The Nebraska Career Catalyst will be held on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the UNK Regional Engagement Center, 2204 University Dr., Kearney, NE.

This event is a collaboration between the alumni associations at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is presented by Union Bank & Trust.

Benefits of attending

The Nebraska Career Catalyst is a valuable investment in you and your organization. Through the conference you will have a tremendous opportunity to: 

• Gain a deeper understanding of how soft skills play an integral role in advancing your personal and career success.
• Develop practical goals, systems and strategies that will improve your workplace environment and engagement. 
• Discuss the ever-changing landscape of flexible, hybrid and remote work settings.  
• The opportunity to make valuable connections with alumni peers who you can call upon throughout your career.

Who should attend

• Alumni and graduates of the University of Nebraska (UNK, UNL, UNO and UNMC).
• Early and mid-career professionals.
• First-time and mid-career managers.
• Anyone seeking to improve and advance their career. 

Conference schedule*

The conference will feature expert faculty and alumni presenters from the University of Nebraska’s four campuses. These unique and interactive learning sessions are tailored for early and mid-career professionals and will focus on workplace soft skills, management best-practices and professional development. You can also connect with other university alumni and university leaders. The speaker schedule is below.

Registration is required. The cost is $50 if you register by Sept. 26. Your registration includes breakfast and lunch. The registration fee will increase to $70 on Sept. 27 and registration closes on Nov. 5.

Are you planning to attend the event with a group of eight or more attendees? If so, you can take advantage of our group discount by contacting Toni Meyers at [email protected] or 308-698-5271.

Parking will be available in the lot surrounding the Regional Engagement Center. The Holiday Inn is the official hotel partner of the 2025 Nebraska Career Catalyst. A special room rate is available for attendees who book before Oct. 18. Call the Holiday Inn at 308-237-5971 and request the Nebraska Career Catalyst room rate.

Register here!

Conference Schedule*

8:30 am           Check-In and Breakfast

9:00 am           Welcome                    

9:30 am           Breakout Session 1

                          Deeper Connections: Networking with Purpose, Sara Bennett

                          Is Leadership Right for You? What New Leaders Wish They Were Told, Andy Noon, PhD

10:45 am         Breakout Session 2

                          How to Develop a Successful Elevator Speech, Joachim Voss, PhD, RN, ACRN, FAAN

                          Building Vision, Together: A Supervisor–Supervisee Dialogue on Trust, Growth, and Shared Goals, Garrett Gassman & Nicki Allen

12:00 pm        Networking Lunch

1:30 pm          Breakout Session 3

                         Strategy Skills: Building Resilience for Effective Leadership, Alberto Marcelin, MD & Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD, FACP, FIDSA                

                         Everybody’s Talking about AI, Hunter Bergman

2:45 pm          Closing Keynote Session

                         Culture Is Everyone’s Job: How to Read It, Respect It and Shape It, Keri Mesropov

4:00 pm          Conference Ends

For more information, please contact Trish Danburg at [email protected]