A primary mission of the Nebraska Cattlemen is to promote an environment that allows members to achieve personal and business goals which are beneficial to the cattle and beef industries. Supporting volunteer efforts to achieve these, the NC staff brings a strong and varied background rooted in agriculture to the task. The descriptions of their responsibilities will help in deciding who would be the most appropriate to contact regarding your ideas and questions.
LINCOLN OFFICE
Michael Kelsey • Executive VP
Michael serves as the chief operating officer of the Association and with the direction of the Officers, carries out the policies and objectives of the Association. He also serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the NC Board of Directors, conducts Government Relations for the Association and is fully responsible for the supervision of all Association personnel.
Dave Doeschot • Members Services Field Staff (part time)
The primary responsibilities of the Member Services Field Staff include overseeing member services for local affiliates and coordinating recruitment and retention efforts on an individual and local basis with other NC Member Services staff. The Member Services Field Staff will direct primary efforts to serving members, potential members and local affiliates in their designated areas. Dave’s area includes the following affiliates: Butler,Cass-Otoe, Dodge, Exeter, Lancaster Seward, Merrick Polk, Nemaha Valley, Platte Valley, Sarpy Douglas, Saunders, South Central, Southeast, Thayer, Washington, York Hamilton.
Mike Fitzgerald • VP of Communications
Mike coordinates all member and non-member communications promoting NC services and programs such as the monthly Nebraska Cattleman magazine, the bi-weekly NC Post newsletter, Association issues management activities, news releases and the website.
Drew Gaffney • Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator
Drew works from his residence in Anselmo Nebraska. He oversees the Beef Quality Assurance program throughout Nebraska, and assists with member services. Drew is the staff Liason to Animal Health and Nutrition Committee as well as the staff Liason to the IRM Sub Committee. Drew also works with the Technical Advisory Committee that guides the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program.
Duane Gangwish • VP of Environmental Affairs
Duane carries out two distinctly different roles for the Association. He is responsible for the coordination of legislative and regulatory activities on behalf of Nebraska Cattlemen members consistent with Association policy. Duane will also provide direct communications and related educational programs to ensure producer awareness and compliance with various state and federal laws.
Jayne Kracke • Controller
Jayne, along with the Executive Vice President, assures the financial and legal integrity of the association and maximizes the efficiency of the Association’s accounting methods and financial stability. In cooperation with the Executive Vice President, Jayne also helps develop and monitor the Association’s annual budget and yearly audit.
Bonita Lederer • Members Services Field Staff (part time)
The primary responsibilities of the Member Services Field Staff include overseeing member services for local affiliates and coordinating recruitment and retention efforts on an individual and local basis with other NC Member Services staff. The Member Services Field Staff will direct primary efforts to serving members, potential members and local affiliates in their designated areas. Bonita’s area includes the following affiliates: Boyd-Holt, Knox, Antelope-Pierce, Boone-Nance, Cedar, Elkhorn Valley, Northeast, Cuming and Burt.
Pete McClymont • VP of Legislative Affairs
Pete is primarily responsible for state legislative efforts in the promotion of Nebraska Cattlemen policy. Other responsibilities include assisting the Marketing Reporting Service and the Communications department. Pete is the staff liaison to the NC Taxation Committee.
John Roberts • Director of Marketing
John assists in the operation of NC’s Market Reporting Service and in developing new market information services for other segments of NC’s membership outside of the feeding sector.
Eric Ryan • Members Services Field Staff (part-time)The primary responsibilities of the Member Services Field Staff include overseeing member services for local affiliates and coordinating recruitment and retention efforts on an individual and local basis with other NC Member Services staff. The Member Services Field Staff will direct primary efforts to serving members, potential members and local affiliates in their designated areas. Eric’s area includes the following affiliates
: Burwell, Central, Dawson, Fort Kearney, Furnas, Harlan, Kearney/Franklin, Phelps/Gosper, Southwest, West Central.
Myra Soflin • Administrative Assistant
Myra is primarily responsible for directing incoming calls to appropriate staff. Myra also opens, sorts and distributes all incoming mail, coordinates all outgoing mail, greets visitors and maintains the Nebraska Cattlemen lobby.
Jeff Stolle • VP of Marketing
Jeff supervises the NC Market Reporting Service, which includes market information collection and dissemination of market information to subscribers via numerous communication mediums. He edits the weekly NC Market Update newsletter and is a NC staff liaison to the NC Marketing and Commerce Committee and Feedlot Council.
Lee Weide • VP of Operations
Lee is responsible for coordinating NC events and meetings (Annual Convention, Midyear Conference and Annual Legislative Conference), administering sponsorship relationships and serving as the staff administrator for the NC Foundation. He also coordinates NC’s Beef Pit including serving as primary NC staff to state fair Beef Pit activities. He serves as liaison to Beef Pit Committee and coordinates all requests for outside associations/groups to utilize the Beef Pit facilities. He maintains NC’s membership database and accounting of membership dues.
ALLIANCE OFFICE
Melody Benjamin • VP of Member Services
The Director of Membership Services is responsible for membership recruitment and retention efforts on an individual and local basis with other NC Member Services staff. The Director of Membership Services Field Staff provides assistance to the NC Member Services, the NC Cow/Calf Council, NC Midyear meeting, and is the primary contact for western Nebraska members. The Member Services Field Staff will direct primary efforts to serving members, potential members and local affiliates in their designated areas. Melody’s area includes the following affiliates: Bassett, Bridgeport, Cattle Capital, Gordon, Hyannis, Kimball/Banner, Lincoln, Ogallala, Northwest, Scottsbluff, Southwest, Thedford and Valentine. Melody coordinates and oversees the other Member Services field staff. She also manages and maintains the NC office in Alliance.
Please send e-mail to: NC@NECATTLEMEN.ORG