Loren Kucera retired June 30 from his successful role with the Nebraska Business Development Center at Wayne State College. He will remain active as an adjunct faculty member at WSC.
Several Nebraska small business owners are fortunate that Loren Kucera never found the path to becoming a park ranger, like he dreamed about when he was growing up in Clarkson, Neb.
Instead, Kucera went on to serve more than 30 years as a consultant and director of the Nebraska Business Development Center at Wayne State College, helping Nebraska’s small business owners achieve their own dreams. Kucera officially retired June 30.
Kucera helped generate more than $304 million in capital infusion and create 4,191 jobs across Northeast Nebraska. His no-cost consulting for approximately 2,500 clients has empowered businesses in nearly every industry – from hardware and manufacturing to unique ventures such as international fur trading – by assisting with business planning, market research, financing, succession planning, and strategic pivots when needed.
Kucera’s consulting resulted in 336 business startups or transitions. A total of 658 clients received loan application assistance, which resulted in 534 approved loans (81% approval rate).
Loren Kucera
"Loren has been a pillar of the Nebraska Business Development Center for many years,” said Tony Schultz, state director for America’s Small Business Development Center-Nebraska. “His legacy is shown by the success of the clients he has served and the tremendous investment in small businesses that resulted in Northeast Nebraska. We wish Loren the very best in his retirement."
Although he’s retired, Kucera will remain active as a Wayne State adjunct faculty member. He’ll supervise students in Wayne State’s Career Scholars Program who have their own businesses.
During his retirement party, Kucera received the honorary title of Nebraska Admiral (formally, Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska) in a document from Gov. Jim Pillen. It is the State of Nebraska’s highest civic honor that can be bestowed upon an individual.
Wayne State’s School of Business and Technology has helped ensure Kucera’s legacy will endure by establishing the Loren Kucera Entrepreneurship Fund. Donating to the Fund will help solidify Kucera’s legacy, support the next generation of entrepreneurs, and grow rural Nebraska.
Kucera has served on many boards including the Nebraska Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO), Northeast Economic Development Inc., Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District, Nebraska Economic Developers Association (NEDA) Lifetime Member and NEDA Education Committee, and the Norfolk Small Business Resource Team.
Kucera has been recognized as the Economic Development Professional of the Year by NEDA and by the Association of Small Business Development Centers as a State Star three times. He also received the NBDC Distinguished Service Award.
About the Nebraska Business Development Center
The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) helps Nebraska businesses start, grow, and develop, by strengthening Nebraska businesses for a healthy economy and prosperous communities. NBDC is a University of Nebraska at Omaha center that provides confidential business development consulting services across Nebraska to entrepreneurs and business owners for the life cycle of their business.
NBDC partners with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Wayne State College, and Chadron State College to deliver its services statewide. The U.S. Small Business Administration and other federal, state, and private organizations support NBDC.