Meet the Team

Senior Executive Team

Heath Mello
President & CEO
Heath Mello
President & CEO
Alec Gorynski
SVP of Economic Development
Alec Gorynski
SVP of Economic Development
Liz Kerrigan
SVP of Member & Investor Relations
Liz Kerrigan
SVP of Member & Investor Relations
Audra Schawang
SVP of Finance
Audra Schawang
SVP of Finance
Jennifer Creager
SVP of Public Policy
Jennifer Creager
SVP of Public Policy
Pete Thompson
SVP of Business Intelligence & Technology
Pete Thompson
SVP of Business Intelligence & Technology
Cheryl Lawson
Senior Executive Assistant to the President
Cheryl Lawson
Senior Executive Assistant to the President

Member & Investor Relations

Liz Kerrigan
SVP of Member & Investor Relations
Liz Kerrigan
SVP of Member & Investor Relations
Katie Cords
Director of Membership Services
Katie Cords
Director of Membership Services
Becky Phipps
Director of Business Development
Becky Phipps
Director of Business Development
Katrinka Dicke
Executive Assistant, Member Services
Katrinka Dicke
Executive Assistant, Member Services
Jennifer Walcutt
Senior Director of Events
Jennifer Walcutt
Senior Director of Events
Jamie Johnson
Events Program Manager
Jamie Johnson
Events Program Manager

Economic Development

Alec Gorynski
SVP of Economic Development
Alec Gorynski
SVP of Economic Development
Mark Norman
VP of Site Development
Mark Norman
VP of Site Development
Angie Baber
Sr. Director, Business Attraction
Angie Baber
Sr. Director, Business Attraction
Merrick Brtek
Director of Workforce Development
Merrick Brtek
Director of Workforce Development
Makayla Leiting
Sr. Manager, Industry Development and Innovation
Makayla Leiting
Sr. Manager, Industry Development and Innovation
Alejandra Jimenez
Director, Small and Emerging Business Development
Alejandra Jimenez
Director, Small and Emerging Business Development
Travis Blakely
Program Manager, Small and Emerging Business Development
Travis Blakely
Program Manager, Small and Emerging Business Development
Erin Miller
Executive Assistant
Erin Miller
Executive Assistant
Brayden Hicks
Economic Development Project Coordinator
Brayden Hicks
Economic Development Project Coordinator
Dell Nared
Chief Workforce Excellence Officer
Dell Nared
Chief Workforce Excellence Officer
Janique Hayes
Director of Workforce Pathways and Partnerships
Janique Hayes
Director of Workforce Pathways and Partnerships
Kent Heermann
Business Growth and Development Representative
Kent Heermann
Business Growth and Development Representative
John O’Connor
Business Growth and Development Representative
John O’Connor
Business Growth and Development Representative
Mary Mitzlaff
Workforce Excellence Intern
Mary Mitzlaff
Workforce Excellence Intern
Tamia Peak
Workforce Excellence Intern
Tamia Peak
Workforce Excellence Intern

Events

Jennifer Walcutt
Senior Director of Events
Jennifer Walcutt
Senior Director of Events
Jamie Johnson
Events Program Manager
Jamie Johnson
Events Program Manager

Marketing & Communication

Aron Wehr
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Aron Wehr
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Mike Pechacek
Sr. Creative Designer
Mike Pechacek
Sr. Creative Designer
Jessica Perreault
Senior Marketing Project Manager
Jessica Perreault
Senior Marketing Project Manager
Madison Kielty
Communications Coordinator
Madison Kielty
Communications Coordinator

Public Policy

Jennifer Creager
SVP of Public Policy
Jennifer Creager
SVP of Public Policy
Sam Huppert
Director of Legislative Research
Sam Huppert
Director of Legislative Research
Randy Norwood
AVP of Military Affairs & Strategic Partnership
Randy Norwood
AVP of Military Affairs & Strategic Partnership

Operations

Pete Thompson
SVP of Business Intelligence & Technology
Pete Thompson
SVP of Business Intelligence & Technology
Julia Ortiz
CRM Specialist
Julia Ortiz
CRM Specialist
Sarah Burnett
Research Analyst
Kassandra Blatchford
Talent Engagement & Operations Coordinator
Kassandra Blatchford
Talent Engagement & Operations Coordinator
Alexander Cayetano
Chief Talent Officer
Alexander Cayetano
Chief Talent Officer
Daniela Rojas Florez
Director, Community Leadership Programs
Daniela Rojas Florez
Director, Community Leadership Programs

Finance

Audra Schawang
SVP of Finance
Audra Schawang
SVP of Finance
Julie Bacon
Accounting Assistant
Julie Bacon
Accounting Assistant
Donna Streight
Staff Accountant & Payroll
Donna Streight
Staff Accountant & Payroll

Regional Partnership Team

Alec Gorynski
SVP of Economic Development
Alec Gorynski
SVP of Economic Development
Mark Norman
VP of Site Development
Mark Norman
VP of Site Development
Angie Baber
Sr. Director, Business Attraction
Angie Baber
Sr. Director, Business Attraction
Makayla Leiting
Sr. Manager, Industry Development and Innovation
Makayla Leiting
Sr. Manager, Industry Development and Innovation
Alejandra Jimenez
Director, Small and Emerging Business Development
Alejandra Jimenez
Director, Small and Emerging Business Development
Travis Blakely
Program Manager, Small and Emerging Business Development
Travis Blakely
Program Manager, Small and Emerging Business Development
Brayden Hicks
Economic Development Project Coordinator
Brayden Hicks
Economic Development Project Coordinator
Lisa Scheve
Executive Director, Grow Sarpy
Lisa Scheve
Executive Director, Grow Sarpy
Paula Hazlewood
Chief Executive Officer, Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation
Paula Hazlewood
Chief Executive Officer, Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation
Niki Ferguson
Manager of Community & Chamber Engagement, Gateway Development Corporation
Niki Ferguson
Manager of Community & Chamber Engagement, Gateway Development Corporation
Shalimar Mazetis
Rural Development Manager, ASWIC
Shalimar Mazetis
Rural Development Manager, ASWIC
Josh Charvat
Executive Director, Cass County EDC
Josh Charvat
Executive Director, Cass County EDC
Amanda Heistand
Project Manager, Cass County EDC & Grow Sarpy
Amanda Heistand
Project Manager, Cass County EDC & Grow Sarpy
Megan Skiles
President & CEO, Greater Fremont Development Council
Megan Skiles
President & CEO, Greater Fremont Development Council
Kelsey Martinez
Director of Business Services, Greater Fremont Development Council
Kelsey Martinez
Director of Business Services, Greater Fremont Development Council
Mike Rooks
Executive Director, Gateway Development Corporation
Mike Rooks
Executive Director, Gateway Development Corporation
Janelle Taylor
Project Management Coordinator, Washington County Economic Development
Janelle Taylor
Project Management Coordinator, Washington County Economic Development
Lisa Walker
Executive Director, Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation
Lisa Walker
Executive Director, Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation
Laurie Stukenholtz
Executive Assistant/Marketing Coordinator, Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation
Laurie Stukenholtz
Executive Assistant/Marketing Coordinator, Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation
Stephanie Schurkamp
Director of Operations, Greater Fremont Development Council
Stephanie Schurkamp
Director of Operations, Greater Fremont Development Council
Laura Harrison
Business & Community Relations Manager for Grow Sarpy
Laura Harrison
Business & Community Relations Manager for Grow Sarpy
Conner Mowery
Manager, Entrepreneurial Development
Conner Mowery
Manager, Entrepreneurial Development