New economic development consultant named for area

Rice-Gerlach

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has hired Ashley Rice-Gerlach of Cambridge, Neb., to serve as economic development consultant for southwest Nebraska.

She will provide business development, expansion, start-up, and community development assistance. The region was previously served by Kelly Gewecke, who will now oversee the central region.

Previously Rice-Gerlach served as executive director of economic development for the City of Cambridge. She has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree in Public Administration from Bellevue University.

A native of Southwest Nebraska, Rice-Gerlach grew up in Wilsonville and graduated from Cambridge Public Schools.

After graduating from college, she returned to rural Nebraska. She resides in Cambridge with her husband, Cody, and three sons.

The couple own and operate the Cambridge Clarion and Oxford Standard newspapers, and direct ARMS Ministries, a Christian-based foreign ministry to Haiti and India.