Meet Shawnna Silvius, PCED
Community & Economic Developer, Speaker, Trainer & Animal Advocate
Shawnna Silvius is founder and CEO of eVentures Marketing which became iShine Productions LLC in 2013. Shawnna is a community and program developer, public speaker and trainer, marketing professional and events coordinator. Her passion is evident in her dedication to inspiring individuals to discover and live their passions; and ultimately, to help grow people and their passions to advance rural areas. Her areas of focus include leadership, career exploration and talent development, talent retention and attraction, workforce development, adult and youth entrepreneurial development, business development, business transition and succession planning and philanthropy to support sustainable, rural communities.
Shawnna has more than 20+ years experience in...
Early in her career, Silvius worked in the printing and publishing industry as an advertising director, sales and marketing coordinator and event marketing director. In 2000, she began working with non-profits as the community development specialist for the American Cancer Society for the Boulder County, Colorado division. Then in late 2004, she and her family moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska. As a new resident to the community, and as a volunteer, she began the Leadership Nebraska City program in 2005. She was soon hired as the marketing coordinator for River Country Economic Development Corporation. During this time she also launched the Nebraska City Green Drinks and Nebraska City Green Coalition in 2007. Most recently she has lead talent initiatives in Lincoln, NE as the Director of Talent Solutions for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, and overall economic development for the City of Crete, Nebraska.
Shawnna began her entrepreneurial ventures in 2009 as eVentures Marketing, offering conference planning and management, marketing consulting, layout and design services, social media development, and email marketing services to non-profit organizations, trade associations and government agencies. She has expanded and refocused her efforts specifically on leadership program development, as well as, career exploration programming, business plan development, business transition/succession planning and entrepreneurial programs for small businesses, youth and adults.
Clients of iShine Productions® and eVentures Marketing include: Falls City Main Street, the National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA), Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Energy Office, Nebraska Economic Developers Association (NEDA), Nebraska Wind Working Group, Heartland Center for Leadership Development, Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP), Elkhorn Valley Economic Development Council, GROW Nebraska, Partners for Otoe County, the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Foundation, Leadership Nebraska City, as well as a number of small businesses in Nebraska and Kansas.
Silvius holds an Associate of Science degree with focus in fine arts, a Bachelor degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Management focused on Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. She also earned an Organizational Development certification in Program Evaluation, Organizational Change and Development and Human Resource Development. She is a certified NxLeveL instructor for the EDGE Program, an Accredited Business Planning Advisor (ABPA), a Business Retention Expansion Project Coordinator, a certified Real Colors Personality Temperament Trainer and a certified 8 to Great Trainer. She completed 3 years at Midwest Community Development Institute in 2014 and earned distinct certification as a Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) in 2016.
In her spare time, Shawnna began an in-home pet sitting and dog walking business, FurPals n Critter Sitters where she spoiled and pampered other people's pets while they are unable to. She was also the co-owner of Ali's Critter Cakes and Treats with her daughter making and selling hand-made, all natural, wheat-free and vegan, chewy dog treats using locally-grown apples and pumpkins from a nearby orchard. Her daughter started her venture in 2013 to provide treats for shelter pets and to provide funds to unclaimed animals needing medical services or rescue support. As a result, Shawnna began Southeast Nebraska Homeward Bound Companions in an effort to address an unwavering need for animal rescue and shelter needs facing stray and lost companion animals in her community who only had three days to be claimed or be euthanized. Shawnna spends most of her down-time as a side-line cheerleader for her children's sports and academic activities; while occasionally, she enjoys time oil painting a new scene to liven up her walls. Her long-term goal has been to establish a 3-state regional, no-kill rescue boarding shelter, sanctuary and adoption center; and to have a luxury pet boarding, bakery and boutique storefront to help fund the shelter project.
She has two adult children, a rescued dog and rescued cats. Learn more about her here.
Shawnna has more than 20+ years experience in...
- developing, implementing and managing local and regional community-focused economic development programs;
- coordinating, administering and managing large multi-state conventions, community festivals, workshops and special events;
- creating talent, leadership, entrepreneurship (adults and youth) and other community and workforce development programs;
- comprehensive conference and event planning, management and marketing services;
- and visioning, designing, planning and directing a diverse array of marketing, political and fundraising campaigns.
Early in her career, Silvius worked in the printing and publishing industry as an advertising director, sales and marketing coordinator and event marketing director. In 2000, she began working with non-profits as the community development specialist for the American Cancer Society for the Boulder County, Colorado division. Then in late 2004, she and her family moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska. As a new resident to the community, and as a volunteer, she began the Leadership Nebraska City program in 2005. She was soon hired as the marketing coordinator for River Country Economic Development Corporation. During this time she also launched the Nebraska City Green Drinks and Nebraska City Green Coalition in 2007. Most recently she has lead talent initiatives in Lincoln, NE as the Director of Talent Solutions for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, and overall economic development for the City of Crete, Nebraska.
Shawnna began her entrepreneurial ventures in 2009 as eVentures Marketing, offering conference planning and management, marketing consulting, layout and design services, social media development, and email marketing services to non-profit organizations, trade associations and government agencies. She has expanded and refocused her efforts specifically on leadership program development, as well as, career exploration programming, business plan development, business transition/succession planning and entrepreneurial programs for small businesses, youth and adults.
Clients of iShine Productions® and eVentures Marketing include: Falls City Main Street, the National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA), Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Energy Office, Nebraska Economic Developers Association (NEDA), Nebraska Wind Working Group, Heartland Center for Leadership Development, Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP), Elkhorn Valley Economic Development Council, GROW Nebraska, Partners for Otoe County, the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Foundation, Leadership Nebraska City, as well as a number of small businesses in Nebraska and Kansas.
Silvius holds an Associate of Science degree with focus in fine arts, a Bachelor degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Management focused on Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. She also earned an Organizational Development certification in Program Evaluation, Organizational Change and Development and Human Resource Development. She is a certified NxLeveL instructor for the EDGE Program, an Accredited Business Planning Advisor (ABPA), a Business Retention Expansion Project Coordinator, a certified Real Colors Personality Temperament Trainer and a certified 8 to Great Trainer. She completed 3 years at Midwest Community Development Institute in 2014 and earned distinct certification as a Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) in 2016.
In her spare time, Shawnna began an in-home pet sitting and dog walking business, FurPals n Critter Sitters where she spoiled and pampered other people's pets while they are unable to. She was also the co-owner of Ali's Critter Cakes and Treats with her daughter making and selling hand-made, all natural, wheat-free and vegan, chewy dog treats using locally-grown apples and pumpkins from a nearby orchard. Her daughter started her venture in 2013 to provide treats for shelter pets and to provide funds to unclaimed animals needing medical services or rescue support. As a result, Shawnna began Southeast Nebraska Homeward Bound Companions in an effort to address an unwavering need for animal rescue and shelter needs facing stray and lost companion animals in her community who only had three days to be claimed or be euthanized. Shawnna spends most of her down-time as a side-line cheerleader for her children's sports and academic activities; while occasionally, she enjoys time oil painting a new scene to liven up her walls. Her long-term goal has been to establish a 3-state regional, no-kill rescue boarding shelter, sanctuary and adoption center; and to have a luxury pet boarding, bakery and boutique storefront to help fund the shelter project.
She has two adult children, a rescued dog and rescued cats. Learn more about her here.
