Welcome to the blog! Looking forward to 2008! We’ll be discussing a lot of things
here – not limited to the great vibe in Omaha that’s ready to burst in 2008.

Entrepreneurship, networking, being a young “mover and shaker” and more…

Hop on board and stay tuned!

When Silicon Prairie News launched with its first post on December 31, 2007, founder Jeff Slobotski hoped the blog would be a new voice in sharing the stories of the hard-working entrepreneurs and creatives who were building an under-the-radar tech scene in the Midwest. Joined by Dusty Davidson a few months later, SPN went from a tech blog to a trusted source of information recognized by national news organizations and business leaders.

Eight years later, SPN was aquired by AIM, a not-for-profit organization that builds thriving communities through technology. Jeff and Dusty moved on to explore new ventures and build new companies, but SPN stayed dedicated to its mission of raising the visibility of tech startups in the region.

SPN is now in the hands of an editorial and management team that works hard (and proudly) to bring stories of innovation, inclusion and success to our readers and followers.

We’re thankful for the countless supporters that have been with SPN throughout the years, whether it be through likes and shares, or attending to our events and donating to our mission.

Thanks to our sponsor

Become an SPN sponsor »
Meet our sponsors »

We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Silicon Prairie’s tech community look forward to championing it for the years to come.

Brian Lee
Managing Director

Brian Lee moved back to Omaha in 2016 to join the movement in Silicon Prairie after exploring the innovation and creative communities of Austin, Los Angeles and Denver.  His unique mix of skills originates from his time in the startup scene, entertainment business, and digital marketing space.  A graduate of University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Brian is an avid fan of midwest-based sports teams.  In his free time, you might find him on a golf course or trying new food/wine pairings.

Christine McGuigan
Associate Editor

Christine McGuigan is currently enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Writer’s Workshop where she studies creative nonfiction and screenplay writing. She has worked as a creative professional on in-house graphic design teams and independently, running a photography business. Christine enjoys traveling with her family, cooking and coffee drinking, and hanging out in her downtown-Omaha neighborhood.

Shayla Kelly
Big Omaha Marketing Manager

Shayla Kelly is a proud alum of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where she studied advertising, and held numerous positions around the Capitol city, including President of her honors Fraternity, Foursquare mayor of many O Street establishments, and a Proctor & Gamble brand ambassador. Recently she served four years as board secretary of the Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards, and has helped connect the Omaha tech and startup scene through events such as the Heartland Developers Conference, Big Omaha, Omaha Startup Week, and the Holiday Startup Party.

Brandi Bothe
Social Media Strategist

Brandi Bothe is a Social Media Specialist with background in graphic design and a passion for connecting people. Her social strategies for AIM products like Big Omaha and Silicon Prairie News, as well as, her position on the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors highlight this passion. In her free time, you can find her singing karaoke or crafting. When it comes to social media, Brandi’s motto is “if you’re comfortable, it’s time to shake things up.”

Twitter: @BrandiBothe

Kristen Kelly
Graphic Designer

Kristen Kelly joined the Silicon Prairie team in October 2016 after nearly nine years in advertising, where she was in charge of art direction and design for numerous clients, including ConAgra Foods, Borsheims, Upstream Brewing Company and CSG International. A huge foodie and museum junkie, Kristen loves to travel and explore different cultures. She’ll also take you down in a game of Settlers of Catan.

Hunter Fangmeyer
Big Omaha Intern

Straight outta Omaha, Hunter Fangmeyer has been closely involved with the Startup Community through the Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization. Graduating in May with a degree in International Business and Management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Hunter loves to travel and studied in Germany last spring. An avid foodie, you can find Hunter exploring new restaurants and bars in the Big O, or traveling to a new destination. Seriously though, his Instagram is straight fire.

Grant Sturek
Big Omaha A/V Intern

Grant Sturek is a student at UNO pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Economics. Grant is a graduate of Omaha Central High School, and he enjoys the culture and opportunities that his hometown has to offer. A political aficionado, Grant spends much of his time reading about politics and working on various campaigns to make the Silicon Prairie a more vibrant place to live.