News Release: Young & Hoogeveen Join Platte Institute Board

OMAHA, NE – The Platte Institute is excited to welcome Joseph Young, of Lincoln, and Blake Hoogeveen, of Omaha, to the Platte Institute's Board of Directors. The nine-member board, chaired by Gail Werner-Robertson, is responsible for overseeing the Platte Institute’s mission to remove barriers to growth and opportunity in Nebraska. 

Complete board member biographies may be viewed on the Platte Institute website. Photos of Young and Hoogeveen are attached to this release.

Joseph Young is currently the director of business development for Sampson Construction, a regional commercial construction firm headquartered in Lincoln. Previously, Young led government affairs efforts for Cox Communications, the Greater Omaha Chamber, and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

“Joseph Young is a respected name in the Nebraska State Capitol and the Lincoln community, thanks to his years leading public policy efforts at the Greater Omaha Chamber, Cox Communications, and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” said Platte Institute Chief Executive Officer Jim Vokal. 

“Having Joseph join the Platte Institute’s Board of Directors is a great honor for us because I know he takes policy very seriously, both in concept and in practice. He will be a tremendous asset in guiding our efforts in the Legislature and in the Lincoln area,” Vokal said. 

A graduate of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Young also serves on the boards of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Invest Nebraska, and the advisory board of the UNL Bureau of Business Research. 

“For years, I’ve had the opportunity to observe many nonprofits engaged in advocacy in the Unicameral. There really is no one else doing the work the Platte Institute is doing, and I wanted to contribute to their efforts,” said Joseph Young. 

“Without the Platte Institute, the Nebraska Legislature would be missing a critical voice for taxpayers, entrepreneurs, and many hardworking Nebraskans who simply don’t have the time or resources to be in Lincoln to speak on their own behalf,” said Young.

Blake Hoogeveen is a Co-Owner of MindSet, a company that spun out of Omaha’s only 5-time #1 Best Place to Work, QLI.  MindSet provides innovative leadership training and consulting services. Hoogeveen also continues to serve as a consultant to QLI, where he served as Director of Development for ten years.

“Blake has been a trusted advisor and supporter of the Platte Institute team for many years, and it’s a pleasure to finally welcome him to our Board of Directors,” said Vokal.

“Blake’s focus on leadership is making a difference for organizations across Nebraska. I believe his insights will not only serve the Platte Institute very well but will have a positive impact on communities and leaders in the public policy process,” said Vokal. 

Hoogeveen has previously served as an advisor for nonprofits including Ronald McDonald House Charities, DIBS for Kids, Buford Foundation, and Latino Center of the Midlands.
 

“There’s a natural alignment between my professional work and the Platte Institute’s mission. With MindSet, we help companies build better cultures – that creates better businesses. With QLI, you have a national center of excellence in healthcare here in Omaha that has been built by embracing free-market principles,” said Blake Hoogeveen.

“The Platte Institute is moving in the same direction by advancing policies that remove barriers to opportunity in Nebraska. By increasing economic freedom in Nebraska, our citizens will be able to achieve a greater level of success and happiness in life,” said Hoogeveen.

A graduate of Drake University, Hoogeveen holds degrees in Actuarial Science and Finance. 

To schedule an interview about this announcement, please contact Adam Weinberg at (402) 452-3737 or aweinberg@platteinstitute.org. 
 

The Platte Institute advances policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity in Nebraska. For more media resources, please visit PlatteInstitute.org/Media.