Nebraska Facilities Week™ is part of the Facilities Week™ series, presented by Care Navigation Solutions.
"We are proud to partner with the following companies for Nebraska Facilities Week. They have a long history of supporting the facility communities and we are excited to have them at NFW"
Jonal Broekemier founder of Nebraska Facilities Week and President of Care Navigation Solutions
Nebraska Facilities Week
Heartland Events Center | Grand Island, Nebraska | Oct. 6–7, 2026
Nebraska Facilities Week is a new statewide conference uniting professionals from Healthcare, Education, Hospitality, and Multi-Family industries. This event is built around cross-industry collaboration, practical skill-building, and developing strategies for safer, more efficient facilities - because stronger teams build stronger communities.
While our industries may differ, we share a common purpose: creating environments where people and performance thrive.
STRONG TEAMS MAKE STRONG FACILITIES™
We're pleased to announce the Grand Island Casino Resort as our hotel partner for the event, with additional area hotels available for those who prefer to stay offsite. NFW discount details will be included with registration.
To be the first to hear about registration openings, speaker announcements, and lodging details, sign up for the Nebraska Facilities Week mailing list.
Nebraska Facilities Week
Dean Jacobs is a world traveler, photographer, and educator who has explored more than 58 countries across seven continents. Drawing from nearly a decade of global journeys, including extensive time in the Amazon, Africa, and communities around the world, Dean inspires audiences to lead with purpose, connection, and courage.
Through his signature framework Dream Big, Live Tall, Make the World Better, Dean helps professionals cultivate resilience, mental fitness, and a mindset that elevates both personal well-being and organizational culture. His engaging storytelling, powerful images, and practical insights make his keynotes both energizing and deeply meaningful.
Dean works with schools, universities, nonprofits, and organizations across Nebraska and beyond, empowering individuals and teams to bring their best selves to the work that matters most.
Featured Speakers
Dynamic, Impactful, Solution Drive
Nebraska Facilities Week brings together select speakers who are not only subject-matter experts, but active leaders in the field of facilities, operations, safety, and organizational leadership. Each presenter has been chosen for their real-world experience, practical insight, and commitment to strengthening the teams that keep our schools, healthcare facilities, municipalities, and businesses running safely and efficiently. Please follow us as we have many exciting speaker announcements over the following weeks and months.
Rachel Wise PhD
Marjorie Erickson MS
Erica Montefusco MS, MBA, CSRP, CRAME
Doug Hohbein
Rachel Wise PhD
Rachel is a seasoned school administrator and educational consultant with extensive experience serving—and leading—on local, state, and national boards.
She spent eight years on the Nebraska State Board of Education, including leadership roles that advanced statewide policy and collaboration. Nationally, she contributed her expertise through the National Association of State Boards of Education and the Accreditation Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Rachel also strengthens her community through leadership positions on the Oakland‑Craig Foundation Board and the Oakland Golf Club Board. Her work reflects a deep commitment to effective governance and expanding educational opportunities for all.
Marjorie Erickson MS
Marjorie is a Colorado native who grew up in the Denver suburb of Littleton. She was a sophomore at Columbine High School during the mass-shooting that took place in 1999. For over five hours, she was trapped in a room with her teacher who suffered multiple gunshot wounds and ultimately died as a result.
Marjorie has spoken around the world about her experiences at Columbine and the effects of trauma on kids and families.
Marjorie has her master’s degree in criminal justice and spent eight years as an investigator for the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office. Several years ago, she changed careers and now practices permanent makeup at her studios in Denver and McCook.
Marjorie and her husband, Craig Erickson, recently moved part time to Nebraska so that Craig could practice medicine at Community Hospital. They are the proud parents of four rambunctious dogs and a cat who are cuddle monsters.
Erica Montefusco
MS, MBA, CSRP, CRAME, VP of Risk & Compliance PROtect
Erica Montefusco is a senior executive in industrial risk, safety, and compliance and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Risk & Compliance at PROtect LLC, where she leads enterprise safety strategy, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management across complex industrial environments.
Her path to risk leadership is unconventional. Originally trained in anthropology and geological sciences, Erica began her career studying how environments and human systems evolve over time.
That scientific and anthropological lens continues to shape how she approaches industrial safety today—viewing organizations as dynamic systems where culture, pressure, and small operational changes can compound into either resilience or failure.
Mike Sobota
Jonal Broekemier
Charles Leslie
Holly Hillebran
Dale Long
Mike Sobota
EH&S Trainer | Coordinator
Mike has been the EHS Trainer/Coordinator for Central Community College for more than 15 years. He is an active member of the Community and College Consortium for Health and Safety Training and has been since 2010.
Mike is currently an OSHA Authorized General Industry Trainer. He has 23 years of industrial manufacturing experience and over 15 years of experience in Environmental and Safety compliance and training.
Dale Long
I am Dale Long, and I have been the HVAC instructor at Central Community College since 2006. Before that, I was the mechatronics trainer on the Grand Island campus. I have an associate’s degree in electrical construction and diplomas in Electrical technology, mechatronics, and HVAC. I am a certified electrical instructor through the HVAC Excellence Academic Review Board. I have been a journeyman electrician since 1993. I also own and operate Long Electric Heating and Air.
Q&A Panel
Our Q&A Panel of Subject Matter Experts brings together experienced professionals from across facilities operations, regulatory compliance, safety, and leadership. This session is designed to provide practical insight, real-world perspective, and drive communication on the challenges organizations face every day. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from industry leaders, ask questions, and gain deeper insight into complex operational, compliance, and infrastructure topics in an open, engaging format focused on practical solutions and informed decision-making.
Rachel Wise PhD
Doug Hohbein
Nebraska State Fire Marshal
Jonal Broekemier
Care Navigation Solutions
Why Should I Attend?
Education and Growth
Nebraska Facilities Week is more than a conference; it’s a catalyst for personal development, team building, and strategic growth. Through interactive workshops and collaborative sessions, attendees will strengthen communication, empower their teams, and learn to think more strategically about the future of their facilities. It’s the perfect blend of professional development and personal growth; designed to build confidence, skills and stronger facilities.
Multi-Industry Collaboration
One of the best parts of Nebraska Facilities Week is the opportunity to collaborate with individuals from multiple industries — healthcare, education, hospitality, and multi-family.
When professionals from different sectors come together, we don’t just share ideas; we spark innovation, strengthen teams, and build better facilities for our communities. That's what Nebraska Facilities Week is about, empowering people!
Emerging Technology
Experience the future of facility management at Nebraska Facilities Week, where innovation meets practical application. Discover the latest technology, cutting-edge products, and modern operating practices shaping the industries of healthcare, education, and hospitality. Connect with trusted experts, explore innovative solutions, and learn how to integrate new tools and strategies that drive efficiency, safety, and performance across your facility operations.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Nebraska Facilities Week
