Who We Are

Jim Partington

Executive Director
jpartington@nebraska-dining.org

Jim Partington is Executive Director of the Nebraska Restaurant Association. A native Nebraskan, Jim’s career includes 33 years in the Navy, progressing from Ensign to Rear Admiral. Upon retirement he and his family moved back to Lincoln where local manufacturers Senior Technologies and Riser Bond recruited him to serve in key corporate roles because of his experience and expertise in strategic planning, corporate finance, and management. Jim retired from Riser Bond in 2002, and in 2003 joined the Nebraska Restaurant Association. In keeping with his new career in hospitality, and to fulfill a long-held dream of being a “gentleman farmer”, Jim and his family built Deer Springs Winery, a family owned and operated vineyard and winery.

brandy head shot

Brandy Nielson

Membership and Marketing Coordinator
bnielson@nebraska-dining.org

Brandy Nielson, Membership and Marketing Coordinator, has firsthand knowledge of and practical experience in the hospitality industry. She started working at Subway when she was 16, working her way up to Shift Supervisor. In college she worked at a Chinese restaurant, and after college, where she was graduated with a double major in marketing and management, she and husband Bryce worked at a local steakhouse, saving and earning tip money that went toward the down payment on their first home. Brandy “loved” being a waitress, and when she joined the NRA in 2008, she began using what she learned about the industry to help in her current role. She is responsible for membership recruitment, advertising sales, website maintenance, social media, events, communications, and membership retention.

Jim Otto

Government Affairs Representative
nebretailfed@hotmail.com

Jim Otto is the “go to” person for issues that have – or could have – an impact on the operations of the members of the Nebraska Restaurant Association. Jim started his career as Coordinator of Economic Development for the City of Lincoln and then served as Nebraska State Director at the USDA Rural Development before becoming the hospitality industry representative in the legislature. Well-known and respected at the Nebraska Unicameral, he also serves as President of the Nebraska Retail Federation.