Shawntell Kroese is a results-driven commercial leader, with a track record of success driving transformation and growth across diverse business functions and units. In fall 2020, she will join the department as an assistant professor of practice.
For over twenty years, Shawntell worked at Union Pacific Railroad where she held executive positions in all four commercial business teams. She worked her way up over the course of 18 different positions. She served as Vice President of Loup Logistics, managing a $1.3 billion P&L and a team of over 240 people. She oversaw supply chain services for highly diverse businesses, some of which included 3PL services for service sensitive auto parts, transloading, technology and logistics, trucking, cold storage warehouses and door-to-door intermodal service.
She was recognized with the "Progressive Rail's Rising Star Award" which is given to 10 people from the industry under 40 years old. She was elected president of UP's Women's Organization (called LEAD). She was also recognized as "Coach of the Year" and received the "LEAD Educator Award" for coaching and mentoring women.
She has served on a number of community boards including: Susan G. Komen, University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Marketing Advisory Board, Ronald McDonald House, Stephen Center Homeless Shelter, Kids Can Community Center, YMCA and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Women’s Leadership Board (formerly Cather Circle). Shawntell currently serves on the Susan G. Komen Advisory board and on the Executive Committee for the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative, Go Red for Women. She is actively involved with the Lane Thomas Foundation, which helps give honor and light to Lane's life and supports families of children needing life-saving transplants. She is also a Girl Scout leader for a 4th grade troop and recently became a member of Rotary's Lincoln Chapter.
Shawntell holds a business management degree from UNL and MBA from Creighton University. She was Student Regent/Student Body President during her senior year at UNL. She loves to read, successfully reading 52 books last year. Her goal is to surpass that number this year.
Shawntell is married to her husband Bruce and they have four children. Ellie is a sophomore at UNL and wants to be a teacher; Reese is a senior at Gretna High School and will be starting UNL in the Fall; Hadley is a fourth grader who loves to dance; and Landon is in second grade and loves all sports, especially football. Shawntell is a member of Christ Community Church and lives in Omaha, Nebraska.