Video: Pacha Soap raises the bar for socially conscience entrepreneurs

Pacha Soap started as an idea while on a bus in South America, grew out of a college dorm room and has successfully grown from there. Hastings entrepreneur Andrew Vrbas shares his story about creating a business that will help change the world. For every bar of a soap sold, one bar is given to [...]

Laminated Wood Systems in business for 20 years through innovation, knowledge and education

Laminated Wood Systems, based in Seward, began in 1992. Prior to its inception, two of Laminated Wood Systems’ current owners, President Bob Reisdorff and Vice President of Sales and Marketing Doug Kotil, were providing consultation services to manufacturers producing various products for the electric utility industry at RDM Design Systems. It was there that the [...]

Successful Entrepreneurship Program Returning in September

An entrepreneurship program that has gone on for the past six semesters is returning to Central Community College in Hastings and Grand Island on Sept. 11. The program, created by Lisa Tschauner, business occupations instructor and entrepreneurship coordinator, includes 10 sessions that teach students the steps they need to take to plan and start their own business. [...]

Blank Slate Theater Owners Reinvent Ord Theater

Brian and Kelly Magiera, a couple from Ord, Neb., recently opened the Blank Slate Theater. When the couple first bought the building it was a movie theater, which they kept open for another four years. But with new times come new activities, and slowly but surely they were losing profit from the lack of customers. [...]

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Eileen Harman of Eileen’s Colossal Cookies

Chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, oatmeal raisin and frosted sugar cookies. After 30 years in the business, Eileen Harman of Eileen’s Colossal Cookies has perfected 13 different recipes. “It’s just fun, I think,” Harman said about owning her own company. “I like the business aspect as well as testing the recipes and figuring things out. It’s kind [...]

Conference on Rural and Small Business Development Draws Hundreds in Central Nebraska

Three part series on the MarketPlace Conference. Watch for the others coming soon. The MarketPlace Conference is an event that stems from the Center for Rural Affairs, whose goal is to “establish strong rural communities, social and economic justice, environmental stewardship, and genuine opportunity for all while engaging people in decisions that affect the quality of their [...]

Inter-Motion co-founders navigate processes of business creation and sale

In 1984, Ronny Roberts and Jim Zecha started Inter-Motion in Kearney and got to work dismantling, rebuilding and retrofitting old machinery. After years of reworking various machines, the two founders sold Inter-Motion in 2009, and watched the company begin its next chapter under new ownership. Prior to co-founding Inter-Motion, Roberts and Zecha worked in Kearney [...]

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Angie Svoboda with Good Life Health Services

Learn how Angie Svoboda has helped lead Good Life Health Services through all the changes in the pharmacy industry. Through changes in insurance and government regulations, they are constantly having to adapt and innovate in their business model. Be ready for change Embrace technology

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Adam Switzer of Calamus Outfitters

It all started when Adam Switzer wanted to move back to the family ranch near Burwell, NE. The ranch had supported several families in the 90′s but now could barely support one. In order to make the move possible it meant having to innovate on the business model. Ranching had been the staple of the [...]

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Clay Ramsey of Misko Sports

Clay Ramsey left his corporate job with Cabelas in order to follow his passion of owning his own business as well as the opportunity to move back to his families home town. This is the story of the lessons that Clay learned along that process of buying Misko Sports in Ord, NE and what others [...]

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Guy Lewis of Valley Fire Pottery

Guy Lewis and his family moved back to Ord, NE from Portland, OR to be closer to family.  One difficulty when moving to a smaller community can be that the jobs don’t align with your background.  For Guy, that meant the perfect opportunity to create his own opportunities and start Valley Fire Pottery. The idea [...]

Business Model Innovations – Paul Eurek, Xpanxion

Paul Eurek, chief executive officer and chairman of Xpanxion, was one of three companies that presented on a panel about business model innovations in information technology at the 2011 Nebraska Research and Innovation Conference. Xpanxion’s business model is very unique in that it is not just an offshore outsourcing company, but rather a company that combines offshore [...]

First Rural Organic Grocery Store starts up in Central Nebraska

This is part of a series of articles over the next month focusing on one of Nebraska’s key entrepreneurial areas: the food industry. Check back frequently as we explore local food producers, restaurants and the growers. First Rural Organic Grocery Store is having its grand opening celebration June 24-26, 2011. Be sure to drop by if you [...]

Scott Kleeb – Falling Means Getting Back Up

2011 Nebraska Summit on Entrepreneurship Falling Means Getting Back Up Scott Kleeb, President, Energy Pioneer Solutions Starting a business is challenging, growing a business is even more. Errors are inevitable, but the only true mistake is not being willing to learn from them. 

Nebraska Distinguished Entrepreneur Award Winners

On March 14th, 2011 UNL’s Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship hosted their annual Innovation Night to present their 2011 Nebraska Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards.  This years awards went to four different companies including Jack Henry with Global Industries, Charlie Hull and Clint! Runge with Archrival, Steve Kiene with Nebraska Global and John Lund with OFFWIRE. The purpose [...]

CCC workshops prepare entrepreneurs for real world challenges

Taking a class on how to successfully start a business won’t always yield all the answers to questions startup companies face. However, when those classes are combined with speakers and mentors with first-hand knowledge of all the intricacies of the business world, it’s easier to walk away with something more than just an idea for a [...]

Ord family-owned business finds niche

Brad and Gina Babb learned first hand about inheriting a family business, finding a niche in a small community and ways to keep business in a difficult economy. The Babbs are the owners of Sandhills Glass and Garage Doors in Ord, Nebraska. With the help of programs like the Rural Enterprise Assistance Program, the Babbs [...]

Area Entrepreneur / Small Biz Resource Forums

Area Entrepreneur / Small Biz Resource Forums Coming to Central and Southeast Nebraska The Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) is hosting two area forums focused on coordinated support for entrepreneurs and business development in Nebraska.  On November 30, 2010, the first “Area Entrepreneur /Small Biz Resource Forum” will be in Beatrice with the Beatrice Area Chamber [...]

Central Nebraskan incubator creates jobs, helps establish entrepreneurs

Renting or buying an office space for a new business can put a business under before it even gets started. For nearly 20 years, Central Community College has been providing a service to visionary entrepreneurs by helping with the most basic essentials such as finding rental space, office supplies and networking. Located in the heart [...]

UNK provides research exclusive for rural entrepreneurs

Finding the right market for a new business is complex and paying professionals for research and surveys to find that right market can cost more than the small business owner can afford. Oftentimes these surveys aren’t focused on the consumer. However, the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Center for Rural Research and Development is an [...]

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