Speakers

Mike Smith

Mike Smith is a globally recognized storyteller, an award winning entrepreneur and founder of The Bay—an award-winning Third Place that Vice Magazine called a “creative haven.” Over the years, Mike has skateboarded across Nebraska three times, produced the short film in Nebraska called Prairie Pirates (a finalist in an international film festival), and transformed Lincoln’s Railyard into an X Games–style venue. His adventures and projects embody his belief that the wildest adventures live off the beaten path. He has partnered with brands like Red Bull, Vans, Liquid Death, Toyota, and Microsoft and has been featured in Buzzfeed, Vice and, Forbes. Mike’s work blends storytelling, innovation, and design thinking, inspiring audiences to dream bigger and disrupt boldly. When he’s not speaking, Mike is with his wife and their son, chasing adventures close to home and across the globe.

Cassandra (McAuley) Gilbertson

Cassandra (McAuley) Gilbertson is Managing Director of MMGY NextFactor and lead author of the 2025 DestinationNext Futures Study. With more than 20 years in tourism strategy, she has worked with destinations across North America and around the globe, helping communities shape their future with collaboration and impact in mind. Before joining MMGY NextFactor, she spent nearly a decade with Tourism Calgary leading communications, advocacy, and the city’s Destination Strategy. Outside of work, Cassandra loves traveling with her sports-journalist husband Wes, cheering on the Calgary Flames and Kansas City Chiefs, chasing live music, reading nonstop, and exploring the outdoors with her dog, Kona.

Jenna Bartja

As Community Activation Manager for Visit Nebraska, Jenna works to establish relationships and alliances with state and local government agencies and business organizations to educate about the important role destination marketing plays in community vitality and quality of life. She is passionate about collaborating with stakeholders to pursue impactful tourism development projects, a notable one being the designation of Nebraska’s first International Dark Sky Park. She enjoys traveling and sharing immersive outdoor experiences with her husband, and her love of plants (second only to that of her two perfect dogs) is readily apparent to anyone who has ever visited her office.

Jamie Bright

Jamie Bright is a Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator based in the Southern Panhandle. She partners with local leaders to spark community pride, attract new residents, and grow entrepreneurship across rural Nebraska. A lifelong believer in the power of small-town connections, Jamie once ran a cozy used bookstore and coffee shop inside a restored barn in Bushnell, Nebraska.

Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel

Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel sees customer service from two perspectives: as a small business owner and as an educator helping communities become a more welcoming place for visitors and newcomers. As a Nebraska Extension Rural Prosperity Specialist and professor in Agricultural Economics, she likes to share real-life Nebraska stories where service has made a difference. During the summer when she is not working for the University, you might find her on a combine harvesting wheat north of Sidney.

Veronica Cheryl Casados

Veronica is a Senior Account Executive at TURNER, where she supports integrated PR campaigns for travel and tourism clients. With a background in city tourism, cultural institutions, and higher education, she’s led media strategy for Explora Science Center, the Chicago History Museum, and CU Denver. Veronica is known for her people-first storytelling approach and strong media relationships, with placements in outlets like CBS Sunday Morning, Axios, and Vogue. Based in Denver, she brings curiosity, collaboration, and creativity to every campaign.

Jenn Gjerde

Jenn is the Marketing Manager for Visit Nebraska with more than a decade of experience in the industry. She oversees marketing, public relations, and advertising strategies, seasonal marketing plans and creative development. Jenn is also working toward her CDME certification with Destinations International.

Outside of work, Jenn is an avid reader. In the summer, she enjoys exploring Nebraska's state parks with her family. Jenn is also a lifelong Girl Scout and previously served on the Spirit of Nebraska Council Board.

Chris Goforth

As a former radio personality, Chris is passionate about anything audio-related. After 15 years in Lincoln radio, Chris bid farewell to the industry in 2017 to become the Marketing Director at the Nebraska State Historical Society. In 2024, he launched the Nebraska History Podcast, highlighting articles from Nebraska History Magazine in audiobook format. Chris now serves as the Director of Operations for the Historical Society and continues to produce the bi-monthly podcast, which has seen over an 85% growth in subscribers in 2025. When he’s not working, Chris enjoys learning new skills and has become an avid woodworker, pizza maker, and chocolatier.

Veta Jeffrey

Veta Jeffery is a seasoned economic-development strategist and the Executive Director of Operations and Projects for the North Omaha Visitors Center, where she champions the cultural, historical, and economic assets of one of Nebraska’s most storied communities. A former chamber CEO and long-time C-suite executive with more than 20 years in banking, government leadership, and community development, she has led multimillion-dollar initiatives, strengthened small-business ecosystems, and built partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, national foundations, and grassroots organizations. Her work centers on elevating underrepresented communities, expanding tourism pathways, and creating economic mobility for families and neighborhoods across the region. Known for her innovative, forward-thinking approach, Veta blends policy insight, financial expertise, and community voice to drive sustainable growth. Veta is an unapologetic economic-development junkie—nothing excites her more than cranes in the sky and dirt moving on a construction site, because to her, that means progress, opportunity, and a community on the rise. 

Sheila Jenkinson

Sheila Jenkinson is a travel influencer, public speaker, and host of the Growing Small Town Nebraska Podcast, producing seven episodes each month including Foundation Fridays in partnership with the Nebraska Community Foundation, Sheila’s Shoutouts highlighting small businesses and attractions, standard episodes showcasing tourism throughout the Cornhusker State, and Growing Nebraska and Beyond. 

With over 20 years of on-air radio experience, Sheila is known for her energy, insight, and deep passion for small-town life. She's collaborated with podcasters across the country and is a member of the Midwest Travel Network Speakers Bureau. Sheila was the keynote for the 2025 Nebraska Museum Association's Annual Conference, was a finalist for the 2025 Nebraska Tourism Friend of Tourism Award, and was the recipient of the 2025 Midwest Travel Network Inspiring Leader Content Creator Award.

Kendra Mitchell

Kendra Mitchell serves as the Tourism Director for Cheyenne County, Nebraska, where she helps promote the region and strengthen the visitor experience. Professionally, she leads county-wide marketing efforts, develops events like the All is Bright Christmas Tour, and works closely with local partners to highlight the unique attractions and hospitality of Western Nebraska. A fun fact about Kendra: she loves exploring communities across Nebraska and is always on the hunt for unique local restaurants and coffee shops.

Kelly Nielsen

Kelly Nielsen is an inclusion advocate dedicated to improving experiences for autistic individuals and their families. She serves as the COMPASS Program Manager at Autism Action Partnership, where she provides trainings, supports community partners, and helps organizations create more accessible, sensory-inclusive environments. With experience in program development and community engagement, Kelly works across sectors - from museums to healthcare systems - to expand understanding and create meaningful, sustainable change. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys creative projects, especially baking and decorating sugar cookies.

Kathryn Nygren

Kathryn Nygren is the owner of Found + Flora floral and gift boutique in downtown Wahoo, a regular guest on Channel 10/11’s Pure Nebraska television program, and one half of the podcast produced for the Wahoo Chamber of Commerce called: Chamber Chat with Kate and Kat. She has owned her business in downtown Wahoo for over 13 years and is a serial volunteer for her community currently helping in the development of the sparkly new Wahoo Area Arts Council. 

Faith Overall

Faith Overall is the Destination Stewardship Manager at the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO). She began her career in tourism with the Leave No Trace organization, where she led destinations across the U.S. in developing responsible recreation education programs. In her current role within Destination Development at the CTO, she is responsible for inspiring Colorado tourism industry partners to develop, manage, and promote visitor experiences that strategically align with their competitive advantage and help protect the unique sense of place within their destinations. When not working Faith can be found enjoying Colorado’s amazing outdoors with her husband Zack and dogs Doug, Bernie and Riggins. 

Deborah Park

With more than 20 years of experience in public relations, Deborah’s diverse background encompasses travel/tourism, hospitality, consumer technology, and entertainment. From TURNER’s Denver office, she excels at managing teams to develop award-winning, creative strategy and media relations campaigns for destination and resort clients. Prior to joining TURNER in 2015, Deborah oversaw strategy, media relations and content in-house at VISIT DENVER; handled media and digital relations for Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk; and executed media outreach for studio film releases and red carpet events for PR agencies in Los Angeles. She has a bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Studio Arts and a master’s degree in Marketing, and currently serves on the executive committee for PRSA Travel + Tourism.