Nebraska Enterprise Fund adds new board members and honors John Munn for his service to the board

Chairman Winsley Durand III welcomed two new board members and a new advisory committee member during the recent Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) annual Board of Directors meeting. New board members include Cassie Seagren, executive director of York County Development Corp., and Krista Dittman, Branched Oak Farm co-owner and entrepreneur. Shannon Filing, president of Transformational Marketing in Panama, Neb., joined the NEF Advisory Committee. John Munn, director of Nebraska’s Department of Banking & Finance, has completed his last term on the board. Munn served two terms on the NEF board.

“John Munn’s service on the NEF Board was timely given that the organization had been charged with the development of new loan products to directly serve businesses in addition to programs. John brought not only the knowledge and perspective of the overall industry in Nebraska to our board, but also practical knowledge from having been a community banker. His assistance in developing NEF’s CD Loan Guarantee product is making a difference daily for businesses across the state,” said Rose Jaspersen, NEF executive director.

New members Seagren, Dittman and Filing will each serve an initial three-year term. Seagren brings the perspective of an economic development director to the board, while Dittman provides valuable input as a small business owner and entrepreneur. Filing has utilized NEF gap financing services as her company has grown. Her background knowledge of how NEF helped her, along with her marketing expertise, will be a valuable addition in an advisory capacity.

“As an economic developer I have the chance to work with a variety of businesses both large and small. The opportunity to be a part of an organization like NEF allows me to help serve those small businesses I work with more effectively, and it will provide me with a chance to really see all of the wonderful things going on across the state,” Seagren said.

Dittman noted that she was interested in joining the NEF board to learn more about the world of financing startup businesses. She said, “When we began our business, we benefited from the efforts of people and organizations supporting micro-enterprises. Now I am thankful to have the chance to be a part of an organization (NEF) that encourages and funds other aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own business.”

As part of the NEF annual board meeting activities, a presentation was provided by Vicki Newman, Lincoln Family Funeral Care co-owner & manager. NEF helped provide financing to launch this new business in the Havelock area of Lincoln. Lincoln Family Funeral Care has met all projections in its first year of business.

Filing also provided information to the NEF board and staff on the progress of her company and its growth after it renovated a building in Panama for its corporate headquarters. With the added space, the company has added staff, which has helped boost its production and success.