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Construction company invests in Nexus project

Construction company invests in Nexus project

NORFOLK, Neb. - The company that has provided construction management services to Northeast Community College has made a $50,000 investment to the institution’s Nexus project to build new agriculture facilities on the Norfolk campus.

Kingery Construction, headquartered in Lincoln, has contracted with Northeast since 2014 on projects that include Path Hall, Hawks Village, the current student center remodeling and addition, and repair of more than 20 roofs and buildings after a large hail storm in 2014.

According to Rod Berens, president and co-owner of Kingery Construction, “The people we’ve worked with at Northeast have been great partners and allies.”

Kingery Construction was owned and operated by three generations of the Kingery family for nearly 90 years until 2013, when it was purchased by the current owners, Berens and Rick Wintermute.

“Rick and I both have children,” Berens explained, “and further education is something we believe is important. We see the real need for the local community college, providing a quality education at an affordable price. That’s why we wanted to be a partner in the Nexus project at Northeast.”

Berens added, “We have hired many community college graduates for our company, and they have been good, hard-working employees.”

“We appreciate the support of Kingery Construction for the Nexus project,” said Dr. Tracy Kruse, associate vice president of development and external affairs and executive director of the Northeast Foundation. “They have been a good partner with Northeast on several projects over the past five years and this financial investment will support agriculture students and the local communities where those students will work and live after graduation.”

Funding for the $23 million Agriculture & Water Center for Excellence project is currently being solicited to enhance and expand the agriculture facilities at Northeast Community College. In addition to the college’s commitment of $10 million, Northeast is seeking at least $13 million in private funds to begin the initial phase of construction, which includes a new veterinary technology clinic and classrooms, a new farm site with a large animal handling facility and other farm structures for livestock operations, a farm office and storage. The new facilities will be located near the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex on E. Benjamin Ave. in Norfolk.

In August, the Acklie Charitable Foundation (ACF) announced a $5 million lead gift to the Nexus project. ACF was founded by the late Duane Acklie and Phyllis Acklie, both Madison County natives and graduates of Norfolk Junior College, a predecessor institution of Northeast Community College.

For more information on the Nexus Campaign, contact Kruse, at tracyk@northeast.edu, or call (402) 844-7056. Online donations may be made through www.agwaternexus.com. Checks may also be mailed to Nexus Campaign, Northeast Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 469, Norfolk, NE 68702-0469.


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PHOTO ID: Rick Wintermute (left) and Rod Berens. (Courtesy Photo)