Welcome CTE Leaders!
June 9-11, 2025
Younes Conference Center South, 416 W Talmadge Rd, Kearney, NE 68845
***Please note: Conference registration and social event registration are separate this year. If you plan to attend a social or banquet, be sure to register for both!***
***Entertainment costs, including the costs for amusement and social activities, are never allowable for reimbursement with Perkins funds. All social expenditures must be removed from claims if claiming for Perkins reimbursement and paid using non-Federal funds.***
The NCE Conference is a professional development learning opportunity featuring national and state CTE leaders. The conference’s focus will be on addressing current and ongoing themes related to CTE instruction. The NCE Conference is sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Career Education, and in cooperation with the Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska.
Accommodations: A block of rooms have been reserved with a special conference rate. Please make reservations as soon as possible to secure the group rate. Use the code: Career Education Conference 2025.
Hotel Name: Comfort Inn
Street Address: 118 3rd Ave, Kearney, NE 68847
Phone: (308) 251-2722
Special Rate: $134.95
Hotel Name: Fairfield Inn
Street Address: 510 W Talmadge Rd, Kearney, NE 68845
Phone: (308) 236-4200
Special Rate: $139.95
Hotel Name: LaQuinta Inn & Suites
Street Address: 108 3rd Ave, Kearney, NE 68845
Phone: (308) 237-4400
Special Rate: $134.95
*You must call the hotel directly to book and receive the conference room rate. The hotels cannot be responsible for reservations made through any third party. Please note, that the website IS via a 3rd party. Rates quoted herein are per room, per night, and do not include applicable taxes.
Keynote Speakers
Kelly Barnes
Kelly Barnes is a seasoned professional speaker with 20 years of experience working with organizations and businesses. Kelly has helped develop the leadership, communication, and collaboration skills of over 1 million individuals. His audiences range from students and educators to civic and business leaders.
Kelly earned a degree in leadership from OSU, where he also served as Vice President of student government and was recognized as a distinguished graduate.
In addition to his work and leadership roles as an award-winning speaker, Kelly is a baseball enthusiast, avid runner, and lifelong lover of music.
Eddie Slowikowski
Eddie Slowikowski is a former “world class” runner and Gold Medal winner for the USA Track & Field Team. Eddie was the 169th American to break the 4 minute mile with a time of 3:58 in 1990 ranking him as one of the top milers in the country. Eddie was 3-time Division 1 NCAA All-American and National cross country champion out of Loyola University in Chicago. Eddie was a former reporter in training at CNN before launching his own business. Today Eddie is a highly sought after Speaker, Consultant & Author.
Featured Speakers
Starla Ewan
Starla brings over 42 years of teaching and a rich background of experience ranging from coaching, athletic training, all levels of Biology, college instruction of Anatomy, and years of on-site medical observation. She has been presenting successful teaching methods with teachers during conferences and staff development workshops for over 30 years.
Her teaching experience includes Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Microbiology, Pathophysiology, AP Biology, Pre-AP Biology, standard Biology, and mentoring Health Science Curriculum.
The success of Starla’s teaching strategies and increased student understanding of difficult material through the use of hands-on activities and teaching tricks has led her to share with teachers, massage therapists, and medical personnel nationwide.
Dawn Oler
Dawn earned her undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and her master’s in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Stout. She earned a second master’s degree in School Improvement Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University. In 2012, Dawn became a National Board Certified Teacher in Career and Technical Education. She was named Illinois Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in 2014 and represented Illinois in the AAFCS National Teacher of the Year Award program. She is the author of the Teaching workbook for Goodheart-Willcox Publishers and for the past 21 years has taught Family and Consumer Sciences at Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois. She has also served on the board of the Illinois Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and been actively involved in various roles.