PAXTON, NE, October 01, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Leading biographical publisher Marquis Who's Who in America has recognized Brittany Hardin for her professional achievements in communications, policy relations, and business development in the state of Nebraska. Founded in 1899, Marquis Who's Who documents the biographies of notable professionals and leaders within their fields of expertise.

Ms. Hardin's professional journey is marked by a diverse and impactful career in communications, economic development, and journalism. Since 2018, she has served as a program writer and business development consultant in Field Services for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. In this capacity, she has played a vital role in connecting companies and communities with state and federal program opportunities, fostering growth and building relationships with local and regional economic leaders. In addition to creating financial partnerships for project development, she works directly with businesses in coordinating media opportunities following successful startup or expansion efforts. Her writing for the department highlights communities and businesses that have leveraged state initiatives to expand their workforce and operations.

She began her work with the State of Nebraska as Communications Director and Speechwriter for the Office of Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts in 2015. During this time, Ms. Hardin led efforts to plan the governor's first trade mission to the European Union in 2015, in coordination with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. She was instrumental in promoting one of the governor's administrative priorities to encourage growth within the state's workforce, the Nebraska Developing Youth Talent Initiative. The program exposed more than 24,500 seventh and eighth grade students to hands-on, STEM learning experiences by creating partnerships between Nebraska schools and businesses from 2015 to 2022.

In 2016, Ms. Hardin transitioned into the role of Economic Development Liaison between the Nebraska Governor's Office and the Department of Economic Development, connecting the governor and lieutenant governor with business owners and community leaders to further promote the administration's economic recruitment and expansion efforts. From 2016 to 2018, the State of Nebraska earned Site Selection magazine's Governor's Cup for three consecutive years, recognizing the state as the nation's leader in most qualifying economic development projects per capita.

Ms. Hardin has created valuable local and regional partnerships as the department's Western Region consultant to lead project development efforts, resulting in more than $324 million in investments in Nebraska's panhandle. She has specialized in business expansions and projects to promote community and Main Street improvements by utilizing economic development, downtown revitalization, and tourism development programs.

Prior to her work for the State of Nebraska, Ms. Hardin served as a political consultant in Nebraska's 3rd District for the campaigns of Deb Fischer for U.S. Senate, Pete Ricketts for Governor, and Roric Paulman for Nebraska Legislature. Between 2001 and 2008, she worked as an executive news producer for KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo, CA, and KNOP-TV in North Platte, NE. During her first tenure as a producer, Ms. Hardin faced one of her most significant professional challenges at KSBY following the events of September 11th. She collaborated with experienced journalists to ensure that local news coverage continued despite ongoing live network programming. Their efforts to broadcast local newscasts on cable channels provided critical information to viewers during a time of uncertainty and earned positive feedback from the community. For her work, Ms. Hardin received a regional Emmy Award for outstanding achievement in television news.

Ms. Hardin's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications with minors in English, Political Science, and Spanish from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Her academic training provided a strong foundation for her early aspirations in journalism and later roles in communications, economic development, and public service. Throughout her career, Ms. Hardin has been actively involved in industry organizations, including the Nebraska Economic Developers Association, the Nebraska Association of School Boards, the Nebraska Community Foundation, the Keith County Chamber of Commerce, Keith County's 100 Women Who Care chapter, and P.E.O. International. She is a past president of P.E.O Chapter CL, which her great-grandmother helped establish as a charter member. She currently serves as Vice President for School Board District #6 in Paxton. These affiliations reflect her commitment to professional growth and community engagement.

Ms. Hardin takes great pride in being a Nebraskan. Though she spent time on both coasts for work and internships, she came to appreciate what she could not see as a student: the value of coming home. That experience reinforced her belief in Nebraska's spirit of philanthropy, one she hopes to carry forward in her family, her community and her work.

Her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents have served as leaders in Keith County in the fields of medicine and business development. For decades, her maternal and paternal grandfathers led the growth and development of capacitor manufacturer American Shizuki Corporation (ASC), formerly TRW, in Ogallala. In 2017, Ms. Hardin helped facilitate Gov. Ricketts' second trade mission to Japan which included meetings at ASC's headquarters in Nishinomiya. Born in Mexico while her father attended medical school in Guadalajara, Ms. Hardin and her family relocated to their home state in the 1980's where he completed his degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her parents owned and operated an independent medical practice in Keith County for more than 30 years. Growing up in Nebraska instilled values of philanthropy and community support that continue to influence her work today.

In her personal life, Ms. Hardin enjoys spending time with her family. Her husband, Justin - also a UNL graduate - was raised in one of Keith County's 5th generation farming and ranching operations. In addition to his work in agriculture, he owns and operates an independent insurance business in Paxton. Their son, Ethan, attends UNL as an Agricultural-Economics major in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR).

Looking ahead, Ms. Hardin aims to continue her focus on business development efforts and writing about Nebraskans whose philanthropic spirit drives progress across the state.

# # #