In the 27th and final episode of the Good Life, Great Careers podcast, we sit down with Lieutenant Monty Lovelace, Director of the Nebraska Information Analysis Center (NIAC) and the Technical Crimes Division for the Nebraska State Patrol. With 24 years of service under his belt, Lt. Lovelace shares his journey from growing up in Missouri to building a meaningful and multifaceted career in Nebraska law enforcement.

Throughout the episode, Monty reflects on pivotal career moments—from his first assignment in Auburn to leading efforts across the state to combat online threats against children. He shares the importance of collaboration, faith, and mentorship, while offering valuable insights into digital safety, the dangers of online exploitation, and the role of education in prevention. As Commander of the Nebraska Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, he also emphasizes the critical work being done by his team and partner agencies to keep Nebraska’s youth safe.

In addition to his impactful career, Monty gives us a glimpse into his personal life, including his love of bluegrass music, his role as a 4-H and FFA leader, and the importance of balancing a demanding job with family and community life. Tune in for a powerful conversation on service, leadership, and the evolving landscape of public safety in Nebraska.

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government.

Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

In the 26th episode of the Good Life, Great Careers podcast, we sit down with Jadyn Gentleman, Wellness Coordinator for the Nebraska Department of Corrections. Jadyn shares her journey from a small town in Nebraska to finding her ideal role in wellness after graduating from UNL with a degree in Nutrition, Health, and Exercise Science. As the first person in her position, she has developed a comprehensive wellness program focused on six key dimensions of well-being, including physical, emotional, and occupational health. She discusses her innovative initiatives, such as "Wellness on the Go" and wellness fairs, which have been well received by staff. Jadyn also highlights the importance of leadership support and employee engagement in building a successful program. In addition to her career, Jayden shares her experience as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, emphasizing the impact of giving back and encouraging others to get involved in mentorship. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on building a culture of wellness and resilience in the workplace!

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government.

Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

In the 25th episode of the Good Life, Great Careers podcast, we are joined by Patrick Redmond, Deputy Director of the Nebraska Broadband Office. Patrick has played a key role in expanding broadband access across the state, managing operations, long-term planning, and representing Nebraska with the NTIA. Beginning his state career in the Budget Office, he quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Nebraska’s Infrastructure and Broadband Coordinator before stepping into his current leadership role. In this episode, Patrick shares insights into the challenges of resource management, the impact of broadband expansion on Nebraskans, and the many career opportunities within state government. Tune in for an engaging discussion on leadership, public service, and professional growth!

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government.

Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

In the 24th episode of the Good Life, Great Careers podcast, we are joined by Casey Ricketts, Director of the Nebraska Racing & Gaming Commission. In 2022, Casey joined the newly established Racing & Gaming Commission, where she played a pivotal role in building the agency from the ground up. Initially hired as an investigator, she quickly advanced to Director of Compliance before being named Interim Executive Director in January 2024 and officially appointed as Director in October 2024. In this episode, Casey shares her insights into the challenges and rewards of building a new agency, as well as her commitment to fostering a healthy work-life balance for her team. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about leadership and growth in Nebraska State Government!

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government.

Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

In the 23rd episode of the Good Life, Great Careers podcast, we are joined by Deirdre Barney from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Deirdre is an Office Technician for the agency, where she processes applications for food permits and handles annual renewal payments for existing permits. She also answers phone inquiries, manages phone payments, types up reports for food complaints, and tracks outstanding food permit applications that still require payment. Deirdre’s career journey began as a temp for the SOS team at the Department of Environment & Energy, where she worked primarily during the COVID outbreak. During this time, she focused on scanning documents and helping connect people to the database from remote settings. Inspired by her experience, she decided to stay in the government sector. After working as a temp for the Department of Revenue, she joined the Department of Agriculture in a permanent role. Don’t miss this engaging conversation!

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government.

Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

In the 22nd episode of the Good Life, Great Careers podcast, we are joined by Nancy Mann from the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy (NDEE). Nancy is the Section Supervisor of the Petroleum Remediation Section and has dedicated 32 years to serving the state. Her team manages petroleum spills across Nebraska, covering aboveground and underground storage tanks, as well as surface spills. With a deep passion for her mission to support Nebraska’s citizens, Nancy shares insights from her remarkable career and highlights the diverse opportunities within NDEE. Don’t miss this engaging conversation!

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government. Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

Katie McGuire, from the Nebraska Department of Revenue, is our guest on the 21st episode of the Good Life, Great Careers Podcast. Katie is a Revenue Section Manager and has been with the state for over three years. She co-leads a team of agents, senior agents and supervisors state-wide in efforts to assist Nebraska citizens with resolution of any tax filing or account balances to include individual income tax and business tax programs. Katie brings great passion to her mission to help the citizens of Nebraska. Join us as she shares insights from her career journey and discusses the various opportunities available within the organization.

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government.

Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

Leslie Remus from the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services is our guest on the 20th episode of the Good Life, Great Careers Podcast. Leslie is an attorney and has been with the state for over three years. She specifically works with the Division and Children and Family Services within DHHS. Join us as she shares insights from her career journey and discusses the various opportunities available within the organization.

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government.

Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

Sergeant Kayla Kildare from the Nebraska State Patrol is our guest on the 19th episode of the Good Life, Great Careers Podcast. With encouragement from her brother, she transitioned from factory work to her dream job with the Nebraska State Patrol. Join us as she shares insights from her career journey and discusses the various opportunities available within the organization.

If you're considering a career as a Nebraska State Trooper, visit nebraskatroopers.com (https://nebraskatroopers.com/). For information on other career options within the Nebraska State Patrol, check out https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/become-trooper.

Many are unaware that the Nebraska state government stands as one of the largest and most varied employers in the state, offering a plethora of career paths. The Good Life, Great Careers Podcast aims to spotlight these abundant opportunities within Nebraska's state government.

Intro and Outro Song: Electric Rock (King Around Here) by AlexGrohl on pixabay.com

In our eighteenth episode we focus on one of Governor Pillen's primary initiatives: youth mentoring in the State of Nebraska. Through the initiative, public servants are given the opportunity to invest in our youth by volunteering as a mentor. This episode is the second of a two-part series where we take a deeper dive into mentoring, it's impact, and how Nebraska public servants can make a difference. In this episode we are joined by guests Melissa Mayo, the Executive Director for Mentor Nebraska, and Jason Jackson, the Director of the Department of Administrative Services. Melissa and Jason share their experiences with mentoring, and provide some guidance for those who may be interested in mentoring. We hope you will join us for this conversation.

A lot of people don’t realize Nebraska state government is one of the largest and most diverse employers in the state when it comes to career opportunities. The purpose of the Good Life, Great Careers Podcast is to highlight the great career opportunities in Nebraska state government.