Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Brenda Hicks-Sorensen
Brenda Hicks-Sorensen is a former Nebraska Director of Economic Development. Hicks-Sorensen was appointed director by Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) in January 2015.[1] She took over the role from Acting Director Dacia Kruse, who was appointed by Gov. Dave Heineman in June 2014 to replace former Director Catherine Lang.[2]
Hicks-Sorensen was fired by Gov. Ricketts in October 2015 over concerns that she could not adequately market the state of Nebraska to prospective businesses.[3]
Deputy director Eric Zeece took over the department on an interim basis until Ricketts selected Courtney Dentlinger as Hicks-Sorensen's successor.[4]
Biography
Before being named director of economic development, Hicks-Sorenson served in Madison, Wisconsin as the vice president of economic and community development for Wisconsin Economic Development Corp, managing a $4.3 million operating budget. During her time as vice president, she was key in the recruitment of large companies, including Amazon.com Inc.[1]
Political career
Nebraska Director of Economic Development (2015)
In January 2015, Hicks-Sorensen was named to serve as Director of the Department of Economic Development by Gov. Pete Ricketts.[1]
Dismissal as director
In October of 2015, Gov. Ricketts fired Hicks-Sorensen, over concerns that she focused too much on administrative matters and not enough on marketing the state to potential businesses.[3] In a news release, Ricketts offered the following explanation:
| “ | ...Nebraska needs to do more to market our state both nationally and globally. Nebraska’s future ability to grow jobs is contingent on leadership that is able to accomplish these goals.[5][6] | ” |
State Senator Heath Mello (D) said that she "wholeheartedly" supported the governor's decision to dismiss Hicks-Sorensen and added that, in his opinion, Hicks-Sorensen did not do enough to build a strong relationship with the state legislature.[5]
Appointments
2015
In 2015, Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed Hicks-Sorensen Nebraska Director of Economic Development.[1]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Brenda Hicks Sorensen Nebraska Labor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Nebraska | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
- Nebraska Department of Labor
- [http://www.neded.org/ Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Journal Star, "Ricketts names economic development director," January 16, 2015
- ↑ KTIC radio, "Nebraska Labor Commissioner Lang Resigns," accessed August 25, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lincoln Journal Star, "Ricketts chooses economic development director, says she 'understands Nebraska'," accessed August 18, 2016
- ↑ Office of Governor Pete Ricketts, "Gov. Ricketts Appoints Economic Development Director," accessed August 18, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lincoln Journal Star, "'Red flags' preceded firing of Ricketts' economic development director," accessed August 18, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dacia Kruse |
Nebraska Director of Economic Development 2015 |
Succeeded by Eric Zeece (interim) |
