INCOLN — North Platte businessman Pat Keenan has been elected board chair of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, following the organization’s annual meeting held January 29 in Lincoln.
Keenan will serve as board chair through the Chamber’s 2027 annual meeting and will preside over the organization’s 54-member board of directors. He succeeds Joel Russell, president and CEO of Millard Lumber Inc..
According to the Nebraska Chamber, Keenan is believed to be the first businessman from North Platte to be elected board chair in the organization’s 114-year history.
North Platte Mayor Brendan Kelliher underscored the significance of that milestone during a recent city council interview.
“This is the first time in the history of the Nebraska Chamber that somebody from North Platte has been elected not only to the board, but also the chair. So it’s a really big deal for our community,” Kelliher said.
Born and raised in North Platte, Keenan earned a degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska. He began his career in the family-owned soft drink industry, operating an independent Coca-Cola bottling operation until 1988 before transitioning into the hospitality industry. He now manages Keenan Management LLC, overseeing several commercial properties in North Platte.
Mayor Kelliher said Keenan’s election gives North Platte a stronger voice in statewide business and economic discussions.
“Pat was elected as the chair, so he will have the opportunity to influence the direction of the organization going forward,” he said.
Keenan has held numerous leadership roles at both the state and local level. He previously served as board chair of the Platte Institute in 2022 and played a key role on the steering committee for the Blueprint Nebraska Alliance. He is also a past president of the Nebraska Soft Drink Association.
Kelliher also highlighted the Keenan family’s long-standing investment in the community.
“The Keenan family has done great things in our community… Pat and Dan particularly have hung around North Platte and done many other business ventures across the community,” he said.
Keenan’s community involvement includes leadership roles with the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation, the Quality Growth Fund, and as board chair of Great Plains Regional Medical Center. He has also served on the North Platte Salvation Army Board of Advisors and the North Platte Development Corporation. Throughout his career, he has remained a longtime member of the North Platte Chamber and Development Corporation.
Also recognized at the Nebraska Chamber’s 2026 annual meeting was DJ Eihusen, president and CEO of Chief Industries, who was inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame. Chief Industries has invested in numerous projects in North Platte and across the region.