Nebraska Department of Economic Development director discusses essential leadership qualities and ways to build workplace diversity

While Anthony Goins considers himself “just a country boy” from Greensboro, North Carolina, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development director has made an impact as a business leader.

After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Goins started a career in banking and financial services that led to leadership roles at American Express, KeyBank, Ford Motor Credit Company, United Services Automobile Association, JPMorgan Chase, and Cabela’s World’s Foremost Bank.

Finding a home

Goins’ job at Cabela’s brought him to Nebraska in 2014. When he was offered the chief operating officer position, Goins had never been to the state.

He says he had no intention of moving until he visited Nebraska for the job.

“I ended up spending three days here and it was just really something special,” Goins says. “It’s been a blessing.”

Life-changing opportunities

After moving on from Cabela’s, Goins co-founded Capital Cigar Lounge in Lincoln before taking a job with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Goins says his career has helped him develop leadership and problem-solving skills, especially in terms of COVID-19.

“We have a really complex issue called a pandemic,” he says. “The experiences that I had have prepared me for what I’m doing right now.

Creating a more diverse state

While the world is currently divided, Goins says business leaders can encourage inclusivity by evaluating their organizations to ensure people of color have opportunities at all levels.

He says investing in diversity generates more revenue and profitability.

“It’s not about just creating diversity,” Goins says. “What the data shows is that companies that have more diverse populations and diversity in terms of thought actually perform better.”

Something in the Water 

Recently, Anthony has published a new book: Something in the Water : Stories of Lincoln’s Iconic Founders and Builders, proudly sharing the prominent businesses of the great state of Nebraska.

Prior to moving to Lincoln in August 2014, he had heard Nebraska called a “fly over state” and knew little of what to expect culturally. The expectation set was that Nebraska was as flat as it was unremarkable. Tony was immediately received by Lincoln’s tight-knit business community and given the warmest welcome he’d ever experienced.

Tony’s broken it down to the following:

1. A strong, agrarian-based work ethic (many of the business founders Tony has met are just one generation removed from the land).

2. An entrepreneurial spirit.

3. A dedication to build their business here in Lincoln, where the ground is fertile in terms of location, people and character.

4. Tenacity.

Visit: www.somethinginthewaterbook.com to get your copy of Something in the Water. All proceeds from Something in the Water: Stories of Lincoln’s Iconic Founders and Builders benefit Just Do Business —an initiative spearheaded by Tony Goins to add economic inclusion for black Nebraskans to the priority agenda of the Do More Good® Movement.

The meaning of leadership

In addition to delivering results, Goins says true leaders must be kind and selfless.

“I would say my definition of a great leader is a leader who listens,” he says. “People don’t really care how much you know. They really want to know how much you care.”

About Anthony Goins

Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Anthony Goins Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in August 2019. With his extensive experience building and managing successful teams and organizations at the highest levels of industry, Tony is spearheading the Department’s pursuit of new and expanded economic opportunities on behalf of all Nebraskans.

Tony has a background in operations, where he specialized in global financial services and achieved a reputation as a strategic, results-driven executive. He formerly served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Cabela’s World’s Foremost Bank. Before moving to Lincoln, he was a Senior Vice President and Support Executive at JPMorgan Chase leading operations in Asia and North America. Tony has held senior-level positions at USAA, Ford Motor Credit Company, Key Bank, QVC, and American Express.

Tony is a small business owner, being co-founder of Capital Cigar Lounge in southwest Lincoln. He is deeply involved in the community, and serves on numerous boards including the Lincoln Community Foundation, Bryan Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, the Omaha Opera, and as Advisor to the Board for Bank of Bennington, Board Director and Chair of Risk Committee for Nelnet Bank, and Board Director for Inceptia, a division of the National Student Loan Program.

Tony majored in business management at North Carolina A&T State University, and served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. He is married to Kimberly and they have three daughters, Toni (married to son-in-law Anthony Brockman, both in financial services), Briana, Jayla, and a son, Anthony II (assistant basketball coach at Clemson University, married to daughter-in-law Dr. Stephanie Goins). He has five grandkids: Jaylin, Jada, Jiya, Journey, and Reese.