The Center's Staff

Pictured left to right, first row: Monica Braun, Janelle Moran, Dena Beck, Elisha Smith, Barbara Chamness, Adriana Dungan, and Marie Powell.

Middle row: Peggy Mahaney, Amber Bridges, Hayley Hallstrom, Tris Darnell, Kim Kaup, John Crabtree, Traci Bruckner, Rhea Landholm (former intern), Kim Preston, Michael Holton, and Jeff Leanna (no longer at the Center).

Back row: Martin Kleinschmit, Wyatt Fraas, Chuck Hassebrook, Mike Heavrin, Brian Depew, Dan Owens, Jerry Terwilliger, Gene Rahn, Kathie Starkweather, Jeff Reynolds, and Jon Bailey.

Lyons phone number: 402.687.2100, staff extensions provided below.

Jon Bailey, (extension 1013),

Rural Research and Analysis Program Director
Rural development and asset building strategies and policy, rural poverty.

Dena Beck, (308.528.0060, Minden, NE),

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance.

Monica Braun, (402.643.2673, Seward, NE),

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Women's
Business Center Director and Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance.

Amber Bridges, (extension 1002),

Accounting Assistant

Traci Bruckner, (extension 1016),

Policy Analyst and Rural Policy Program Assistant Director
Agriculture policy, Farm Bill programs, conservation, appropriations.

Barbara Chamness, (extension 1009),

Administration and Organizational Development Director
Financial, administrative, communications, media, development team oversight; general staff development; Women's Initiative, Windmill project.

John Crabtree, (extension 1010),

Development and Outreach Officer
Donor development and media relations.

Tris Darnell, (extension 1001),

Office Manager/Chief Technology Officer

Brian Depew, (extension 1015),

Rural Organizing and Outreach Program Director
Online organizing, outreach and advocacy, Grassroots communications.

Adriana Dungan, (402.494.1013, South Sioux City, NE),

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Hispanic Business Center Director
and Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance, Hispanic Business Center (bilingual).

Nancy Flock, (308.534.3508, North Platte, NE), npflock@msn.com

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Hispanic Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance - bilingual.

Wyatt Fraas, (402.254.6893, Hartington, NE),

Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Assistant Director
Sustainable rural development, beginning farmers, sustainable agriculture practices, regional cooperatives.

Hayley Hallstrom, (extension 1003)

Chief Accountant

Chuck Hassebrook, (extension 1018),

Executive Director
Executive program leadership, agriculture policy, payment limits, and family farm and rural community revitalization.

Mike Heavrin, (extension 1008),

Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Cooperative Marketing Manager
Marketing high-value products, cooperatives, and beginning farmers.

Michael Holton (extension 1020),

Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Community Development Associate
Integrated rural community development.

Kim Kaup, (extension 1000),

Office Clerk

Martin Kleinschmit, (402.254.6893, Hartington, NE),

Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
Beginning farmers, sustainable agriculture practices, climate change, renewable energy and energy conservation.

Peggy Mahaney, (extension 1012),

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Administrative Assistant
Micro loans, REAP associations.

Joy Marshall, (402.614.5558, Omaha, NE),

Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program MarketPlace Planner
Entrepreneurship, small business planning, event planning.

Janelle Moran, (402.335.3675, Tecumseh, NE),

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance.

Daniel Owens, (extension 1017),

Rural Organizer, Rural Organizing and Outreach Program
Grassroots organizing in support of agriculture and rural policy programs.

Marie Powell, (extension 1011),

Communications Associate
Center information including newsletter, publications, website.

Kim Preston, (extension 1022),

Rural Research Assistant, Research and Analysis Program
State rural policy, rural schools, conservation programs, Sowing the Seeds of Change.

Eugene Rahn, (402.925.2920, Atkinson, NE),

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Senior Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance, with a special emphasis on micro lending.

Jeff Reynolds, (402.656.3091, Plymouth, NE),

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Director
REAP project administration, microenterprise development, youth entrepreneurship.

Elisha Smith, (extension 1007),

Media and Outreach Associate
Media, development, and outreach.

Kathie Starkweather, (402-438-8496), kathies@cfra.org

Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Director
Rural community development, MarketPlace conference, renewable energy, beginning farmers, and ag marketing opportunities.

Jerry Terwilliger, (308.247.9926, Morrill, NE),

Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance.

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