We are looking to change the political landscape and to restore political balance in our state. We are a hub for political news and action. We live and work in rural, urban and suburban Nebraska. We are progressive, independent, moderate, populist and everything in between. We love our Nebraska political history and take lessons from the past to build a better future. We are Bold Nebraska.
Board of Directors
Board Member, Rick Poore: Rick is a small business owner in Lincoln. Starting his business DesignWear in 1994, Rick has seen first hand the role small business owners can have in shaping policies that affect his work and his employees.
Board Member, Dr. Amanda McKinney: Amanda is a doctor in rural Nebraska. She grew up in Odell and her grandfather was a member of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation in the 1960s. Dr. McKinney was one of three doctors on stage with President Obama during a critical moment in the fight for healthcare reform.
Board Member, Emily Schlichting: Born and raised in Nebraska (or Corn-Born, in her words), Emily's life revolves around politics, service and words. Emily has worked at the Center for American Progress in Washington DC, in the US Senate, and the Nebrsaka legislature. Emily has been an outspoken advocate for health care reform by sharing her story here in Nebraska, working with the White House and testifying in front of the US Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee on behalf of young Americans. A 2012 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Emily led the charge to adopt an Employee +1 benefit for University of Nebraska employees. She is also a 2011 Truman Scholar who loves to dance, sleep, and eat peanut butter. Email Emily: eschlichting@boldnebraska.org.
Staff & Interns
Editor and Founder, Jane Kleeb: Jane lives for cooking, politics and news. She was a reporter for MTV, frequent guest on FOX and MSNBC and key advisor for “Thin” a documentary on eating disorders. Jane led a statewide organizing campaign on health care reform, served as the national executive director of the Young Democrats of America, the foundation director for Renfrew a mental health facility and headed up an AmeriCorps program. Jane has a "thing" for training manuals, flip charts and icebreakers. She lives in Hastings with her husband Scott, an energy efficiency entrepreneur. They have three little girls and a backyard garden that always has spare zucchini. Email Jane: jane@boldnebraska.org.
News Director, Mary Anne Andrei: Mary Anne holds a bachelors in resource conservation from the University of Montana, a masters in museum studies from UNL, and a doctorate in the history of science from the University of Minnesota. Her history of the early wildlife conservation movement in America is forthcoming from the University of Chicago Press. Her photographs have appeared in Mother Jones, OnEarth, and the Virginia Quarterly Review. Email Mary Anne: news@boldnebraska.org.
Energy Director, Ben Gotschall: Ben was born and raised on a cattle ranch in the Sandhills of southwest Holt County, Nebraska. Although most of his occupations have been agricultural, he has also published a full-length book of poetry and taught college English. He continues to maintain a connection to the Sandhills, running his own cattle business and helping his family manage the ranch, while finding the time to write, play music, and work on behalf of farmers and ranchers with the Nebraska Farmers Union and other organizations. Email Ben: ben@boldnebraska.org
BOLD Intern, Chelsea Johnson: Chelsea grew up on a farm in Nebraska, and has had a love for nature all her life. She is currently a student at Nebraska Wesleyan University, having just returned from six months abroad in South Africa. Majoring in Political Science and Economics, she has found a deep interest in human rights and public policy. Service and learning are central to her life. In line with her favorite quote by Ghandi, she strives to "be the change she wishes to see in the world. Email Chelsea: intern@boldnebraska.org
BOLD Intern, Aaron John: Aaron studied Philosophy and Political Science at University of Nebraska-Omaha and is currently a second-year law student at the Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln, NE. He graduated from Kearney High and grew up spending summer vacations on his grandmother’s farm near Page, NE. Aaron enjoys studying Environmental and Natural Resource Law as well as continuing to study philosophy. Aaron currently works at the Douglas County Public Defender’s office as a law clerk. In his spare time he enjoys camping, fishing, hunting and attending music festivals. Aaron is usually caught listening to Phish or another Jamband and conversing with just about anyone about almost any topic. Email Aaron: ajohn@boldnebraska.org.
Designer, Justin Kemerling: As a community-minded designer and activist, consider Justin an extremely interested party in how America exists in the world, what it means to be a global citizen today and how to make change beautiful. For more: www.justinkemerling.com.
New Media Director, Mark Hefflinger: Mark was born and raised in Omaha, and received a Bachelor's degree in English and Communications from Boston College. He has worked as a journalist in California, covering the digital media industry, music and LGBT issues, and more recently has been an online organizer for progressive causes. Mark worked on the No on Proposition 8 campaign in California in 2008, and afterwards with organizations including the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center on voter outreach on marriage equality. In 2012, Mark was the New Media Director on CREDO SuperPAC's successful Congressional campaign that ousted a 30-year conservative, climate change-denying Congressman in Northern California. For more: www.hefflinger.com Email Mark: mark@boldnebraska.org
