Buffalo County Community Partners, Courtesy
KEARNEY — Two new staff members have joined the Buffalo County Community Partners Board. New staff members include Jacob Lunsford as the IT & Data Management Director and Akaela Lieth as the Marketing Director.
Jacob Lunsford says, “I’ve always been passionate about technology and data, and what excites me most about working with Buffalo County Community Partners is the opportunity to apply those skills while making a meaningful impact on the community.”
“I had worked with Buffalo County Community Partners in the past and loved the experience. So, when the position became available, I thought it would be a good fit and jumped at the opportunity,” said Akaela Lieth.
Community Partners Board Officers have upcoming changes as well. After serving a two-year commitment as Chairman Diane Duffin is stepping down. Nichole Hersh, Kinship Navigator Director with DHHS, will be the new Chairman with Jon Brandt, Attorney with Klein, Brewster, Brandt and Messersmith, as the Vice-Chairman. Other changes to the Board include Derick Lorentz, CFO at Kearney Regional Medical Center, is taking over as the Treasurer and Sarah Sawin, Director of Utilities for City of Kearney, as the new Secretary.
Nichole Hersh says, “My vision is for the organization to enhance its role in creating a thriving Buffalo County by reinforcing collaborative partnerships, broadening available resources, and elevating the value delivered to children, families, and community members. Together we can and will do more.”
CEO, Denise Zwiener says, “Next year will be a year of building stronger foundations in the communities we serve in Buffalo County. Nichole has years of experience in systems work and navigating complex social issues for youth and families. Her leadership term as chairman will be challenging in challenging times, however, she is resilient and her strength as a leader will facilitate our work and inform others. The staff and I are excited about the opportunity to work with our exec leaders in 2026.”
A complete list of the Board Members can be found here: https://bcchp.org/board/.
Buffalo County Community Partners is a non-profit organization that identifies concerns impacting the well-being of area residents, addresses concerns by collecting and evaluating data, and facilitates conversations among experts and impacted parties.
They are uniquely positioned to do this work because they invest time to build connections and increase access to the necessary resources and experiences to achieve solutions. Find more at www.bcchp.org or contact us at (308)865-2284 or info@bcchp.org.
