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Nebraska Business Honors Top Business Leaders

Nebraska Business Honors Top Business Leaders
(from left to right): Jeff Noerdhoek, chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Dean Kathy Farrell, Andrew C. “Skip” Hove Jr. winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Steve Dugger winner of Young Alumni Award and Kevin Karas, representing NRC Health, winner of the Corporate Leadership Award.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business hosted the 34th annual Advisory Board Awards Luncheon on April 13, in Howard L. Hawks Hall. The awards honor the outstanding accomplishments of business leaders and corporations in the state of Nebraska and beyond.

Dr. Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean, opened by sharing the many milestones and firsts for the College of Business since August including the opening of the new Howard L. Hawks Hall, the new online master’s programs in finance and business analytics, a partnership with the College of Law in the new undergraduate law and business minor, a number one ranking in the world for the online MBA@Nebraska program in alumni salary increases and the upcoming National Personal Finance Challenge coming to Hawks Hall in May.

“These milestones are just a few of the examples of why I am proud to lead this vibrant and innovative college. From advancing distinctive programs to hosting a national competition, they help emphasize Nebraska as a leader in business education, as well as showcase Howard L. Hawks Hall. It reinforces the fact that facilities do matter. Without generous donors and supporters like many of you in this room, our shared successes would not be possible,” she said.

More than 250 people attended the Dean's Advisory Board Awards Luncheon.
More than 250 people attended the Dean's Advisory Board Awards Luncheon at Howard L. Hawks Hall.
Jeff Noordhoek, CEO of Nelnet and chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board, delivered remarks at the event highlighting his optimism for the future of the college and its momentum. Working with Kathy for many years, he said the college is in “good hands with her leadership.”

“This building has opened doors that I’m not sure we knew existed. Hosting national competitions and conferences puts Hawks Hall and the college front and center in many new conversations,” Noordhoek said. “With great people generating innovative energy in the college, I am excited to see what the next year holds for the college. Fortunately, you and I have a front row seat to watch this remarkable evolution of a world-class college.”

Farrell and Noordhoek presented awards to three honorees at the event, including 2018 honorees Steve Dugger, ’03, of Omaha, Nebraska; Andrew C. “Skip” Hove Jr., ’56, of Lincoln, Nebraska; and NRC Health, headquartered in Lincoln. Unable to attend the luncheon, Sheri Andrews, ’76, of Omaha will receive the Business Leadership Award at the annual College of Business Partnership Summit in October. 

Twelve sponsors helped make the award luncheon possible. They included Ameritas, BKD, Bykerk Consulting, Conagra Brands, Cornerstone Bank, Cornhusker Bank, Deloitte, Lincoln Industries, Nelnet, Pinnacle Bank, Union Bank and Trust and Wells Fargo.

Dean Kathy Farrell and Steve Dugger winner of Young Alumni Award.
Dean Kathy Farrell and Steve Dugger winner of Young Alumni Award.
Young Alumni Award – Steve Dugger, ’03, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President, Buildertrend, Omaha, Nebraska

Steve Dugger received the Young Alumni Award, which recognizes individuals who are outstanding examples of successful leaders, and provide inspiration and insight to the college’s students and members of the business community.

Dugger is co-founder and executive vice president of Buildertrend, which specializes in cloud-based software for home builders and remodelers. He founded Buildertrend in 2006 with his brother, Jeff, and their friend, Dan Houghton.

Dugger earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Dean Kathy Farrell, Andrew C. “Skip” Hove Jr. winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award and Jeff Noerdhoek, CEO of Nelnet and chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board.
Dean Kathy Farrell, Andrew C. “Skip” Hove Jr. winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award and Jeff Noerdhoek, CEO of Nelnet and chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Andrew C. “Skip” Hove Jr., ’56, Lincoln, Nebraska

The Dean’s Advisory Board honored Andrew C. “Skip” Hove Jr. with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes those individuals for their outstanding leadership, time, energy and guidance provided throughout their careers.

Hove achieved an exceptional blend of public and private sector experience in his career. Nominated by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he served as vice chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. He served a second term during President Bill Clinton’s administration. He spent 11 years as vice chairman at the FDIC and led the agency as chairman for four-and-a-half years. After Hove’s retirement in 2001, the FDIC named the auditorium at the FDIC Training Center in his honor.

Previously, Hove was an executive for 30 years at Minden Exchange Bank and Trust, a community bank in Minden, Nebraska. He also served as Minden’s mayor, president of the Nebraska League of Municipalities and president of the Nebraska Bankers Association. Hove participated on several bank boards, is currently director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, Kansas, and a director of Promontory Financial Group in Washington, D.C.

Prior to his Minden Exchange Bank and Trust leadership, Hove served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy. After flight training in Pensacola, Florida, Hove received his wings and flew from the aircraft carriers USS Valley Forge and USS Randolph.

A native of Minden, Hove earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1956 from Nebraska, where he served as Student Council president and vice president of the Innocents Society, the chancellor’s senior honorary society. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School of Banking.

Dean Kathy Farrell, Kevin Karas, chief financial officer, representing NRC Health winner of the Corporate Leadership Award and Jeff Noerdhoek, CEO of Nelnet and chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board.
Dean Kathy Farrell, Kevin Karas, chief financial officer, representing NRC Health winner of the Corporate Leadership Award and Jeff Noerdhoek, CEO of Nelnet and chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board.
Corporate Leadership Award – NRC Health

Kevin Karas, chief financial officer, accepted the Corporate Leadership Award on behalf of NRC Health. The award recognizes excellence in Nebraska-based companies that are successful, dynamic and have a high level of commitment to their communities, customers and employees.

NRC Health helps healthcare organizations understand the people they care for with greater clarity, immediacy and depth. Headquartered in Lincoln, the company’s portfolio of subscription-based products and solutions provide insight, performance measurement and improvement services to primarily health plans, hospitals, healthcare systems and physicians. Through innovative data interpretation, NRC Health enables care providers to improve the patient and employee experience, leverage market insights, promote transparency and enhance governance.

In 1981, Michael D. Hays founded NRC Health, championing insight over focusing on scores. The company’s brands include Healthcare Market Guide, My InnerView, NRC Picker, The Governance Institute, Ticker and more. In 2016, National Research Corporation became NRC Health, highlighting its empathetic heritage, proprietary methods and holistic approach.

NRC Health provided the initial startup funds to establish the Center for Sales Excellence at the College of Business and provide faculty support for the sales program.

To view the full list of past Advisory Board Award recipients, visit: http://business.unl.edu/abawards.      
Published: April 13, 2018