Building Nebraska

A Radio DJ, an Ice Cream Wagon, and a Coffee Empire: The Scooter’s Story

Before Scooter's Coffee became a nationally recognized franchise, Don and Linda Eckles spent years chasing opportunities, learning hard lessons, and building businesses ranging from restaurants to ice cream wagons. In Part 1 of this Building Nebraska conversation, the founders share the entrepreneurial journey that took them from radio broadcasting and life in Alaska to a small drive-thru coffee concept that would eventually transform into Scooter's Coffee. It's a candid look at risk-taking, persistence, and the experiences that laid the foundation for one of Nebraska's most successful business stories.

From Code to Cattle: Building Autonomy in the Dirt

Jacob Hansen and the team at ALA Engineering are developing self-driving feed trucks designed to help cattle feedlots solve labor shortages and improve efficiency. Using advanced cameras, sensors and software, the company plans to commercially deploy autonomous trucks in Nebraska next year.

From His Father’s Business to His Daughter’s Future | Part 2

In Part 2 of this conversation, Mark Whitehead reflects on growing up in the family business and eventually taking over leadership of Whitehead Oil Company and its U-Stop convenience store brand. He shares stories from his early days in the industry, the realities of working alongside his father, and the challenges that often come with family business succession. Mark also discusses scaling the company, lessons learned from business mistakes, and the advice he gives young entrepreneurs about creating real value for customers.

How Gas Stations Really Make Their Money | U-Stop Owner Mark Whitehead | Part 1

In Part 1 of this episode, Mark Whitehead shares the strategy behind growing U-Stop and Whitehead Oil Company into nearly 40 locations across Nebraska and Kansas. We go inside the economics of the convenience store business, how fuel pricing really works, and why most of the profit isn’t made at the pump. Mark also explains how the company differentiates itself in a crowded market and what it takes to stay competitive in the retail fuel industry.

How They Scaled Across the State | Ryan Clark, Eustis Body Shop | Building Nebraska

What does it take to grow a small-town business into something much bigger—without losing what made it work in the first place? On this episode of Building Nebraska, we sit down with Ryan Clark, Vice President of Eustis Body Shop, to talk about the journey from a single shop in rural Nebraska to eight locations across the state. Ryan didn’t grow up in the business. After marrying into the family, he started from the ground up—driving to Eustis early in the morning, sweeping floors, detailing vehicles, and learning the trade before stepping into leadership. In this conversation, he shares what it took to earn trust inside a family business, how culture has driven long-term growth, and why keeping employees invested has been key to their success. We also talk about how the collision repair industry is changing—from advanced vehicle technology to rising repair costs—and what that means for customers and the future of the business. Building Nebraska is powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.