Nebraska Environmental Trust

Jeff Kanger represents Congressional District I - Lincoln on the Nebraska Environmental Trust board. Mr. Kanger is currently the Executive Vice President at First State Bank Nebraska. He focuses on lending, bank development, marketing and human resources. Kanger, originally from Omaha, received a bachelor's degree from Northwest Missouri State, followed by his law degree from University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Mr. Jim Hellbusch represents Congressional District I - Columbus on the Nebraska Environmental Trust board. Mr. Hellbusch owns Duo Lift, a company that manufactures wagon lifts to enhance farming operations. Today, Duo-Lift manufactures one of the largest lines of fertilizer trailers and running gears in the country and is known throughout the industry as a manufacturer of high quality
equipment with special emphasis on safety. Mr. Hellbusch was appointed on March 19, 2015 and will serve till March 10, 2021. Mr Hellbusch and his wife, Connie both grew up in Columbus, a community that afforded them opportunities they needed to be successful in both business and life. Duo-Lift and the Hellbusch's have won numerous awards locally and statewide, including recently being recognized during the kick-off of the Celebrate Nebraska Workers Industry Tour, for their economic contributions in the area. Mr Hellbusch said he was flattered to be appointed to the Trust Board.

Mark Quandahl represents Congressional District II on the Nebraska Environmental Trust board. Mark Quandahl was appointed by
Governor Ricketts in 2020 and represents Congressional District II on the Nebraska Environmental Trust board. His term began
on September 16th and continues until March 10, 2021. He also recently served as the State's Director of Banking and Finance. He is a former Senator and has assumed the seat of Robert Krohn.

Josh Andersen represents Congressional District III on the Nebraska Environmental Trust board. He currently operates a diversified family farm in Clay County, Nebraska. He is experienced in farming processes, regional conservation practices, business management and leadership, technical project and process development. Josh is a graduate of Sutton Public Schools, and holds a BSME from Kansas State University. After working in Oklahoma for ten years, he returned to his family farm in the Rainwater Basin to raise his four children with his wife, Teryl. His fourth generation farm utilizes many conservation practices and has participated in several local, regional, and national conservation programs.

Tim McCoy was appointed to be the Director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission by the Commissioners on September 29, 2021.  He succeeds Jim Douglas as the Director.  McCoy had been deputy director since July 2012, and previously served as the wildlife division administrator and agriculture program manager in Lincoln. He joined the agency in 2002 as a district manager in the wildlife division in Kearney.

McCoy, a Nebraska native, holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and master’s and doctorate degrees in fisheries and wildlife from the University of Missouri. He was a fellow in the fourth cohort of the National Conservation Leadership Institute.  McCoy grew up on a southwest Nebraska farm, near Arapahoe, where he developed his passion for outdoor pursuits and curiosity about fish, wildlife and their habitats.

S

herry Vinton was appointed as the Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) in January 2023 by Governor Jim Pillen.

As NDA Director, Vinton oversees all programs of the agency including animal disease traceability programs, regulatory programs for plants and animals, food safety and consumer protection programs, and the promotion of Nebraska agriculture and ag products.

A lifelong Nebraskan and livestock producer, Vinton brings a wide range of experience, leadership, and knowledge to this position.

Vinton is a fifth-generation rancher on a family ranch south of Whitman in the Sandhills of Nebraska. The Vinton family runs a cow-calf operation where they raise Angus cattle that graze on native pasture, irrigated alfalfa and sub irrigated prairie hay. Vinton attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she studied accounting and currently manages the business end of the family ranch.

Vinton is a leader in Nebraska agriculture who knows the importance of the industry for the future of our state. Her passion for farming, ranching, and nature makes her the perfect advocate for agriculture, someone who will stand up for farmers and ranchers, promote and grow Nebraska agriculture, increase market access for Nebraska ag products and add value to the commodities we produce.

Vinton’s experience on various agricultural organizations and advisory committees at the local, state, and federal level serves Nebraska well. She was appointed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board in 2012 and represented Congressional District 3 on the Nebraska Environmental Trust board for 14 years after her appointment in 2007. Vinton also served as treasurer and mentor for the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition and is a member of the Agriculture Builders of Nebraska.

Starting in 2019 and just prior to becoming NDA’s director, Vinton served as Vice President of Nebraska Farm Bureau. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of Nebraska Farm Bureau for 6 years.

Vinton and her husband, Chris, have three married children (two who work on the ranch, and one who farms in northeast Nebraska) and 10 grandchildren.

Mr. Macy is the Director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. Mr. Macy was named Director
of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) by Governor Pete Ricketts in March of 2015. From 2012 to 2014, Mr. Macy served as the Director for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Financial Assistance Center which provides funding for drinking and wastewater infrastructure projects. Mr. Macy has previously served in a variety of capacities throughout the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources including roles as the Environmental Compliance Section Chief.

Mr. Riley is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in Nebraska. He worked for over a decade as a senior engineer and project manager for a national firm. He spent the past twenty years at the Flatwater Group, where he is a company founder. At the Flatwater Group, he managed water projects across the state including irrigation and water supply, restoration of Nebraska's unique saline wetlands and stream and reservoir restoration. Riley has taught courses in UNL's civil engineering department and is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Biological Systems Engineering. Mr. Riley is the Director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

Karl Elmshaeusers was named Executive Director of the Nebraska Environmental Trust December 2, 2021. Elmshaeuser has served as the USDA Rural Development State Director and prior to that as the executive director for the West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD). While he was the Executive Director as WCNDD they received two national awards for community innovation programs.

He served two terms on the Nebraska Rural Development Commission. He has also served on the Nebraska Regional Official Council and the National Association of Development board of directors.

Sandra Weaver is the Administrative Secretary of the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Sandra joined the Trust in June 2021. She brings with her vast experience and knowledge. She worked for the Nebraska Board of Engineers for 18 years and retired in July 2020. Sandra decided to go back to the work force and the Trust is excited to have her onboard. She was employed by the Furnas County Assessor's Office as a Deputy Assessor from 1987 to 2000. She then moved to Lincoln and became a Secretary for the Nebraska Department of
Education in 2001. A year later, Sandra began her position in the Board of Engineers and Architects as an administrative assistant. She
was reclassified as the Board’s business manager in 2016. Sandra grew up in Furnas County near Beaver City, and received her degree in business administration and management from Central Community College. As the business manager, her duties included expenditures and annual financial reports, analyzed accuracy of records and compliance of transactions with established policies and procedures, and assisted in preparation of the biennial budget.