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Robert Boe began Boe Seed Farms in 1989. The operation raises corn, soybeans, popcorn, and sweet corn through irrigated contract seed production. The business began with 1500 acres of seed corn. In 2000, 3600 acres of seed corn were produced. There are eight full time employees. Throughout the summer, Boe Seed Farms employs approximately 600 workers, mostly high school students and teachers.
During the growth of his business, Robert Boe also served as a director for Farm Credit Services for several years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk.
David Byrnes and Stan Phillips founded FACTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY in 1986, with the primary purpose to provide a tuition management service for private and parochial schools. Today, Byrnes serves as President and CEO and Stan holds the title Vice President and CFO. The company first served a single school in Grand Island, Nebraska, by providing a tuition management service for less than 30 families in that school. During the 2000-01 school year, the company is serving more than 2,000 private schools, colleges and universities across the country by providing a tuition management service for some 200,000 families, managing some $750 million in tuition.
FACTS and its wholly owned subsidiary Commercial Computer Systems (CCS), employ 70 full-time and 30 part-time people. In addition to the headquarters in Lincoln, the company has offices in 15 major cities across the country. FACTS provides service to schools, colleges and universities in all 50 states.
In 1953, Garner Industries began as a small tool and die shop in the Havelock area. In the early years, the company served a handful of local manufacturing customers. In 1966, while a student at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Philip S. Mullin went to work part-time for the company. Originally from Valentine, Nebraska, Phil enjoyed the business and quickly assumed more responsibility in the small company.
Upon his college graduation with a degree in business, Phil joined Garner Industries full-time and began what would become a lifetime vocation.
During the 1980s, Phil was vice president of the company and managed the day-to-day operations. In 1992, he purchased Garner Industries from Ed Garner. Since 1992, the company has grown at an annualized rate of 17% per year. could not meet the demands of our customers and grow the company."
Trina Thomas started her business career by receiving a degree in Finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The first business she conceptualized was the LaunDRYLand idea. She was associated with this business for 14 years.
Ms. Thomas' current business, NIS Inc. (d/b/a Paycheck Advance) was started in 1992 as a one-store operation. Ms. Thomas expanded the business into a multi-store operation in 1994 by opening a second store in Lincoln. Currently NIS Inc. consists of 22 stores in 3 states. The goal for 2001 is to add ten stores, entering the Arizona market that has just passed favorable legislation for the industry. The business has grown considerably since its inception, currently employing more than 100 people.
The development of Prophet Systems' digital audio software arose from the forward thinking of longtime broadcaster Kevin Lockhart. Unable to find reliable automation equipment and service, he developed an automation system known as the AudioProphet. In 1993 AudioProphet was converted to a Windows-based system, now known as AudioWizard, and in 2000 Prophet Systems introduced NexGen Digital Broadcast, the next generation of digital automation systems.
Prophet Systems grew from a three-man operation in 1989 to the largest high tech employer in western Nebraska, with over 150 employees located in 40,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space. Prophet Systems is now a division of Clear Channel Communications.
JetWear, Inc. was founded in 1996 with the business objective of producing quality collegiate sportswear to meet the increasing interest in college sports. The inaugural product line consisted of collegiate sports apparel, licensed by the Univesity of Nebraska. In the fall of 1996 JetWear, Inc. migrated into collegiate bedding and accessories for the University of Nebraska and the University of Kansas.
JetWear's product line was expanded in the Fall of 1998, and JetWear has acquired licenses from the Collegiate Licensing Company to produce items for the Big XII. The company's immediate goal is to expand its bedding and accessories line into all areas of the Big XII region. JetWear, Inc. is currently producing collegiate bedding for 11 of the Big XII schools and has acquired licensing for nine additional colleges.
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