Nebraska Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen works to expand worldwide agricultural trade
Since 2019, Nebraska Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen has served as Nebraska’s chief protocol officer for international relations, among other roles.
Growing up in Lincoln, Evnen moved west to attend law school at the University of Southern California. After graduation, he practiced law in California for 10 years before returning to Nebraska with his wife to raise their family. In addition to his 40-year law career, he served on the Nebraska State Board of Education for 8 years before becoming Secretary of State.
In 2022, Evnen says he will run for re-election.
“I really enjoy the job,” he says. “Whether I’m doing a good job or not, it’s for the people of the state of Nebraska to decide.”
A basket of responsibilities
In his position, Evnen serves on the Pardons Board, the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, and the Debt Collector Licensing Commission. He also oversees elections, state records, and licensing regulations.
While he enjoys these roles, Evnen says he particularly likes building global trade relations.
“It is something that is very rewarding,” he says, “because in promoting international trade on behalf of Nebraska producers, manufacturers, and thinkers, you’re adding to the top line of the state’s economy. You’re adding to the top line of the state’s revenue by promoting the sale of goods and services of Nebraskans internationally.”
Feeding the world
By leading trade missions in countries such as Bulgaria and Kuwait, Evnen says his goal is to create a Nebraska brand while addressing food security and fostering educational exchanges.
He says he also seeks to increase Nebraska’s agricultural exports and impart farming expertise.
“We want to share that knowledge so that we’re not just feeding people, which we do and we will continue to do,” Evnen says, “but also so that people have the benefit of greater technologies in order to help them feed their own people.”
Vision and success
To grow professionally, Evnen advises entrepreneurs to select cohesive teams and convey a shared vision.
He also encourages people not to give up after setbacks.
“Understand that you’re going to make mistakes, but you can recover from them,” Evnen says. “Learn from them, improve from them, and continue on a pathway to a successful journey.”
About Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen
Bob Evnen was elected on November 6, 2018 and took office on January 10, 2019 as Nebraska’s 27th Secretary of state. Secretary of State Evnen, a Republican, previously served for eight years on the Nebraska State Board of Education.
As Secretary of State, Evnen has emphasized voting security in his role as chief elections officer for the state. He introduced new and more robust security systems in our state’s voting and vote county processes. He is also focused on participating with the Governor and trade groups in their work to increase Nebraska’s agricultural export trade.
Secretary Robert Evnen is the chief protocol officer for the State of Nebraska for international relations and trade. As chief protocol officer, Secretary Evnen engages in a variety of diplomatic efforts to promote Nebraska agriculture, industries, and business, and to solicit foreign investment.
Prior to becoming elected Secretary of State of Nebraska, Secretary Evnen was a notable labor attorney, practicing labor law for more than 40 years. He was a partner with Woods & Aitken LLP, a downtown Lincoln law firm, for 32 years.
Evnen’s family settled in Nebraska more than 110 years ago when his great-grandfather, a carpenter and cabinet maker, emigrated from Russia. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California. Secretary Evnen resides in Lincoln. He and his wife Debra have three adult children and 3 grandchildren.
