Nebraska Chamber selects UNK’s Bartling as new executive vice president

KEARNEY, Neb. — The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry is hiring a University of Nebraska official to be its first executive Vice President.

Chamber President and CEO Todd Bingham announced Tuesday that Kelly Bartling of Kearney will serve in the newly created role. Bartling is currently working as vice chancellor of enrollment management and marketing at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

"As a lifelong Nebraskan, Kelly understands Nebraska’s unique attributes and has a network of leadership partners across the state, including Greater Nebraska,” Bingham said. “She has demonstrated marketing and communication success and is committed to working collaboratively to serve our members and enhance the Nebraska Chamber’s communication strategies to be an even stronger voice for business in Nebraska.”

Bartling is a York native and previously worked at UNL and various Nebraska newspapers. She spent 26 years with the University of Nebraska.

New UNK chancellor Neal Schnoor said that he chaired the committee that recommended Kelly for a vice chancellor role in 2012.

“In that role she inherited a small office which soon grew into a thriving full-service public relations and marketing office with several key hires,” Schnoor said.

Her new job duties at the Chamber will include leading strategic marketing and communications efforts and key initiatives including the Nebraska Chamber Foundation, Leadership Nebraska, the Manufacturing Alliance, and Tech Nebraska. A news release says that, with the Nebraska Chamber leadership team, she will help execute member relations and legislation and policy initiatives, including member and grassroots messaging and materials.

In her current position, Bartling led Admissions, Financial Aid, Enrollment Technology Strategies, Communication and Marketing, Military and Veteran Student Services, and Student Affairs.

In a news release, UNK said it will not fill Bartling’s position. Instead, a newly established chief enrollment management officer position has been created, and Brad Green has agreed to serve in the role. Green, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs George Holman and Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Todd Gottula will report directly to the chancellor and serve on the Chancellor’s Leadership Team.