During Mark’s sixteen-year career in economic development and business development, he has held management or staff positions for rural organizations, countywide organizations and in fast-growth suburban areas.  Mark has assisted over 90 companies with their relocation needs.  These projects have created over $300 million in capital investment and created over 4,000 jobs. He has experience in industrial, office, retail, multi-family, and Brownfield redevelopment as well as river port development, semiconductor manufacturing and telecommunications projects.  

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John Engelmann is Manager of Economic Development-Missouri North. He is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI) and earned the designation "Certified Economic Developer" (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council in 1994. John holds a bachelor of science degree in Education from the University of Iowa, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Kansas.

John has worked in the field of economic development since 1988. During John's career, he was the Director of Business Development at the Kansas City Area Development Council (a metro-wide economic development organization) and President of the Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Corporation representing three communities and a county-owned airport/business park in Johnson County, Kansas.

John is an active member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Utility Economic Development Association (UEDA) and the Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC). John serves on the MEDC board, as well as being a board member of a number of local economic development organizations within the Aquila service area.

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Mike Fastenau joins us with over 23 years of economic development experience, spending the last 20 years working various leadership roles with the Iowa Department of Economic Development. He has earned his Bachelors’ of Arts Degree in Economics at the University of Nebraska. Michael currently lives in West Des Moines and will work out of the West Des Moines Office.

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Lisa Franklin, CEcD, EDFP, joined Aquila's economic development staff in May 1995 as Director of Economic Development. Lisa's primary responsibility at Aquila is developing new economic development programs and
services for Aquila-served communities and managing the LocationOne Information System, an economic
development site selection application that publishes information on more than 6,500 communities and 23,000
sites and buildings across a 16-state area.

Prior to joining Aquila, Lisa held positions with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Jackson
County Economic Development and was President of Real Info, an economic development consulting company.

Lisa is an active member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), C2ER (formerly ACCRA),
Utility Economic Development Association (UEDA) and the Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC).
Lisa serves on the MEDC board and is currently President with the organization. Lisa was awarded the
MEDC Professional Economic Developer Award in 1998, MEDC Statewide Marketing Award in 2005, and the
President's Award in 2002 and 2006.

Lisa received the designation "Certified Economic Developer" (CEcD) from the IEDC in 1995 and her "Economic Development Financial Professional" (EDFP) certification in 1997.

She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and management from Missouri Southern State University-Joplin,
Missouri.

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Gabe Schicklau obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and Industry from Kansas State University in 2002.  His past work experience includes positions with the Kansas Department of Commerce and K-State Research and Extension.  He joined Aquila in 2004 as a customer relations representative for Kansas gas networks and in that role has gained a broad understanding of gas utility marketing and economic development.

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Mary Simmons, CEcD
Manager, Economic Development--Nebraska
Aquila
1600 Windhoek Drive
P.O. Box 83008
Lincoln, NE  68501-3008
Phone: 402-437-1850
Toll Free: 800-232-1850
Fax:402-437-1736
mary.simmons@aquila.com

Mary Simmons joined Aquila in April 1998 as Director of Economic Development—Nebraska. Prior to joining Aquila, Mary was Director of the Business Recruitment Division of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Mary attended Peru State College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is a graduate of the International Economic Development Council’s Economic Development Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Organizational Management.  In 1989, Mary earned the Certified Economic Developer status.

Organization involvements include: Nebraska Economic Developers Association (past-president), International Economic Development Council, Nebraska Diplomats (2000 Diplomat of the Year), Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Executives, Industrial Asset Management Council,  Business Retention and Expansion International,
Utility Economic Development Association, CoreNet as well as several regional and local development organizations.

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