Craig Bence
- MBA 2014
- Chief Information Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Owen Industries, Retired
Additional Information
Inducted 2026
Craig Bence retired in December 2024 following a more than four-decade career in information technology leadership, including 25 years with Owen Industries, where he served as Chief Information Officer and Chief Administrative Officer from 1999 to 2024. During his tenure, he led the company’s technology strategy, business systems, analytics, and administrative operations, guiding the organization through significant technological change and operational growth.
Craig earned his MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2014, returning to the classroom mid-career while serving in executive leadership at Owen Industries — reflecting the lifelong learning values instilled by his family. He previously earned his bachelor’s degree from Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) in 1982.
He has remained actively engaged with the UNO College of Business Administration, including serving as an adjunct professor in 2014 and as a long-time judge for the Capstone Cup competition and MBA final project presentations. In 2024, he donated the 3D UNO logo displayed in the main corridor of Mammel Hall. In 2025, he established the Pearl Myers-Bence Memorial CBA MBA Scholarship to support future students in the College of Business Administration’s MBA Program.
Craig and his wife, Susan, have been married for 43 years and have two children and four grandchildren. They make their home in Omaha and enjoy spending time with family, traveling, and staying active in the community.
Additional Information
Inducted 2026
Craig Bence retired in December 2024 following a more than four-decade career in information technology leadership, including 25 years with Owen Industries, where he served as Chief Information Officer and Chief Administrative Officer from 1999 to 2024. During his tenure, he led the company’s technology strategy, business systems, analytics, and administrative operations, guiding the organization through significant technological change and operational growth.
Craig earned his MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2014, returning to the classroom mid-career while serving in executive leadership at Owen Industries — reflecting the lifelong learning values instilled by his family. He previously earned his bachelor’s degree from Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) in 1982.
He has remained actively engaged with the UNO College of Business Administration, including serving as an adjunct professor in 2014 and as a long-time judge for the Capstone Cup competition and MBA final project presentations. In 2024, he donated the 3D UNO logo displayed in the main corridor of Mammel Hall. In 2025, he established the Pearl Myers-Bence Memorial CBA MBA Scholarship to support future students in the College of Business Administration’s MBA Program.
Craig and his wife, Susan, have been married for 43 years and have two children and four grandchildren. They make their home in Omaha and enjoy spending time with family, traveling, and staying active in the community.