BRYAN, Texas, July 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nelnet recently announced the promotions of Richard (Dick) Hendee to Senior Vice President Texas Market Development and Managing Director Strategic Sales Planning and George Durstine to National Director for Sales Development and CollEDGE Loans Brand Manager.
Hendee began his tenure with LoanSTAR in 1995. His responsibilities have ranged from managing national marketing efforts and lender/vendor relationships to working with President Bill Jeffery on strategic planning initiatives. Having begun his extensive career 40 years ago, Hendee has a wealth of banking industry experience. In addition to senior management positions held at Texas Commerce Bank and First City, Texas-Houston, N.A., Hendee has served on boards and committees for a host of community, civic, and banking organizations.
Hendee's main focus will be developing strategic plans to achieve profitability goals for the Texas market. He will also delineate competitive strategies for the company to expand market penetration.
"It is exciting to be involved in such a dynamic industry and an honor to be part of a great company like Nelnet," said Hendee. "Providing exceptional solutions to our school, lender, student, and parent clients is what we are all about. Making educational dreams possible is the rewarding end result."
Durstine is a 25-year veteran of higher education administration and student lending sales. He has served with LoanSTAR since November 2001 as a consultant and most recently as National Sales Director for both LoanSTAR Educational Loans and CollEDGE Loan brand.
In addition to serving as national brand manager for CollEDGE Loans, Durstine's new role will entail creating a national sales and management development program. He will also manage campus relations efforts for Nelnet, which includes setting objectives and guiding staff as they participate in key association meetings.
"I am delighted to lead the mentoring and development of sales and management for such a vibrant company as Nelnet," said Durstine. "I am honored to be instrumental in the process of advancing Nelnet's leadership in higher education sales by capitalizing on our wealth of existing talent. Nelnet's customers will benefit the most from these results, which is paramount to our continued success."
"Dick and George provide sage guidance for our teams. They have exhibited great leadership and direction in their respective careers. We are honored to promote Dick and George and expect the same exemplary results they are in the habit of producing," said Dave Bottegal, Chief Executive Officer of Nelnet's Education Services division.
Nelnet is one of the leading education finance companies in the United States and is focused on providing quality products and services to students and schools nationwide. Nelnet ranks among the nation's leaders in terms of total net student loan assets with $21.3 billion as of March 31, 2006. Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, Nelnet originates, consolidates, securitizes, holds, and services student loans, principally loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program of the U.S. Department of Education.
Additional information is available at http://www.nelnet.net/.
