Center for Rural Entrepreneurship - Energizing Entrepreneurial Communities

Staff

Deborah Markley is Managing Director and Director of Measurement, Research, Policy solution area. Deb provides strategic oversight and management of the Center, which includes working with the Center's board of directors and acting as liason to the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI). In addition, she guides the Center's measurement and research agendas, including development and implementation of tools for measuring success and practice-driven research as well as evaluation of model entrepreneurship development systems and initiatives in rural places. She collaborates with colleagues across the Center to capture and communicate the impact of the Center's work. Deb brings more than 30 years of experience in field-based research in rural economic development to the Center. She co-founded the Center with Don Macke in 2001.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is Director of Entrepreneurial Communities solution area. Through thiw work, Don helps communties and regions throughout North America grow entrepreneur-focused economic development strategies. He works with a group of strategic partners across the country to deliver customized economic development solutions. Don is also active in the Community Development Philanthropy/Transfer of Wealth solution area, and conducted the first statewide Transfer of Wealth study in Nebraska in 2002. Don has more than 35 years of community economic development and policy experience. He co-founded the Center with Deb Markley in 2001.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it joined the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship as Research Analyst to further the organization's efforts around Transfer of Wealth (TOW) research in North America. He focused his efforts on developing a more comprehensive micro-simulation model. Ahmet's research led to him to co-author the book "Transfer of Wealth in Rural America" Understanding the Potential, Realizing the Opportunity, Creating Wealth for the Future." In his current position, Ahmet leads the Center's Community Development Philanthropy solution area, which makes the connection between community economic development and philanthropy by leveraging local dollars to support community needs. In addition, Ahmet supports the Center's other solution areas by providing research analysis. Ahmet holds a Master's of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) as well as a BSBA in Management Information from UNL.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is a Senior Associate at the Center. Since 2003, Craig's primary focus with the center has been youth entrepreneurship and helping communities develop effective youth engagement systems. Craig, who grew up in a town with a population of 223 people, brings more than 20 years of agriculture and rural work experience to the Center. Of particular note is Craig's work in creating the Youth Attraction Formula, a tool for Great Plains communities to address persistent population decline largely due to significant youth out-migration. Craig graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics with emphasis in Rural Community Economics and Marketing.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is Senior Associate for Finance for the Center. She has worked for the Center since October 2010 and has been in charge of maintaining an organized office and keeping all accounting functions running smoothly and efficiently. Monica brings more than 26 years of accounting experience, ranging from banking to private industries before stepping into the Center position. Monica brings organization to the financial side of the Center, but also enjoys her time at home raising six boys.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is Senior Associate of Marketing Communications for the Center. Ann brings more than 20 years of communications experience to the Center from a variety of backgrounds including advertising, marking public and media relations and strategic planning. Ann is the head of the Communications team for the Center and is responsible of overseeing and branding all content the Center distributes. She is also responsible for maintaining a solid presence online for the Center and keeping communications current and professional for each of the solution areas the Center offers. Ann holds a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Advertising, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is an Associate of Marketing Communications for the Center. Kyle is currently a senior majoring in journalism with a news-editorial focus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and anticipates graduating in December of 2013. Kyle joined the Center team in February of 2011 as a research associate for Ahmet Binerer. Recently, Kyle has been transitioned to the communications team to work with Ann Chaffin. In this role, Kyle will develop success stories around the Center's work as well as aid production of other content the Center distributes.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is a Project Associate for the Center. Hired in November of 2012, Dana supports a number of Center projects, including providing executive assistance to each of the Center's solution areas. Dana graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BA in English and a minor in Medieval and Renaissance studies in May of 2012. Dana works in the Lincoln, NE office and helps the Center's daily functions run smoothly.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is a research intern for the Center. Michael was hired in November of 2012 to assist Ahmet Binerer in background research for Community Development Philanthropy. Michael is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and plans to graduate in May 2013 with a degree in Political Science and Economics. His behind-the-scenes work for Transfer of Wealth and Donor Identification projects has greatly enhanced the Center's research structure.