Jim Vokal is Chief Executive Officer of the Platte Institute and the host of the podcast series Nebraskanomics.

A lifelong Nebraskan and Omahan, Jim graduated from Creighton University with a business degree, launching a 20-year career in banking and real estate. Prior to joining the Platte Institute in 2012, Jim was Vice President of Commercial Banking at Mutual of Omaha Bank.

He was elected to the Omaha City Council from 2001-2009 and was Omaha’s youngest City Council President from 2003-2005. He then served on the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA), participating in the approval and development of several city revitalization projects.

In his time at the Platte Institute and in his past appointment to the Nebraska Board of Education Lands and Funds, Jim has traveled to every corner of the state. He has provided policy commentary in news outlets including the Omaha World-Herald, the Lincoln Journal-Star, the Norfolk Daily News, the Scottsbluff Star-Herald, the Grand Island Independent, and the Kearney Hub, and is a frequent guest (and one-time fill-in host) on NewsRadio 1110 KFAB.

Jim is a parishioner of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. He and his wife Liz have been married for more than 20 years, are the past Presidents of the Dundee Elementary PTO, and are the proud parents of two children, Kate and Will.

Contact Jim

Watch Nebraskanomics

Get Jim’s Weekly Email