As Chief Economist for Visa, Wayne Best keeps a close watch on emerging opportunities in the global payments industry, helping to identify economic trends shaping the future of commerce. His unique insights explain the impact of these trends to company and client executives, as well as government leaders around the globe.                              

Best brings economic theory and analysis to life with compelling stories and data from the largest payment provider in the industry. His insights provide a clear perspective on the consumer's ability to spend, save and pay down debt. With a passion for business and engineer's logic, he’s able to turn mathematical models and technical jargon into business intelligence that enables future-oriented business decisions.

Before joining Visa in 1990, Best worked as a consultant performing cost benefit analyses for the power industry. In addition to his MBA, Best holds a degree in nuclear engineering and has participated in the Stanford University and Kellogg School of Management executive programs.  

Gary Kastrick of Omaha is a SHS retired Social Studies teacher, Director of Project Omaha and Creighton University Methods Instructor. He has a B.S. degree in Political Science and a M.A. in Economics. He received the following awards: Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher, College of Saint Mary Outstanding Teacher and Social Studies Achievement. He was honored by Optimist Club for his success in coaching Academic Decathlon students. Gary was awarded an Economic Fellowship and was a member of the Nebraska Historic Institute’s initial class. He served as an IBM Corp. spokesperson, a Nebraska Educational Television “NET” presenter, a radio show host on KIOS and a Magnet School Conference presenter.

He was a member of the 21st Century OPS Steering Committee. He was featured in the NET film “The Beef State.” He and a fellow teacher applied for and received a grant allowing them to develop Project OMAHA. With this grant they created the first, and only, local history museum in a school in the nation. The students used technology to study local history, record oral history of South Omahans, and create original products for third grade OPS students in this regard. Because of the success of this  initiative, Apple Corp. selected it as one the top 10 projects in the nation and awarded $30,000 in technical support.

Gary is an expert regarding the history of South Omaha and is a popular speaker and tour guide. He volunteers his skills for the Durham Museum, Metropolitan Community College, Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation, nursing homes, educational institutions, businesses and community associations. For his efforts, he received UNO’s Community Service award, Omaha educational Association’s Human Relations award and was named South Omaha Volunteer of the Year. He also received the Nebraska Historical Society’s James Olson award for promoting Nebraska’s history. He credits SHS teachers for his work ethic, integrity and sense of community.

He was glad to teach at SHS for 28 years and for his part in continuing its distinguished heritage.

Amanda Radke is a fifth generation rancher from Mitchell, SD. Alongside her husband, Tyler, and their four children, they operate Radke Land & Cattle, an Angus seedstock operation. Together, they are partners in an exciting new auction platform called, Bid On Beef, which works to connect American cattle ranchers to beef-loving consumers across the country.

Radke has spent the last 20 years on the road fighting for the agriculture, rural America, and the western way of life. Her work is focused on keeping producers on the land and beef on the dinner plate. She advises ranching families in their entrepreneurial pursuits working with CK6 Consulting, and she highlights the great folks she meets on the road with her weekly podcast called, “The Heart of Rural America.”

She currently serves as an appointee on the National Agriculture Campaign Advisory Council, where she provides industry insights to the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee. And she is a strong champion back at home in South Dakota fighting for private property rights for farmers and ranchers.

Radke’s real passion is on investing in the next generation. She’s the author of ten children’s books that teach kids about agriculture and where their food comes from, and she’s committed to celebrating agriculture’s story, one page at a time.

Learn more about Radke at www.amandaradke.com.