Sarah Focke Named Director of Kearney Visitors Bureau

Kearney, NE — July 21, 2025 — The Kearney Visitors Bureau Board of Directors has named Sarah Focke as the new Director of the Kearney Visitors Bureau (Visit Kearney), effective immediately. Focke steps into the role following the retirement of Roger Jasnoch, who led the organization for nearly four decades.

A familiar face in Nebraska tourism, Focke has been a dedicated part of the Kearney Visitors Bureau for the past 23 years, serving as Convention and Tourism Manager. In that role, she developed and maintained Kearney’s convention sales markets across the state, region, and nation.

“The Kearney Visitors Bureau Board appointed Sarah as Interim Director in March, and she has
demonstrated her ability to lead. With 23 years of experience at the Kearney Visitors Bureau, Sarah is the most qualified candidate and will take us to a higher level moving forward,” said Paul Younes, Chair of the Kearney Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.

Throughout her tenure, Focke has played a pivotal role in planning and supporting major events and projects that have shaped Kearney’s reputation as a premier travel and meeting destination. She has also successfully written and secured grants totaling over $1 million for the Kearney Visitors Bureau and other local organizations, bringing impactful resources to support tourism growth in the community.

Focke’s passion for tourism extends beyond Kearney. She currently serves as the Nebraska Director for the Lincoln Highway Association and sits on the board of the Nebraska Lincoln Highway Scenic & Historic Byway. She is also a board member of the National Scenic Byway Foundation and remains actively involved in several statewide meeting and tourism organizations.

Originally from Freeport, Illinois, Focke is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, Kearney. Before returning to Kearney in 2002 with her husband Charles, Focke worked in hotel sales and as a meeting planner in Denver.

“Promoting Kearney has never been just a job for me—it’s a joy,” said Focke. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be stepping into this role and look forward to continuing the great work of showcasing all that makes Kearney such a special place.”