Meet The Team
Ambassadors
President
Carol Eilers
Being a lifelong Boyd County resident, I can validate the importance that a small community offers. My husband, Ernie and I have raised two beautiful children in Spencer that provided a quality of life that can not be found in the large, urban areas.
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Having received a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics from Wayne State College gave me the ability to teach our area youth for many years in Spencer and currently provide educational services through online opportunities at Wayne State College. Throughout those years, I recognized the value in keeping our small community vibrant and growing.
The heart of the Spencer Community Economic Development organization is to support and strengthen the Spencer community businesses through a proactive approach in establishing a community built on a foundation of leadership, ethics, and progression. The members of the organization represent the hard work ethics and compassion the community is known for. It is my goal as the board President to encourage not only the current residents of our community to support each other, but invite and welcome alumni, retirees, and individuals seeking for a community that gives stability, peace, and opportunities in the fast-paced, diversified world we live in today. Whether you are looking to move to the Spencer area or wanting to support the mission of the Spencer Community Economic Development organization, I am confident you will find it fulfilling and rewarding.
Vice President
Jamie Haun
Growing up in Spencer, I have always held the town near and dear to my heart. Both my husband, Dylan and myself having strong roots established in Spencer, we made the decision to move back to our hometown in 2019. As the Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President of Nebraska State Bank in Spencer, I am able to provide my professional skills to area residents and validate the opportunities that are available in our smaller community. When not working my day job, I can be found helping out on the family farm-ranch. I am grateful for the ability to be an active board member of the Spencer Community Economic Development organization and the mission it sets forth to do, as my love to help others lines up perfectly with everyone's charitable hearts within the organization. The ability to pay it forward to a community that has given me so much makes me eager to continue the positive traditions that are in place and to build on more growth in the upcoming years.
Secretary
Melanie Black
After 30 years of providing education to Boyd County students, I have witnessed the impact that raising children in a small-town setting has provided. My husband, Rex and I have raised two children in the community and are now blessed with grandchildren that are able to have the opportunity to receive all the benefits my children received by living in our community. I am passionate about promoting the key qualities Spencer provides and understand the hard work involved in making our community one that represents hope, growth, and camaraderie through the active involvement of the Spencer Community Economic Development organization
Treasurer
Tracy Birmeier
I am a Spencer-Naper alumni student that moved back to Spencer in 2003 after receiving my Bachelor in Business Accounting. Since moving back, I am an active member in various community organizations and can validate the importance of being an engaged citizen to our small-town community. The appreciation I have in raising my daughter in a community that is family oriented is a gift I seek to give future families that are looking for a better way of life. Being employed at the Butte State Bank gives me the opportunity to assist customers in providing financial assistance from the agricultural to the traditional business models. It is my goal to provide not only a professional support system, but one that is supported on a personal level. Having experienced firsthand the true value that our community offers, it is my obligation to pay it forward through the Spencer Community Economic Development organization and encourage our future leaders to come back and live an enriching, progressive adult life.
Director
Breg Finnegan
My husband, Corey was born and raised in Spencer and I knew right away after visiting Spencer while we dated that this community had something great to give. We moved back to Spencer after our first child was born knowing the small-town qualities is what we wanted to raise our family in. Today, our family of four is actively involved in various organizations within the school and community that have added personal enhancements to our lives. I have the opportunity to work with many agricultural driven people from my employment status at the USDA office located in Spencer. I truly believe that our community offers a lifetime of richness and am whole heartily invested in helping the Spencer Community Economic Development organization be a voice to why people should reside in our community and seek entrepreneurial opportunities.
Director
Leslie Nielsen
I spent my entire childhood growing up in Spencer. After graduating from Spencer-Naper High School, I attended Wayne State College to complete a degree in Fashion Merchandising. During my early adult years, I realized my appreciation for the qualities that Spencer gave me and returned to Spencer to be a proud business owner of Lilee Louise.
My husband, Grant and I raise our three children on a ranch east of town. Both of us being raised in Boyd County and now raising our children in Boyd County offers us the ability to share with our children the gifts that the small-town roots have instilled in us. I knew right away I wanted to be part of the Spencer Community Economic Development organization and to be able to be a voice in representing the value businesses are to the community. It brings me much joy to see other young families join our community. I strive to be an active, social member that promotes, encourages, and supports future generations to be part of something special that the Spencer community provides.
Director
Tracy Goesch
After moving back to Spencer in 1997, my late husband, Jason and I knew the qualities raising our four children would have on them. Being heavily involved in the agriculture industry, I continue to be engaged in the day to day tasks necessary to keep our agricultural community thriving. My goal as a Spencer Community Economic Development board member is to add stability to the community, while providing the support to not only our current community members, but to our new community members for generations to come.
Spencer Community Economic Development Team
As Ambassadors for the community, we serve as the goodwill and public relations representatives of the SCED. Attend ribbon cuttings, new business openings, ground breaking ceremonies, and business relocations. We strive to attend community events, parades, and festivals in the area. We take pride in making our out of town visitors feel important and foster the promotion of retail, civic, agricultural, and economic development interests in Spencer and the surrounding area.
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We encourage a community that is progressive in thinking and promotes innovation. The businesses that are here find the quality, talented, experienced, and dedicated work force to create an environment that comforts residents of knowing they are surrounded by a great school system and quality health care providers. Whether you are considering the Spencer community as a place to live, visit, or to relocate, come and see for yourself why Spencer is close to paradise and far from being ordinary​​