By TYLER ELLYSON, UNK Communications
OGALLALA – Tell Jensen didn’t get much time to ease into his first full-time job.
On his second day as Ogallala’s new city manager, the 24-year-old University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate was part of a budget hearing. A day later, Gov. Jim Pillen came to town.
Welcome to city management.
“I kind of got thrown straight into the fire,” Jensen said with a smile.
That’s OK with him.
Jensen, who graduated from UNK in December with a bachelor’s degree in political science, was looking for exactly this type of opportunity – a chance to serve a smaller Nebraska community where he can get to know the people and make a difference at the local level.
Originally from Burwell, he sees plenty of similarities between his hometown and Ogallala, a western Nebraska community with about 5,000 residents.
“Ogallala is bigger, but it reminds me a lot of Burwell with some of the local tourism and attractions that they have,” he said. “The size of the town is something I really enjoy.”
Jensen grew up appreciating the familiarity and personal relationships that come with small-town life. He once envisioned himself returning to Burwell, where a trip to the store often means running into someone who knows you and your family.
“I just like having that close-knit community where you recognize and support everyone,” he said.
That desire to serve rural Nebraska ultimately led him 3 1/2 hours west to Ogallala, where he started as city manager on Aug. 17.
Located along Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 30, Ogallala serves as a regional hub and tourism destination. Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala are nearby, and the community’s attractions include its Old West history, recreation opportunities, rodeos and the recently opened Lake Mac Casino Resort and Racetrack.
Jensen was already familiar with the community before applying for the position. Trips to Colorado and Wyoming regularly brought him through Ogallala.
“There are a lot of amenities here that you wouldn’t expect in a rural community,” he said. “It truly is a hub for this area. And it’s a great place to live and visit.”
Finding the right fit
City management wasn’t on Jensen’s radar when he arrived at UNK.
In fact, he didn’t even have a major.
That changed after the honors student started taking political science courses. Jensen credits the department’s faculty with drawing him into the field and helping him identify potential career options.
“All of the professors there were amazing. I don’t think I would have pursued political science if it wasn’t for them,” he said. “One of the things that really stuck out to me is how they take care of their students. They were always there to support you and help you grow.”
Although many political science students have their sights set on law school – Jensen added a public law minor for this reason – he became increasingly interested in classes focused on state and local government, politics and community development.
A visit from a University of Nebraska at Omaha representative introduced him to UNO’s Master of Public Administration program and city management as a profession.
“It’s not one of those top 10 jobs after high school that you go for,” Jensen joked.
But the more he learned about the profession, the more it matched what he wanted from a career.
“It can be very stressful but also very rewarding, and you can help the community out a bunch,” he said. “And it’s impactful at the local level, which is where I wanted to be.”
During his final three semesters, Jensen was part of the Nebraska Good Life Opportunities Program, a partnership between UNK and UNO designed to prepare students for careers in government and public administration within the state. The program provides tuition assistance, mentorship, professional development and experiential learning opportunities while creating a pathway into UNO’s Master of Public Administration program.
Jensen gained practical experience before graduation through an internship with the city of Cozad. With no city manager there at the time, he was able to help fill some of the gaps and see firsthand how municipal government operates.
After graduating, he spent about six months working with Kearney City Manager Brenda Jensen, shadowing her daily responsibilities, sitting in on meetings and assisting with projects.
“That was very valuable. I really enjoyed that opportunity,” he said. “I was able to not only get a feel for how she works as a city manager and see some of her day-to-day processes but also work on some of the projects she had planned.”
The experience gave him another perspective on the profession before he took the next step in Ogallala.
Brenda Jensen was impressed by his initiative, integrity and willingness to take on new challenges.
“Tell is a motivated young professional who’s passionate about serving rural Nebraska,” she said. “He was quick to learn and always willing to dig in on a project.”
She also recognized his ability to relate to others, a skill she considers especially important in public administration.
“He has a very good head on his shoulders and will put in the time and effort needed to learn and serve in a high-level, executive role for a municipality,” she said. “I’m excited to see how his skills continue to grow and develop.”
Ready for the challenge
Jensen knows his age stands out.
At 24, he’s beginning his professional career in a position with significant responsibility, overseeing city operations and working closely with department heads, elected officials and residents.
There will be people who question whether someone that young has enough experience, he acknowledged.
“My counter to that is I have all the schooling and all the training. I’m going to have to get experience somewhere at some time,” he said. “Ogallala was willing to take that chance on me, and I have great mentors and great support here.”
One of those mentors is Kevin Wilkins, who served as Ogallala’s city manager for more than four years. He’s staying on as assistant city manager during the transition, giving Jensen a source of guidance as he settles into the position.
Wilkins has watched Jensen “dive headfirst” into the variety of issues that come with the job.
“Tell is a serious young leader with mapped-out career objectives and as full a realization of the challenges of local government as can be achieved with limited firsthand exposure,” Wilkins said. “He is uniquely contemplative and aware of the soft skills necessary to weave together the demands of a public constituency, elected leadership and civic employment.”
Jensen is equally appreciative of the city’s experienced department heads. He sees his role as working alongside those leaders rather than micromanaging their operations.
“You have to rely on those department heads,” he said. “You have to understand that they have the expertise and you’re there to work with them, not overshadow them.”
Wilkins noted that Jensen is inheriting “a full plate of initiatives and projects” along with the challenge of developing new ideas that build on the work already underway.
As he takes on the demands of his new position, Jensen is already looking for ways to continue learning and developing as a public administrator. He’s currently pursuing a master’s degree through UNO’s online program and hopes to eventually earn a doctorate so he can teach classes at the college level.
“I’ve always loved learning,” he said. “It’s my method to keep moving forward, keep progressing and keep growing. Eventually, I hope to be at a point where I have the knowledge and experience to pass on to others.”
Jensen wants to remain connected to UNK, too, by returning to campus to speak with students interested in similar career paths. He’d also like to do the same at Burwell Public Schools.
“It’s important to me to give back and be that resource I needed as a student,” he said.
For now, though, his focus is Ogallala.
He knows there’s still plenty to learn, and plenty of responsibility that comes with the city manager title. But those are the things that attracted him to the profession.
“I want to make sure the community is well taken care of,” Jensen said. “Here in Ogallala, I just want to better enrich the community and help the community grow and prosper. All the while, I get to gain experience and I get to grow, as well. I really think of it as a two-way street.”