The Center's Staff
Pictured left to right, first row: Monica Braun, Janelle Moran, Dena Beck, Elisha Smith, Barbara Chamness, Adriana Dungan, and Marie Powell.
Middle row: Peggy Mahaney, Amber Bridges, Hayley Hallstrom, Tris Darnell, Kim Kaup, John Crabtree, Traci Bruckner, Rhea Landholm (former intern), Kim Preston, and Michael Holton (no longer at the Center) and Jeff Leanna (no longer at the Center).
Back row: Martin Kleinschmit, Wyatt Fraas, Chuck Hassebrook, Mike Heavrin, Brian Depew, Dan Owens (no longer at the Center), Jerry Terwilliger, Gene Rahn, Kathie Starkweather, Jeff Reynolds, and Jon Bailey. Not pictured, Nancy Flock, Steph Larsen, and Joy Marshall.
Lyons phone number: 402.687.2100, staff extensions provided below.
Jump to a Program
Rural Policy Program
Rural Research and Analysis Program
Rural Organizing and Outreach Program
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program (REAP)
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program
Administration and Organizational Development
Rural Policy Program
Chuck Hassebrook, (402.687.2103 ext 1018), chuckh@cfra.org
Executive Director, Rural Policy Program Director
Executive program leadership, agriculture policy, payment limits, and family farm and rural community revitalization.
Traci Bruckner, (402.687.2103 ext 1016), tracib@cfra.org,
Policy Analyst and Rural Policy Program Assistant Director
Agriculture policy, Farm Bill programs, conservation, appropriations.
Rural Research and Analysis Program
Jon Bailey, (402.687.2103 ext 1013), jonb@cfra.org
Rural Research and Analysis Program Director
Rural development and asset building strategies and policy, rural poverty.
Kim Preston, (402.687.2103 ext 1022), kimp@cfra.org
Rural Research Assistant, Research and Analysis Program
State rural policy, rural schools, conservation programs, Sowing the Seeds of Change.
Rural Organizing and Outreach Program
Brian Depew, (402.687.2103 ext 1015), briand@cfra.org
Rural Organizing and Outreach Program Director
Online organizing, outreach and advocacy, Grassroots communications.
Steph Larsen, (402.687.2103 ext 1014), stephl@cfra.org
Rural Organizer, Rural Organizing and Outreach Program
Grassroots organizing in support of agriculture and rural policy programs.
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program (REAP)
Jeff Reynolds, (402.656.3091, Plymouth, NE), jeffr@cfra.org
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Director
REAP project administration, microenterprise development, youth entrepreneurship.
Monica Braun, (402.643.2673, Seward, NE), monicab@cfra.org,
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Women's Business Center Director
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance.
Adriana Dungan, (402.494.1013, South Sioux City, NE), adrianad@cfra.org
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Hispanic Business Center Director and Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance, Hispanic Business Center (bilingual).
Dena Beck, (308.528.0060, Minden, NE), denab@cfra.org
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance.
Nancy Flock, (308.534.3508, North Platte, NE), nancyf@cfra.org
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Hispanic Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance - bilingual.
Peggy Mahaney, (402.687.2103 ext 1012), peggym@cfra.org
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Administrative Assistant
Micro loans, REAP associations.
Janelle Moran, (402.335.3675, Tecumseh, NE), janellem@cfra.org
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance.
Gene Rahn, (402.925.2920, Atkinson, NE), gener@cfra.org
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Senior Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance, with a special emphasis on micro lending.
Jerry Terwilliger, (308.247.9926, Morrill, NE), jerryt@cfra.org
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program Business Specialist
REAP, microenterprise organizing, business training, technical assistance.
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program
Kathie Starkweather, (402-438-8496), kathies@cfra.org
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Director
Rural community development, MarketPlace conference, renewable energy, beginning farmers, and ag marketing opportunities.
Wyatt Fraas, (402.254.6893, Hartington, NE), wyattf@cfra.org
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Assistant Director
Sustainable rural development, beginning farmers, sustainable agriculture practices, regional cooperatives.
Stephanie Fritz, (402.687.2103 ext 1021), stephanief@cfra.org
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Rural Community Development Specialist
Rural economic development, community development, leadership, and youth.
Mike Heavrin, (402.687.2103 ext 1008), mikeh@cfra.org
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Cooperative Marketing Manager
Marketing high-value products, cooperatives, and beginning farmers.
Martin Kleinschmit, (402.254.6893, Hartington, NE), martink@cfra.org
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
Beginning farmers, sustainable agriculture practices, climate change, renewable energy and energy conservation.
Joy Marshall, (402.614.5558, Omaha, NE), joym@cfra.org
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program MarketPlace Planner
Entrepreneurship, small business planning, event planning.
Administration and Organizational Development
Barbara Chamness, (402.687.2103 ext 1009), barbarac@cfra.org
Administration and Organizational Development Director
Financial, administrative, communications, media, development team oversight; general staff development; Women's Initiative, Windmill project.
John Crabtree, (402.687.2103 ext 1010), johnc@cfra.org
Development and Outreach Officer
Donor development and media relations.
Tris Darnell, (402.687.2103 ext 1001), trishd@cfra.org
Office Manager/Chief Technology Officer
Hayley Hallstrom, (402.687.2103 ext 1003) hayleyh@cfra.org
Chief Accountant
Kim Kaup, (402.687.2103 ext 1000), kimk@cfra.org
Office Clerk, Constituent Data Management
Marie Powell, (402.687.2103 ext 1011), mariep@cfra.org
Communications Associate
Communications, including newsletter, development and outreach.
Elisha Smith, (402.687.2103 ext 1007), elishas@cfra.org
Media and Outreach Associate
Media, development, and outreach.
