NORFOLK – The Northeast Community College Board of Governors and campus community have honored five individuals for career success, achievement and distinguished service following graduation from the institution.
John W. Davies, Pilger, John Hollatz, Lexington, SC, Thomas Rudloff, Battle Creek and Master Sergeant Loren Zimmer, Washington DC, were inducted into Northeast's Hall of Success during a reception and ceremony Thursday evening at the Lifelong Learning Center on the Norfolk campus. The Hall of Success is awarded to individuals for achieving significant professional success, exhibiting exemplary citizenship qualities or making significant contributions to their communities and/or community affairs.
Also at the ceremony, Nicole Sedlacek, O'Neill, was presented with the Northeast Community College Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated active service to higher education and who have played a significant role in the development of Northeast Community College.
Davies was working in industrial manufacturing several years ago when he decided he would go back to school to be a physician assistant (PA). Since graduating from Northeast Community College in 1992, he has had a long history of working in the medical field. Currently, he is employed by Sunny Meadow Medical Clinic in Norfolk as a PA.
In addition, Davies is the chairperson of the Northeast Community College Board of Governors, serves as the state coordinator for the Association of Community College Trustees and is a member of the Nebraska Medical Board for Physician Assistants.
Dr. Michael Chipps, Northeast president, spoke of Davies' work with the board.
Davies, and his wife, Diane, a certified public accountant and partner in Morrow, Davies and Toelle, PC, have three adult children and their spouses, Matthew (Jennifer), Paul (Amber), and Jessica Borgelt (Chris) and three grandchildren.
Hollatz graduated from Northeast Community College in 1996 prior to receiving his Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska – Omaha. He started his career as a design engineer for Vulcraft in Indiana and later transferred to Norfolk as a sales engineer. He worked his way up the corporate ladder to be the general manager (GM) of Nucor Building Systems in South Carolina. Hollatz has been responsible for leading an entire operating division of Nucor.
Hollatz also thanked Petersen for taking a risk on him early in his career.
Hollatz and his wife, Michele, have two children, Kaylor, 5, and Kinsey, 3.
Rudloff earned a degree in electrical residential and commercial wiring from Northeast Community College in 1983 prior to receiving his Master's in Business Administration. He started his electrical career working for Creighton Electric, Incorporated and then transitioned to North Central Public Power District in Creighton, where he started as a lineman. Rudloff worked his way up to operations manager over 19 years. He then transferred to Elkhorn Rural Public Power District in Battle Creek as the general manager.
He is actively involved in his community, including the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, Battle Creek Booster Club, Knights of Columbus and the Nebraska Rural Electric Association.
Rudloff said the education he received from Northeast Community College opened doors for him, providing a variety of career opportunities.
Rudloff and his wife, Be, have two sons, Josh and Aaron.
Zimmer and his wife, Lisa, live in Washington DC.
Also at the ceremony, Dr. Chipps presented the Northeast Community College Distinguished Service Award to Nicole Sedlacek of O'Neill.
Sedlacek, a 2006 graduate of Northeast Community College, is currently the executive director of Holt County Economic Development based in O'Neill. She is very active with Northeast, serving as an adjunct instructor for the west region of the service area; served as a co-chair for the College's O'Neill Extended Campus Campaign and is a member of the Northeast Community College Foundation Board.
She currently serves as the president of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association, is secretary/treasurer for the Holt County Teammates organization and is treasurer for the O'Neill Community Foundation.
Sedlacek, and her husband, Brian, have two daughters, Ally and Emma.