Jonathan Jank, president and CEO of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership, was named the 2019 Professional of the Year by the Nebraska Economic Developers Association on June 13.
Jonathan Jank has been named the 2019 Nebraska Economic Developers Association Professional of the Year in the community category.
The award was presented by NEDA, the largest association of economic development professionals in Nebraska at its annual conference in Wayne on June 13.
Jank is president and CEO of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership. He is recognized for his accomplishments and dedicated service to economic growth in the State of Nebraska.
Jank has been employed in economic development since 2012. He received his bachelor of science degree in business administration, as well as his master's degree in business administration with an emphasis in aging studies from Concordia University, Nebraska.
Jank has been active in many economic development and other professional organizations over the years. He currently serves as chairperson of the NEDA Scholarship Committee, board member and Scholarship Committee chairperson for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Executives and co-chairperson for the statewide young professionals’ group Connecting Young Nebraskans.
In his current position, Jank has been involved in many notable accomplishments over the last few years. These include the implementation of the Seward County Vision Statement 2035, which led to the formation of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership. Recent recruitment efforts resulted in Scoular Freeze Dried selecting to locate in the Seward Rail Campus after a multi-state site selection search. Existing local businesses have been supported through LB 840 projects in Milford, Seward and Utica, along with various TIF projects in Milford and Seward. He applied for and received a housing study grant from the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority and helped lead the completion of Seward's historic downtown district revitalization plan.
“None of these successes could have happened without the hundreds of public and private sector stakeholders and SCCDP members who collaboratively make Seward County, Nebraska, a special place to live, work and play," Jank said. "I’m honored to serve in my role alongside my coworkers, board of directors and hundreds of volunteers as we shape the future of Seward County together.”
Brian Vasa, treasurer of NEDA, had nothing but good things to say about Jank receiving the award.
“In addition to his position as president and CEO, he’s a loving husband and father. He does his best to balance all of those demands and, in my opinion, does a great job with all the above.”
