Tillery Selected for PCDC Priceless Pick Award

PCDC Board President Shane Westcott selected PCDC Executive Director Ron Tillery for this year’s President’s Priceless Pick award.

The award is dedicated to an individual whose efforts have made a significant impact on local economic development. 

“It was an easy decision for everything that Ron has done for the betterment of Phelps County,” Westcott said. “Ron has gone to great depths to put Phelps County on the map in the economic development world.”

Tillery grew up in south-central Kansas in the small agricultural town of St. John. After high school, he attended Hutchinson County Community College and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in Okinawa as a  Special Weapons targeting analyst during the Vietnam War following the TET offensive.

After his honorable discharge, Tillery joined his brother, a TV journalist, in south Texas and began a successful television career serving stations in Texas, Colorado, and Nebraska. During his career, he found his true passion: economic development.

Before coming to Holdrege, Tillery served as president of The Development Council in Kearney for 17  years and as the Executive Director of The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce.

Tillery has served as the PCDC Executive Director for nine years. In that time, he has started many new initiatives including the GO! DREAM, GO! BUSINESS, GO! HOME, and GO! WORK programs. 

“With Ron’s leadership, PCDC has become one of the best-run economic development corporations in the state,” Westcott said. “He has put our community on the map winning the organization and himself multiple awards.”

This past year, Tillery spent much of his July vacation working to secure the new DG Fuels project for Phelps County. Under his leadership, two other recent major projects have been announced: a $10-plus million Nebraskaland Aviation expansion and a $90 million sunflower processing facility, ZEA Sun.

Other past major PCDC accomplishments under Tillery’s leadership include spearheading efforts to bring the new Cobblestone Hotel to Holdrege, securing rural workforce housing grants that resulted in two new subdivisions, and ensuring that Phelps County is a great development partner by building and maintaining relationships with decision-makers on a local, state, and federal level.

The Nebraska Economic Developers Association honored Tillery as the Professional of the Year in the community category in 2023.