Contact

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Nebraska Tourism Commission

301 Centennial Mall South
PO Box 98907
Lincoln, NE 68509-8907
Email: [email protected]

Phone: (402) 471-3796

 

Nebraska Tourism Staff

John Ricks, Executive Director

(402) 480-5566 or [email protected]

John Ricks is the Executive Director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission. He joined the Commission in January of 2017.

John is architect of the state’s marketing strategy and award-winning campaigns that have increased visitor expenditures $1.5 billion since the effort was launched back in 2019, totaling $4.54 billion in 2023.

John has spent more than 25 years working in tourism destination marketing for a number of different states. As an advertising agency executive, he led marketing efforts for Wisconsin and Wyoming. Working with Wyoming, he led strategy efforts that created the award-winning “Forever West” campaign. Previously he was Associate Director of the Colorado Tourism Office where he launched the very successful “Come to Life” marketing strategy that resulted in five consecutive years of record-setting results in terms of visitation, visitor spending, tax revenue generated and marketing ROI.

Son of an Army officer, he was born in the Philippines and has lived in destinations around the world including Hawaii, Japan and Okinawa, where he graduated from high school. He’s also an adventure traveler having trekked on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, the wide open spaces of Patagonia and in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains in Bhutan.


Jenna Bartja, Community Activation Manager

(402) 326-1587 or [email protected]

After nearly six years of helping to identify, develop, and promote nature-based assets throughout the state, with a special accomplishment being the leader in efforts to secure the state’s first International Dark Sky Park, Jenna will stay the course in helping Nebraska achieve big things. In her new role, she will educate stakeholders on the importance of tourism as the state’s third largest grossing field, collaborate on statewide initiatives, and work to create an atmosphere of strength and unity within Nebraska’s dynamic tourism industry.

Jenna graduated from Georgia College & State University with a degree in Environmental Science. Pursuing her love of travel and passion for the outdoors, she secured an internship with Student Conservation Association which placed her at Grand Canyon National Park. After completing her internship within the Science and Resource Management Division's Vegetation Program, she stayed at Grand Canyon and spent nearly five years working various jobs within the park. She concluded her time there as Program Coordinator for the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute's educational day tours/hikes.

In the fall of 2018 – just two short weeks after their wedding – Jenna moved with her husband, Bobby, sight unseen to Lincoln, Nebraska. Her leap of faith was rewarded. Lincoln became home and her colleagues at Visit Nebraska became family. You can spot Jenna on the bicycle trails most days as she commutes to work or at her home in East Campus, either gardening or playing with her two spoiled rotten dogs, Ryely & Brodie.


Micheal Collins, Group Tour Coordinator

(402) 432-1384 or [email protected]

Micheal oversees the Nebraska Travel Counselor program and supervises 30–40 seasonal summer staff in various rest areas along Interstate 80. He is also the group travel manager for the state and is looking forward to expanding the group tour market in Nebraska and drawing more bus tours to the state.

Micheal received his master’s degree in planning and bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in urban studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His first job in Nebraska was with the Panhandle Area Development District in Scottsbluff, where one of his primary duties was serving as coordinator of the Nebraska Panhandle Tourism Coalition (now Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition).

When he moved to Scottsbluff in 1997, Micheal planned on living in Nebraska for no more than two years. He found that he really liked living in the state, however, so he applied for a position with the Nebraska Tourism Commission in 2000. He remained in Scottsbluff until relocating to Lincoln in 2002, where he now owns his own home and lives with his cats, Seamus and Stella, and Sophie.


Schuylar Craig, Administrative Programs Officer

Phone: (402) 471-3796 or [email protected]

Schuylar serves as the the Nebraska Tourism Commission's office coordinator, assists with workshop and conference registrations, organizes and attends commission meetings, oversees agency rules and regulation development, tracks agency-related legislation, assists with accounting and provides program support for agency staff and management.

Schuylar grew up on a farm outside of Beatrice, participated in high school and college rodeo, and has a degree in Business Marketing/Business Administration from Southeast Community College. She enjoys true crime podcasts and has a horse named Chico and a cat named Mira.


Jenn Gjerde, Marketing Manager

(402) 471-3768 or [email protected]

As Marketing Manager for the Nebraska Tourism Commission, Jenn oversees the development of marketing, public relations and advertising strategies, seasonal marketing plans, coordinating their creative development. The former TV news reporter previously worked for TV stations in North Platte and Lincoln. Her experiences across Nebraska helped her gain a great appreciation for the state, which she is excited to now be promoting.

Jenn graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Journalism degree. While in college she was an active member of the University’s club rowing team. She also worked for Husker Vision, where she spent football game days on the field and worked behind the scenes at many other sporting events. She currently lives in the capital city with her husband, son, daughter and their adorable pug. Gjerde is a lifelong Girl Scout, currently serving on the Spirit of Nebraska council board.


Heather Hogue, Deputy Director/Grant Administrator

(402) 471-3774 or [email protected]

Heather oversees the Commission’s grant opportunities including the Tourism Marketing Grant and Community Impact Grant programs, funding assistance programs that encourage Nebraska communities to work together to promote their destinations and events. Heather also manages administrative and program operations for the Commission in relation to state government policies, supervises the internship program, and performs program support for the agency director.

Heather grew up on a family farm outside of Minden, Nebraska and is a graduate of the Lincoln School of Commerce Travel and Tourism Program. Heather has worked for the state tourism office since May of 2000 and enjoys the challenges involved with the continuously changing world of the tourism industry. Prior to joining the Commission, Heather’s career path included being a customer service representative at Walt Disney World, working as an accredited IATA travel agent, and serving as a Quality Control Operator at a travel agency. Heather lives in Lincoln with her husband and daughter, Margaret.


Ben Jones, Marketing Content Specialist

(402) 471-3797 or [email protected]

Ben's job is to keep Nebraska travelers and tourism industry members informed through Visit Nebraska's digital and print communications, overseeing website and social media content creation. He also assists with media relations, helps arrange and conduct press trips and coordinates in the creation of the agency's marketing materials and travel guides.

A native Nebraskan, Ben has a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree in Professional Communication from Southern Utah University. He previously worked as a journalist and as a marketing communications specialist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. He lives in Lincoln and, away from work, he enjoys reading, writing and exploring new places.


Madison Johnson, Passport Program Coordinator

(402) 471-3789 or [email protected]

Madison serves as the Passport Program Coordinator where she focuses on participation, program development and implementation, as well as training and educating selected program applicants regarding the benefits of the program. She compiles and analyzes data to prepare reports in regards to program statistics, impact, and participation. Madison also builds partnerships with state and local officials, visitor bureau staff and managers, civic and tourism industry leaders.

Madison received her bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management with minors in Business, Leadership and Entrepreneurship from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Originally from Fairbury, Nebraska, Madison grew up on an acreage outside of town and has a passion for Nebraska and rural communities. 


 Lilly Uhlmann, Industry Relations & Education Coordinator

(402) 471-7755 or [email protected]

Lilly’s role includes planning and overseeing the annual Tourism Conference, managing of merchandise, overseeing webinars and working with the National Western Stock Show.

Lilly was born and raised in Lincoln and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and History with minors in Archaeology and Math. She previously worked as a communications intern for NTC and spent the past year living and working in France teaching English and promoting Nebraska internationally. She enjoys spending time outdoors and slowly working on cross stitch projects.


Alisha Simonson, Accountant II

(402) 471-3776 or [email protected]

Alisha serves as the primary finance agent for the Nebraska Tourism Commission, managing the agency’s accounting operations, policies, and processes. Alisha consults with agency administrators regarding financial matters and performs a wide variety of accounting and related financial tasks including reconciliations of accounts of incoming and outgoing monies, and processing of accounting batches. She also serves as a liaison with members of the public including coordination and interaction with employees and clients of the Commission.


Graham Jordison, Adventure Travel Specialist

(531) 220-6048 or [email protected]

Graham is Visit Nebraska’s Adventure Travel Specialist, representing the state’s eco and agritourism sectors. He is dedicated to promoting Nebraska’s diverse agricultural and ecotourism offerings, from Scottsbluff to Omaha. With over a decade of experience in community organizing, Graham has worked across Nebraska to protect the state’s natural resources. He is passionate about paddling, particularly on some of Nebraska and the nation’s longest rivers. In 2021, he completed a 2,300-mile paddle down the Missouri River, raising funds for the Lincoln Indian Center and other local nonprofits. Graham brings his extensive experience in both paddling and community organizing to the state’s tourism industry.

Originally from Arizona and Iowa, Graham attended Iowa State University, where he studied political and environmental science.


Basilia Kostopanagiotou, Communications Intern

(402) 471-3791 or [email protected]

Basilia assists with social media content creation, press releases and newsletters for Visit Nebraska. She is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in advertising and public relations with a minor in hospitality management. Basilia is from Chicago, Illinois. She enjoys doing yoga and Pilates, cooking and watching reality TV shows in her free time. Basilia loves to travel and has most recently been to Greece. She hopes one day to visit Australia. 


Bobby Coleman, Communications Intern

(402) 471-3744 [email protected]

Bobby assists in the writing of press releases and newsletters, as well as content management and creation for the Visit Nebraska website. He is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Philosophy. Bobby is from Leonardtown, Maryland, and loves being asked how he found himself in Nebraska. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and watching movies at the Ross Theater in Lincoln. 


Tourism Contracts

Miles Partnership, [email protected]
Advertising/Website/Travel Guide

Turner PR, [email protected]
PR/Media Relations