“I first became involved with KNB because of a desire to enact positive change on the environment I call home. I see the organization as being a cornerstone for environmental education in Nebraska, and I am thankful for the opportunity to help expand our programs. I am very excited about our new newly recognized “Keep Nebraska Beautiful Day” on June 25th as I hope it encourages people to get out and beautify their communities.”

Steve is a gubernatorial appointment to the KNB Board of Directors​. He is one of the leading attorneys in the Midwest in the areas of natural resources and environmental law, solid waste law, water law, and agricultural law. When not in the office or spending time with his three daughters, Steve enjoys spending time outdoors running, hunting and fishing.  He also enjoys politics and public policy, literature, University of Nebraska athletics, and current events.

“I am passionate about my home state and the organizations that work so hard to make it what it is! I’m excited to be a part of an organization with like-minded professionals who are passionate about the mission of Keep Nebraska Beautiful. The concept behind the materials exchange program is an exciting one and I very much appreciate the collaboration available to Nebraska businesses.” She comment on her own life: “Being a parent, we try to ‘lead by example’ by recycling everything that can be recycled. We also grow our own garden and walk/bike wherever we can (almost every day!). When we miss an opportunity for more sustainable living, our children are the first to let us know! I think their willingness and/or motivation to help us ‘course correct’ is certainly exciting for the future!”

Jamie Karstetter is a native Nebraskan and an outdoor enthusiast with five children and two grandchildren. She has more than 20 years of combined proposal development, content creation and grant writing and editing experience. Jamie’s volunteer history includes serving on Omaha’s Keystone Community Task Force (KCTF) Board of Directors. Jamie considers it an honor to join the KNB Board and work with other Board Members to help maintain and promote the beauty and preservation of our great state & believes deeply in the program’s mission to improve and beautify our communities and that all Nebraskans have an individual responsibility for enhancing our environments.

Adam was looking to get more involved in non-profits and had a client suggest KNB to him.  “It is an organization I believe in and I’m happy to be a part of. I really am proud of the work KNB does with schools to help inform the next generation of the mission to keep Nebraska beautiful.” Personally he works to keep nature as good or in most cases better than he found it and is working to pass that message on to his children!

“My favorite program is the School Chemical Cleanout. There’s a real need there, and I’m glad we are able to help fill it. My personal commitment to sustainability centers around the potential opportunities that re-purpose everything you can in manufacturing. I’ve had tremendous success by finding the value in wastes and finding things to do with them other than landfill them.”

“I have been involved with Keep Nebraska City Beautiful from its conception. I was on the committee to create the By-Laws and become the Executive Director in 2019. I previously worked 20 plus years in Catholic education on the fundraising side. I have four grown daughters who live from New York to Stuttgart, Germany. I love traveling and scrapbooking. I believe we don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”

Cisney, an alumnus of UNL in Agriculture, Agronomy and Natural Resources, is from Ogallala, Nebraska. He has been active in Nebraska Range Youth Camp, Citizens’ Advisory Board – UNL Center for Grassland Studies, and president of the Keep Keith County Beautiful Board of Directors. Daryl has received an Alumni Achievement Award from the Association of UNL -College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resource Alumni, and a Sustained Lifetime Achievement Award from Society for Range Management International. Daryl’s long list of service and achievements shows that he is an enthusiast for Nebraska’s natural resources improvement.

Terry’s employer, along with many other of the board members has been a supporter of KNB through the golf outing. With outside contact, he was asked if he wanted to join the board. from there he learned more about the environmental movement and what he enjoys about KNB. He is a big fan of the School Chemical Cleanout because it helps keep the children safe and healthy.

Bartels is a writer, photographer, gardener, student of nature, father, chronic volunteer, and wanderer.His award-winning children’s book, What’s Going Down in Prairie Dog Town? was published in 2018 and includes a foreword by primatologist Jane Goodall. His photograph of a Blanding’s turtle (photographed in the Nebraska Sandhills) appeared in the March 2020 issue of National Geographic Magazine. Bartels was previously named Conservation Educator of the Year by the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. Bartels and friends remove litter from a 2-mile stretch of highway near Calamus Reservoir.

“My employer, Chief, has been a long term supporter of KNB. Through the years Chief has participated in KNB events and had a person on the board. I got involved through the annual golf fundraiser a number of years ago and more so when I began serving on the board in 2017.  I like all the KNB programs, but the ones that stand out to me are the School Chemical Cleanout, used oil, and the Materials Exchange.”

Dick is an insurance broker who provides advice and assistance to a variety of scenarios and projects dealing with environmental issues. He says, “I wanted to better understand how KNB operated in this environment.” He enjoys the trash and litter program and is excited about food waste reduction programs KNB is doing. He is open and alert for opportunities to pick up litter and to prevent food waste!

I have been passionate about the environment and an outdoor enthusiast for as long as I can remember, so I was extremely excited for the chance to be on the board for KNB knowing its mission is to take actions that improve and beautify our communities! I enjoy taking my kids hiking, and we love to visit the many parks around Nebraska. It provides time for us to slow down and appreciate the beautiful nature around us. Coming from the solid waste industry, I appreciate the importance of the Materials Exchange Program, and the impacts it can have on our environment by creating more sustainable options for unwanted items as well as promoting landfill diversion.

“As an environmental professional in Nebraska, this organization was a great fit for me. As a kid, I remember seeing the Keep America Beautiful pubic service announcements about the Indian on a horse looking out upon the land and all of the litter. That left an impression with me.” Matt is fond of the Materials Exchange and the School Chemistry lab Cleanout Program. “Both focus on items that are considered waste that need to be addressed in a safe manner and at times can be used by other people instead of just disposing of them.”

“I had a friend (Matthew Gutzmann) who was appointed to the board. After he had been on the board a little while he contacted me and said, ‘this is right up your alley’. I investigated and discovered that it did indeed align with my way of thinking and shortly thereafter I was nominated to join.” Personally, he is the Director of Operations for a company that makes polylactic acid(PLA) plastic from corn. “The plastic we produce has a much lower carbon footprint than plastics produced from oil and is recyclable and can be compostable.”