BILL SITZMANN
is the co-founder and chief community builder at Silicon Prairie News, a progressive digital media company and website that started as a blog.
Jeff Slobotski
What is Silicon Prairie News? “Silicon Prairie News is a grassroots approach to economic development of the entrepreneurial community, both regionally and nationally. We tell stories and set the stage for networking and idea-sharing among entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives, venture capitalists, mentors and others.’’ Silicon Prairie News is a noteworthy start-up in its own right. You have a growing staff, a syndication partnership with the Omaha World-Herald and websites serving Kansas City and Des Moines. What inspired you in this direction? “I have always been fascinated by communities – what is going on, who is getting it done and how. In high school, I became interested in politics and watched the redevelopment of Omaha’s downtown. I felt, then, that the people who were involved – from both the private and public sectors – were what made Omaha unique. After I graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I took a sales and marketing position with a New York firm and traveled to communities across the country. When I came back to Omaha, I realized that we have the entrepreneurs I saw on the coasts – maybe not the quantity, but certainly the quality. There was an opportunity to tell their stories.” What makes Omaha unique? “I think it’s the level of collaboration and support that exists within the business community. It truly surprises people from the coasts to see
M A L O N E & C O M PA N Y
that we can get a meeting with a Fortune 500 CEO within a week.” What makes Omaha a great base for what you do? “Every need can be met here. If your intentions are good and people like what you have to offer, it’s exciting and inspiring to see the community rally to you. It’s not a large city, but it is a good-sized city where you can make a difference and see your impact quickly.” Where will SPN and events like Big Omaha take us? “We are super-passionate about changing perceptions about what’s possible here. It’s still early and may take years or decades for us to realize its (entrepreneurial community’s) full potential. I’m excited to think about what the community looks like five years,10 years and even 30 years from now.” 77