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Greg Gunderson
The Buck Stops Here
Greg Gunderson, Chief Financial Officer at Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Greg Gunderson is the Chief Financial Officer at the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, a position they have held since at least October 2022.12 In this role, Gunderson is responsible for the financial management of the Tribe.
Prior to joining the Ponca Tribe, Gunderson had a diverse career in various leadership roles:
- Chief Financial Officer at Heartland Family Service in 20221
- President of Seward County Community College from December 2021 to March 20221
- President Emeritus at Park University from November 2020 to December 2021, and President from January 2016 to November 20201
- Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Webster University from February 2011 to January 20161
- Assistant Vice Chancellor, Business & Operations, Academic Affairs at UNL from April 2002 to February 20111
- Project Controller at ConAgra Foods from 1999 to 20021
Gunderson earned their PhD in Academic Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.1
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska operates within a designated service area covering fifteen counties in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa, with office sites located in five of these counties.2 As Chief Financial Officer, Gunderson oversees the Finance department of the Tribe.2
Highlights
Every April 1st I have always tried to bring April Fools to the workplace. When I was President at Park University our annual celebration was occasionally covered by the local news. I have always found the chance to poke fun and celebrate brings a chuckle and joy, making us both more human and better team members as a result. I will share this years memo and ask you to share what your office did yesterday to celebrate!
All,
After meeting two weeks ago to discuss Ralston office moves I wanted to provide a quick update on our newest office initiative. I imagine all of you have heard of “Glamping”. It is the combination of camping with glamour travel. I am pleased to announce our new work-outside-of-the office initiative – “Oflamping”. It is a combination of camping and office work. Later this week you will see a series of tents installed in the parking lot between Transit and Executive building, in Niobrara, and Lincoln. This will allow selected staff to enjoy the outdoors even more while at work. I should note, given the raccoon packs roaming the property at night all food will need to be bagged and hung from a tree at night to reduce the likelihood of bear attacks attracted by the roaming band of hungry raccoons.
I am also pleased to announce our order of Gaiam backless balance ball office seating has arrived and will be replacing your current office chair this week. Testing has shown it reduced desk naps and improves balancing skills. I am also pleased to announce our water and ice machines have been upgraded to voice commands. Unfortunately the factory setting is Korean, so to get hot water you say “Onsou”, Ice you say “eoreum”, and stop spraying me for the love of God “hananimui sarangeul wihae meomchwora”. Remember the o is long, otherwise they will go into random spritz mode and fire ice cube in self-defence. IT has also shared we will be replacing our Paycom kiosk with etch-o-sketch tablets as an effort to go more green and the shaking required is our latest health initiative.
Finally, we will be installing senses of humor as part of our “April Fools” initiatives.
Thank You,
Today is December 7, a date remembered for Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The Doolittle Raiders air raid on Japan was our initial response, which set the stage for eventual victory in World War II. As an avid student of history, I feel incredibly fortunate to have met the last remaining Doolittle Raider, Dick E. Cole, before he passed. As luck would have it, Dr. Dennis Okerstrom of Park University wrote his biography, “Dick Cole’s War: Doolittle Raider, Hump Pilot, Air Commando.” Denny and I, along with many other staff and faculty at Park University, put together a special event honoring Dick Cole at the WWI Museum in Kansas City, which was certainly one of the highlights of my time at Park. Dick shared the story of flying over the ocean as Doolittle’s co-pilot and then the stories of the precarious time that followed, when the Doolittle Raiders ran out of gas and had to crash land in China, where they were protected by villagers from the Japanese soldiers who came to search for them. And I will most fondly remember being with Dick Cole at one of the last goblet ceremonies when, at over 100 years old, he walked down a very long line of airmen, who each stood next to the B-25 airplane they had flown in for the ceremony. Dick Cole saluted each one of them, showing them dignity and respect.
In this picture, you can see Denny Okerstrom and Dick Cole together. The Thunderbird patch on Dick Cole’s bomber jacket was inspired by Native American art and reminds me that more than one-third of all Native American men between 18 and 50 years old joined the service during World War II. Today, I feel honored to serve as the CFO for The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, and I celebrate all the brave men and women who defend and have defended our great nation. United, we can do anything
