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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.
From kiosks to digital signage, Nanonation's software seamlessly integrates digital media content and monitors, measures, and manages each customer interaction. Experienced professionals in marketing, technology and customer experience provide a full suite of services to enhance a client's direct marketing. Annually, Nanonation delivers over 20 million minutes of customer interaction in a variety of vertical market segments, such as retail, travel, hospitality, education, and health care. Clients include companies such as the Mazda, Build-a-Bear, Yahoo!, Burger King, SBC, Minnesota Wild, Grand Hotel, Petro Travel Centers, Nebraska Book Company, Alamo Car Rental, Clorox, and Amtrak.
David Vetter returned to his family's 280 acre farm in 1975 intending to grow grains organically. In 1980 Dave and his father, Don, invested $170,000 to build a small grain-cleaning plant. The operation has grown into Grain Place Foods, Inc., employing 13 people full time to grow, clean, process, package, and market grains and beans for its own line of products as well as for other food companies. With sales at about $1.8 million annually, Grain Place Foods processes 5 million pounds of product each year.
Software Technology, Inc., the maker of Tabs3 Billing and Financial Software and PracticeMaster Practice Management Software, has been at the forefront of developing software for law firms for over twenty-five years. Tabs3 is one of the most widely used time and billing products in the United States and has been an industry leader since its introduction in 1979. Tabs3 is designed to integrate with PracticeMaster, the emerging leader in practice management software. Among its many features, PracticeMaster provides an easy way for firms to create a firm-wide calendar, search for conflicts of interest, and organize case and contact information. There are over 425,000 active user licenses of Tabs3 and PracticeMaster combined. Winner of many awards, the software is widely recognized as the best software for law firms of fewer than 50 attorneys.
Telesis, Inc. is a locally owned holding company located in the Historic Haymarket in Lincoln, Nebraska. Its subsidiary businesses are Data Security Inc., Lazlo's Brewery & Grill, FireWorks Restaurant and Empyrean Brewing Company. Data Security, the first of the Telesis companies was incorporated December 3, 1985, to develop, manufacture and market bulk magnetic tape degaussers and related products and services to the government and professional broadcast / video. The first Lazlo's opened in 1991. Today there are two Lazlo's with two more under construction. FireWorks will soon open a new restaurant in southeast Lincoln.
Right at Home is an in-home care and assistance agency that provides trained, insured, and bonded caregivers for a variety of needs. Services include assistance with post-hospital stays, help or companionship for aging parents, or respite for someone caring for an ailing spouse or relative. The company provides a wide range of health care professionals for clients including, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and psychiatric technicians. Currently, there are 84 franchise locations in the U.S. and the company is ranked in Entrepreneur magazine as one of the top 500 franchising companies.
Current Award Winners
