

Gov. Mike Johanns, who hosted the event along with the Nebraska Diplomats, said, “The Nebraska Diplomats deserved to be recognized for their leadership in Nebraska’s economic development across the state. Economic development and community development are not possible without strong leadership and active volunteers at the local level.”

Leading up to the banquet were the Diplomats Annual Meeting and the CEO Roundtable. Darlene “Shorty” Keifer with Curly’s Machine Shop in Kimball and Mary Gerdes with Otoe County Bank in Nebraska City were welcomed as new board members. They will fill remaining terms for Mick Jensen and Starr Lehl, respectively. Randy Boldt with Interalle, Inc. in Lincoln and Roger Christianson with Omaha Public Power District in Omaha agreed to serve second terms through 2006. The 2004 Diplomats officers are Dan Park, president; Mike Baldino, vice president; Don Heimes, treasurer; and Richard Baier, secretary.

Keynote banquet speaker Ross DeVol, director of Regional and Demographic Studies for the Milken Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., shared results from a report that compares and contrasts Nebraska with its regional counterparts and national leaders in the area of capacity for technology- and science-related industries. The Milken Institute has created an index that encapsulates a comprehensive inventory of technology and science assets, provides states with a benchmark, monitors technology progress and can be leveraged to promote economic development.

The following presentations also were made during the banquet:
• The Ambassador Plenipotentiary Award (the highest Diplomat honor) went to Gary Warren, executive vice president of Hamilton Telecommunications in Aurora. During the past 25 years, Warren has been active in many organizations in Aurora, Hamilton County and Nebraska, including the Nebraska Diplomats, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Industrial Competitiveness Alliance, Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton County Information Technology Corporation and Nebraska Independent Telephone Association, to name a few. He currently serves on the boards of the Aurora Development Corporation, Aurora Housing Development Corporation and
Edgerton Explorit Center. He has actively recruited businesses and industries to Aurora and Hamilton County, as well as actively helped grow Hamilton Telecommunications.

• The Diplomat of the Year Award went to Don Heimes, managing director of Corporate Finance Associates, a merger and acquisition consulting firm in Columbus. Heimes currently chairs the Nebraska Workforce Investment Board, and in 2002, he received the Distinguished Leadership Award for his efforts in workforce development in Nebraska. He has served on many volunteer and charitable boards that currently include the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America-Mid America Council, Nebraska Small Employer Health Insurance Board and Nebraska Diplomats. He received an undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and an MBA from Creighton University.

• Community of the Year Awards went to Omaha and Aurora. Home to five Fortune 500 companies, nearly 725,000 people, and 130 neighborhood parks and tourist attractions, Omaha has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years. The city’s public and private sectors work together to strengthen and build the area’s economy through growing its downtown and riverfront districts, as well as revitalizing historic neighborhoods, including North and South 24th Streets, the area north of downtown, and an area known as “Destination Midtown” (encompassing Cuming to Center and Saddle Creek to 24th Streets). New developments that have already opened or will open within the next year include the Midwest National Parks Service Headquarters, Gallup Organization Headquarters, Quest Center Omaha and Hilton Omaha. Plans also are moving forward on the Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge - the only pedestrian bridge in the country to link two states and miles of trails.

Aurora’s all-encompassing approach to its development has helped it move steadily through the sluggish national economy. Key projects include development of its I-80 corridor where a new Loves Truck Stop is being built with $3.5 to $5 million investment and a projected 35-40 employees. The center’s future opening has spurred further growth in that location in the form of a proposed 16,000-square-foot retail store, water and sewer infrastructure improvements totaling $1.2 million, and an additional three-mile corridor under preparation for development. In addition, Aurora has ade improvements to itsairport and airfield, and built three new housing subdivisions. The city is also currently renovating and expanding the Aurora Technology Center (along with adding an anchor tenant), building a new $900,000 senior center, and completing a $800,000 renovation and classroom addition on Aurora District 4-R schools.

• Industry of the Year Awards went to Ameritas Life in Lincoln and
Farmers Premium Produce in Pleasanton.

Established in 1887 as Old Line Bankers Life Insurance Company, Ameritas rapidly evolved through the 20th Century from a small Midwest company to a high-profile national company, requiring several location moves, mergers and name changes to accommodate its growth. Today, Ameritas Life, Acacia Life and all subsidiaries offer a wide range of insurance and financial services for individuals and businesses. Ameritas Life employs about 1,130 associates in Nebraska.

During the past few years, Ameritas Life has undertaken economic
development-related initiatives and investments, including moving 350
Ameritas group associates into a new 75,000-square-foot office building in
Lincoln’s Fallbrook development; purchasing the Wells Fargo Center, Commerce Court building and Rampark parking garage as a long-term investment in support of Lincoln’s downtown; building, owning and managing One Technology Place office building in the University of Nebraska Technology Park that provides customized space for companies ready to move
out of the Technology Development Center; opening a customer service center in Wayne, Neb., whose 52 employees work with Ameritas Group Division
products; and renovating the original 1958 Ameritas headquarters at 5900 O
St., which is scheduled for completion in mid-2005.

Established in 1995, Farmers Premium Produce (FPP), is a family-owned and operated company that produces, markets and distributes fresh hydroponic produce (primarily tomatoes; red, yellow and green peppers; and European cucumbers), throughout the region. Owners Randy and Ron Cruise started as a small farming operation and decided to diversify their product offerings by building a hydroponic greenhouse. Hydroponics involves growing plants in nutrient solutions with or without the use of artificial means to provide mechanical support for the plants. In combination with greenhouses, this growing method produces great yield, conserves water and land, and protects the environment. The demand for FPP’s products was so great that they built another greenhouse. The company now markets hydroponic produce for growers throughout the Midwest and United States. The company’s two 10-acre greenhouses serve as the main source for their products.

• Power is in the Partnership Award went to Ponca State Park. The park,
with assistance from numerous partners, is undergoing major improvements to
facilities and natural amenities, as well as building new facilities. The
overall park improvement plan is part of the Better Ponca Foundation’s
goals to enhance the quality of life and economic development in Ponca
(pop. 1,062). Projects totaling $21.9 million include the new

National Missouri River Research and Education Center, special high-tech educational displays on the history of the Missouri River, a wetlands and backwater restoration project, 1,400 acres of additional parkland, a
hiker-biker trail into Ponca, a 40-room grand lodge, and 10 to 12 new
cabins. Partners in the project include the Nebraska Department of Economic
Development, the National Park Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nebraska Department of Roads.

The 2003 banquet also marked induction for new Diplomats. They are:

• Aurora - George Hohwieler, Aurora Co-operative Elevator Co.; Jayne Mann,
Wortman Motor Company; Sam Moyer, Heritage Bank.

• Blair - Eric Johnson, Cargill Corn Milling.

• Columbus - Rick Chochon, Pinnacle Bank of Columbus; William Fehrman,
Nebraska Public Power District; Larry D. Marik, First National Bank.

• Fremont - Stephen C. Wade, Fremont National Bank & Trust.

• Gothenburg - Ted J. Rowen, Nebraska Economic.

• Grand Island - Tom Dinsdale, Chevrolet Cadillac; John M. Hoggatt, Platte
Valley State Bank & Trust; Cindy K. Johnson, Grand Island Chamber of
Commerce; Jay Vavricek, KSYZ-Rock 101.5, Waitt Media.

• Holdrege - Bruce C. Hendrickson; Richard Meyer, Holdrege High School.

• Kearney - Lee Meyer, Ply Gem Industries, Inc.; Dan K. Shundoff,
Intellicom Computer Consulting.

• Kimball - Michael J. Nelson, FirsTier Bank.

• Lincoln - Stan Carpenter, Nebraska State Colleges; Bryan Fairfield,
Invest Nebraska Corp.; Christopher R. Heinrich, Harding Schultz & Downs;
Chris Hove, First National Bank; John Jordison, Great Plains
Communications; Terry King, Nebraska Chapter AGC; Kim Kuhle, U.S. Bank.

• North Platte - Darrel Smith, First Nebraska Financial.

• Omaha - Charles Marr, Alegent Health; Steven S. Martin, Blue Cross & Blue
Shield.

• Osmond - Jim Schmit, Coldwell Banker Dover Realtors.

• Sidney - Wendall Gaston, Ethics & Management Inst.