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The purpose of the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship's Nebraska Distinguished Entrepreneur Award is to recognize entrepreneurs in the state of Nebraska who represent the ideals of Nebraska small business ownership. These recipients have started or substantially grown a business in Nebraska and are currently contributing to the economy of the State and/or their own local communities. They are nominated by past award winners, members of the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship's Advisory Board and the Dean of the College of Business Administration here at UNL, and inducted into the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. We are proud to honor them as models of Nebraska entrepreneurial excellence.
Dale Jensen is the co-founder and former Executive Vice President of Information Technology, Inc., a computer software provider to banks, and savings and loan associations. Mr. Jensen retired from that position when Information Technology, Inc. was sold in 1995. His entrepreneurial expertise has been developed through his investments in technology companies, professional sports, entertainment, oil and gas, land development, and restaurant development. His most notable investments include the Phoenix Suns NBA basketball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League baseball team, and Sands Hill Golf Club.
Morgan Ranch Beef is a family owned and operated ranching and meat business located in the sandhills of Burwell, Nebraska. Morgan Ranch produces and supplies American Wagyu / Kobe Beef direct to fine dining restaurants and direct consumer sales all across the United States. European sales are coordinated with our sister company Otto Gourmet and distribution facility located in Heinsberg, Germany. Restaurant sales and direct consumer sales are shipped from Germany and Italy. Morgan Ranch also direct ships products to Montreal, Curacao and Puerto Rico. Wagyu beef is the most exclusive beef in the world.
Kenneth Morrison is general partner and business manager of Morrison Enterprises, an agricultural company engaging in alfalfa production and marketing, grain storage, livestock production, farmland development and management, aquaculture, and cotton and feed grain production. The business includes grain storage and farmland in Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Morrison Enterprises is a global company, including a fully integrated shrimp production business in Ecuador, as well as commercial fishing boats and fish meal processing in Chile.
i2rd provides business process consulting and web-based solutions for the effective management of company data, processes, and services. i2rd’s solutions include web-based applications, Intranet/Internet development, ebusiness, and custom database solutions. With i2rd’s proven consulting processes and robust web technologies, clients experience rapid returns on their software investments. i2rd’s success has been recognized by the chamber including business of the year (2003) and fastest growing business (2006) for the city of Lincoln, NE. Vipa Solutions, a sister company of i2rd , was founded in 2005.
The founder and director of Nebraska Dance, Stephanie Pearson, has been dancing for over 24 years. Stephanie began her business in 2001, doors opened with 150 students, 20 classes per week, one 2,000 square foot studio, and three employees. Stephanie’s dance school is in its sixth season with over 1000 students, 17 employees, 160 classes per week, and a beautiful 15,000 square foot facility including 6 large studios. Under her direction, the Nebraska Dance Company has won many top over all and choreography awards. Stephanie’s students have used their training to become LA Laker Girls, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, and have excelled in the dance industry both locally and nationally including film and television.
Dennis Walker is currently President and CEO of JET LINX Aviation, a corporate jet fractional ownership company. Prior to this, he spent 13 years with Memberworks, Inc. (Nasdaq:MBRS), as Co-Founder and Executive Vice President. They design and provide membership service programs that offer consumers significant savings on brand name providers and retailers of healthcare, insurance, travel, entertainment and home security. Mr. Walker has also held senior level marketing positions with First Data Resources and IBM.
