The Buckle’s Karen Rhoads named UNK distinguished alumna

KEARNEY – Kearney business executive Karen Rhoads is the recipient of the UNK College of Business and Technology Distinguished Alumna award.

A 1981 University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate, Rhoads is senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer for The Buckle, Inc.

Rhoads worked part-time for The Buckle while a student at UNK and joined the clothing retailer in 1987 as its corporate controller after working as an accountant with Shonsey and Associates in Grand Island. She was instrumental in taking The Buckle public in 1992 and moving the company’s stock from the NASDAQ to NYSE in 1997.

Rhoads has served on the board of directors for the Kearney Family YMCA, YMCA Foundation, UNK College of Business and Technology Advisory Council, Kearney Area Community Foundation, Good Samaritan Hospital, Fort Kearney Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Writer: Todd Gottula, Director of Communications, 308.865.8454, gottulatm@unk.ed