Ignite Nebraska Names Kellee Mikuls Executive Director

Ignite Nebraska names executive director

Please join us in welcoming Kellee Mikuls to Ignite Nebraska, where her passion, strategic focus, and dedication are set to ignite new levels of excellence and impact.

Ignite Nebraska, the innovative apprenticeship program designed to spark meaningful career opportunities for individuals working under-resourced jobs, is thrilled to announce Kellee Mikuls as its new Executive Director. With an impressive track record of entrepreneurial success and leadership, Mikuls is poised to drive Ignite Nebraska’s growth and impact. 

Ignite Nebraska stands at the forefront of workforce development, collaborating with community and state partners, employers, and educational institutions to provide paid apprenticeship opportunities. These opportunities promise full-time job offers in high-demand, high-skilled, high-paying (H3) careers for participants who complete the program.

To date, Ignite Nebraska has seen remarkable successes, including graduating 14 apprentices in partnerships with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Union Pacific, and Boys Town. It has doubled its team size over the past year in anticipation of expanding curriculums and partnerships across the state.

Kellee Mikuls, the founder of Swishboom and former Vice President at CBRE real estate, brings a wealth of experience, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to creating equitable opportunities. Her leadership is anticipated to catalyze Ignite Nebraska's continued expansion and success.

In her own words, Mikuls shared her enthusiasm for joining Ignite Nebraska: "I am so excited about the opportunity to take what Joni [Wheeler] and the Ignite team have done and help amplify it. As a former startup founder, I know the need for tech talent personally. What Ignite Nebraska is doing is solving so many problems with its model."

"My hope for Ignite Nebraska is that we build a sustainable model that can be a pathway for those that want to get into high-paying, high-demand tech jobs. We are teaching people to fish and the results are bountiful for our graduates, employers, and community," Mikuls added, underscoring her vision for the program's future.

Joni Wheeler, Executive Vice President of Talent and Enterprise Solutions at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and founder of Ignite Nebraska, expressed her confidence in Mikuls' leadership: "Ignite Nebraska is near and dear to my heart. Since it was launched in 2022, I have seen first-hand the impact it has had on the lives of its participants and their families, and I can’t wait to see how it grows and evolves. A visionary leader is crucial to facilitating that growth and evolution, and Ignite Nebraska is extremely fortunate to have Kellee Mikuls as its first executive director. She brings to this role an entrepreneurial mindset and extensive experience, both of which will enable the program to flourish in companies across the state of Nebraska and connect many more talented individuals to H3 careers.”

Dr. Mary Hawkins, President of Bellevue University and Board of Directors President of Ignite Nebraska, lauded the unanimous decision to appoint Mikuls: “The Ignite Board members worked hard and diligently to find the right combination of skills, personality, and fit in a new Executive Director. We are unanimous in our selection of Kellee Mikuls for this leadership position. She has a proven track record in building a business and growing a business—these are right for Ignite. I look forward to working with her and the Ignite team to take this innovative and much-needed initiative to the next level.”

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About Ignite Nebraska:

Ignite Nebraska is a leading apprenticeship program dedicated to facilitating high-demand, high-skilled, high-paying career opportunities for under-resourced individuals. Through innovative partnerships and a commitment to workforce development, Ignite Nebraska aims to transform lives and strengthen communities across the state.

To schedule  an interview with Kellee Mikuls or for additional information about Ignite Nebraska, please contact office@lozafina.com  or visit ignitenebraska.org