THE 39TH ANNUAL

AWARDS CELEBRATION

Program

Introductory Comments
Dr. Kathy Farrell
James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean

Welcome
Lisa Smith
Senior Vice President, D.A. Davidson and Company

Lunch

Presentations
Dean Farrell and Lisa Smith

Young Alumni Award
Corporate Leadership Award
Business Leadership Award
Lifetime Achievement Award

Closing Remarks
Dean Farrell

2024 Honorees

Lifetime Achievement

Jim Abel

Jim Abel, chief executive officer and chairman of NEBCO since 1998, received the Nebraska Business Lifetime Achievement Award for providing outstanding leadership, time, energy and guidance provided throughout his career. NEBCO is an family-owned business in Nebraska created by Abel's grandfather in 1908. Today it owns and operates concrete and construction products, real estate and recreational facilities.

Abel began working at NEBCO during summers throughout high school in the company’s concrete pipe plant. In 1973, after earning a degree in business administration at Nebraska, he worked in different areas of the company until his responsibilities grew into management. Jim succeeded his father, George P. Abel Jr. as president of NEBCO in 1985. Along with the growth of NEBCO's construction area, Jim focused on growing the company’s real estate and recreational areas, a vision that included Quarry Oaks Golf Club and Fallbrook in Lincoln, both developed on reclaimed or reused land. He also was instrumental in adding the Lincoln Saltdogs and Haymarket Park in Lincoln.

His activities in the community and state extend to membership on civic, philanthropic and professional boards including the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation, Nebraska Wesleyan University, University of Nebraska Foundation, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Vision 2015 along with the boards of Nelnet and Ameritas as chairman. He believes that examples set forth by his father, his mother Betty Abel, his aunt Alice Abel, and his grandparents George and Hazel Abel helped instill the value of public involvement and charitable giving.

Business Leadership

Dawn Amend, ’89, Donald Everett Jr., ’90, and Renee Sjulin, ’86

Honored with the Business Leadership Award for an outstanding example of successful leadership in the field, including community service, business ethics and overall business excellence, were three siblings who lead Runza® Restaurants, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dawn Amend, ’89, purchasing director, Donald Everett Jr., ’90, president, and Renee Sjulin, ’86, executive vice president.

As 12-year-olds, Donald and Dawn began working at Runza along with their older sister, Renee. Their first job was making onion rings on weekends. They each worked their way up to learning all positions at the restaurant and worked throughout their school years and beyond.

After graduating from Nebraska with a business administration degree, Donald started at the Runza corporate office as a district supervisor. Dawn Amend earned a degree in marketing, and Renee Sjulin earned a degree in accounting from Nebraska. The three Everett children officially assumed responsibility for Runza Restaurant operations in 1990, growing the chain to more than 90 restaurants, with sales approaching $150 million. Donald succeeded his father, Donald Everett Sr., as president of Runza Restaurants in 1997. The chain now has restaurants in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas and Colorado. Runza takes pride in its long-term partnership with the University of Nebraska and Husker Athletics, making Runza and Husker sports a Nebraska tradition.

Donald Everett has served as a board member for organizations including First Christian Church Foundation, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital Board of Trustees, West Gate Bank and Lincoln Literacy Council. Dawn Everett Amend is the purchasing director of Runza Restaurants, specializing in approving vendors to deliver to their restaurants, monitoring vendor pricing and deliveries, and ensuring quality ingredients are being used. Amend served on a board for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Nebraska chapter, and served as a president for the Nebraska Restaurant Association. She was one of the first attendees to ever attend the study abroad program at Oxford University through the Nebraska College of Business.

Renee Everett Sjulin's responsibilities include serving as the board liaison for the accounting, human resources and franchise development teams. Sjulin serves on the board of directors for the Tabitha Health System.

Young Alumni

Jason Muhleisen, ’11

Jason Muhleisen, president and CEO of Union Bank & Trust, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, received the Young Alumni Award for being an outstanding example of a successful leader who provides inspiration and insight to College of Business students and members of the Nebraska Business community.   

Joining Union Bank & Trust in 2015, Muhleisen worked in commercial lending, private banking, personal trust and wealth management before rising to CEO. He serves on the advisory boards for the Lincoln Children's Zoo, Lincoln Parks & Recreation and the Food Bank of Lincoln. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2011 and his juris doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Corporate Leadership

Don & Linda Eckles, founders, accepted the Corporate Leadership Award on behalf of Scooter's Coffee. The award recognizes excellence in successful, dynamic Nebraska-based companies with a high level of commitment to their communities, customers and employees. Don has been involved in the specialty coffee business since 1991. He and wife, Linda, founded Scooter's Coffee in 1998 in Bellevue, Nebraska. Don has been active in the development and continuing evolution of Scooter's Coffee, Boundless Enterprises and Harvest Roasting. As an active chairman today, Don engages in organizational strategy and direction, executive support and protection of the company's core values and mission statement

Talent Investment Program

New Program Offers Tuition Reduction for Your Employees, Members

We now offer three-year flexible partnership agreements for companies and organizations so you can offer a 15% tuition reduction for Nebraska's four business master's degrees and nine graduate certificate programs to your employees and members. There is no minimum or maximum number of students required to take advantage of the program.

For more information contact: Aaron Crabtree and Gretchen Holthaus

Past Honorees

View List

Event Sponsors