Jeff Hebb

Jeff Hebb - Bio   I am a believer who lives for the things that matter, loves his wife and kids and is passionate about doing good things with good people!   From playing bass guitar in a rock band that opened up for Ted Nugent, to worshipping and singing in the choir at Lincoln Berean Church, to becoming the current GAD for the Nebraska Realtor’s Association, Jeff brings diverse talents, skills and experiences to our team, including entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, and customer service. Wait a minute. Ted Nugent? Yep. So how did he end up here? And why is he always smiling? Guitars, Rental Vans and Sofas  Growing up in the Midwest, Jeff was a “doer” from a young age. At early elementary age he was a self-proclaimed carnival barker, thanks to a Ronald MacDonald Front Yard Carnival Kit and with a lot of determination he graduated to parade organizer for his neighborhood. But even the most enthusiastic kids need guidance and role models. As he grew older, Jeff developed a strong work ethic as he helped his grandpa reupholster and deliver furniture, one piece at a time, in his hometown of Raytown, MO (Kansas City). After living in California, MO, Cooper City, FL, and Delavan, WI, in 1984 his family moved to East Texas, and his late teenage years he played in a few different bands included playing in a rock band (a wonderful excuse to grow shoulder-length hair) and a fleeting connection with the Motor City Madman (the Ted Nugent guy from paragraph one). After graduating from college, his entrepreneurial spirit rose to a new level as he became an independent sales representative.  He spent a lot of time and miles refurbishing treadmills and selling them out of a storage unit and out a rental van to local bike shops and gyms. This experience taught him the value of perseverance and the importance of always providing quality, value, and outstanding customer service. This endeavor helped lay the foundation that lead to an opportunity to help start a family treadmill manufacturing business, where he learned that even being related to the owners did not merit special treatment. He would go on to be awarded the “Manufacturer Excellence” award for being an outstanding manufacturer representative. It also brought him to Lincoln, on many occasions. His enjoyment of his time here and the goodness of the people here, lead to him telling one his clients, “I’m going to live in here (Lincoln) someday,” as he hit golf balls on the course driving range. Met with a question of “why” it would late prove to be the most beneficial move of his life (reference Stephanie mentioned below). While on this journey towards the family business, his Dad and Mom took him to a personal and professional development session introducing him to Zig Ziglar and his tremendous values, humor, and teachings.  He immersed himself in the world of books and CDs, and seminars and coaching programs by the likes of Zig Ziglar, Dale Carnegie, and Jack Canfield. From Treadmills to Daily Deals (and Some Stuff in Between) Working in a family business can be great, but things change. The business was sold to Schwinn®, and later to Nautilus® and Bowflex®.  Jeff continued to work for the organization as a Regional Sales Manager and Director of IBD Sales, where he received “Sales Representative of the Year”, “Largest New Account”, and awarded to 1 individual, representing the entire American Sales Organization he was given the “Thought Leadership” award. During the family business years, he became friends with the owner of Express Employment Professionals in Tyler, TX (later his best man).  Along this path, that included a short stent living in beautiful Denver, CO, he had seen a glimpse of entrepreneurship, and he wanted to see more, as their friendship grew over time. When the tide changed in the fitness world, this was Jeff’s opportunity to really take entrepreneurship seriously. So when the opportunity arose, he knew he wanted to make the leap. He invested in the Franchise of Express Employment Professionals and moved to Lincoln to open up his own business here as a franchisee.  He quickly learned how to ramp up his sales, networking, and marketing skills, reaching the coveted “Fast Track” award.  This award is given to those reaching accelerated revenues in a short period of time. At his first International Leadership Conference, for Express, Jeff had the opportunity to meet the prayer breakfast guest speaker, one Tom Osborne, from Lincoln, Nebraska.  Meeting with Tom, back here at his Memorial Stadium office, provided some sage advice, and insights.  Tom recommended and sponsored Jeff to join the Lincoln Downtown Rotary 14. This experience helped him learn more about the city of Lincoln, and the many good people here doing good things, where Jeff ultimately opened his Express franchise. Thanks, Tom! Through Express, Jeff saw Lincoln from the hiring and employment perspective; when he sold his franchise and went to work for LivingSocial, he got to see Lincoln from a social media marketing, sales and entertainment perspective.  With a flair for social media and a love of sales and marketing, Jeff excelled with LivingSocial, earning several awards and building a solid professional network. But he hadn’t quite found his niche. Doing Good Things with Good People In 2013, Jeff was referred to work at First American Home Buyers Protection Corporation, providing home warranties for realtors’ clients in Eastern Nebraska.  This was Jeff’s introduction to the local real estate community, and he wasted no time building his network and learning all he could about the challenges realtors and their clients face, and how he could be of help. It was in this role that Jeff’s focus materialized and became “doing good thing with good people.” If you’re reading this biographical sketch, there’s a good chance Jeff called you, dropped by your office, or spoke at a lunch you attended during his time his here in Lincoln and at First American it was even more so – that he really got around! He was often quoted as “being everywhere.” His results, growth in total territory of 53% YOY in 2013 and 21% in 2014, with 8 of his first 9 months higher than YOY sales, and territory high sales during 4 of his first 6 months. But regardless of whether your client bought a First American warranty, what he enjoyed most was being able to provide good information, good value and good service. In his pursuit of becoming a Realtor® he was referred to an available position at Nebraska Realtors® Association and this amazing opportunity that he couldn’t pass up.  When the GAD position became available, Jeff knew it was the job opportunity that would bring him full circle – a chance to put his prior work life journey and experience in sales, marketing, customer service, and lessons learned to work while giving him the chance to keep on learning more. Always Smiling Why is that? Well, Jeff really enjoys spending time with his wife, Stephanie (mentioned above, met and married here), and children Ashley, Harrison and Hamilton. He’s a decades-long Kansas City Chiefs fan, and goes to as many home games as possible (no comments from the peanut gallery, please). He also enjoys posting, tweeting, and promoting the latest on social media, eating his portion of the huge tub of popcorn at the movies, loves the mountains of Colorado, Twizzlers, reading, gearing up with the latest fashions, HGTV, shooting off tons of fireworks, smiles on his family’s faces and celebrating the little things in life – the moments that matter. And of course, doing good things with good people! But at the end of the day, it is his faith and his family that keep him smiling.  To sum it up Jeff says, “I am a believer who lives for the things that matter, loves his wife and kids and is passionate about doing good things with good people to bring about good results so that today can end up better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today!”

Jeff will tell you that the best day of his life when he married Stephanie, almost 2 years ago in September 2014, and that it has been the most amazing journey of his lifetime since meeting her. Stephanie is a bid manager and proposal writer for IBM. Jeff has boy/girl twins Harrison and Ashley who are 13 and a son Hamilton who is 10. For enjoyment, Jeff and Stephanie love going to Kansas City Chiefs and Royals games, going to Colorado and spending time in the beautiful mountains, watching the latest Love It or List It, Property Brothers, or Flip of Flop on HGTV. Jeff also sings in the choir at Lincoln Berean Church. But, what Jeff enjoys most is simply spending time with Stephanie, regardless of the activity.