NBDC Executive Director Cathy Lang Honored with UNO Chancellor’s Medal

To recognize the extraordinary service to the University of Nebraska Omaha by a faculty or staff member, each year The Chancellor’s Office selects an honoree to receive The Chancellor’s Medal.

This year’s recipient is Cathy Lang, the outgoing Executive Director of the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC). Lang announced earlier this year that she would be retiring in January 2024.

With a career that spans decades of public service to Nebraskans, Lang joined NBDC in 2016, serving as the second director in the organization’s nearly 50-year history.

Since beginning at NBDC, she has led a team dedicated to providing no-cost business consulting services to any Nebraska entrepreneur or business owner seeking to start, develop, or transition their organization. In 2022 alone, NBDC served more than 2,000 clients, leading to a $343.8 million impact on the Nebraska economy.

Concurrently, Lang has served in two special appointments for University of Nebraska President Ted Carter as Senior Advisor to the President of the University for Economic Development and President of the University Technology Development Corporation. Lang advises the university president and leads efforts to expand economic opportunity and prosperity in Nebraska through talent development, the deployment of innovative research and technology, community engagement, and place-making strategies.

Prior to joining NBDC, Lang served in a number of governmental roles for nearly 33 years, including as the Property Tax Administrator for the state of Nebraska, Commissioner of Labor for the Nebraska Department of Labor, and Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. She held the latter two positions simultaneously, making her the only Nebraskan to lead two state departments at one time. She is a double University of Nebraska graduate, earning her JD from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) College of Law and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from UNL.

“It has been an honor to serve Nebraska’s business and economic development communities over the course of my career, most recently at NBDC,” said Lang. “This team is highly-skilled at helping business owners and entrepreneurs pursue their dreams. Their work of providing no-cost business support is leading to a more vibrant Nebraska, and I have enjoyed being part of this chapter of NBDC’s rich history. This organization is a gift to the state, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for it.”

In November, Dan Curran was hired as the next NBDC Executive Director.