Garrett Klassy joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in July of 2019 as Senior Deputy AD - External Operations. Klassy oversees all of Nebraska's external units, including ticketing, development, marketing, licensing, communications, creative and emerging media and HuskerVision.

Klassy came to Nebraska from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was named the school’s third Director of Athletics in the Division I era. Klassy led the Flames' athletic department starting in August of 2017. The Flames set records in the classroom in Klassy's first year in Chicago, and in spring 2018, UIC's 336 student-athletes achieved a record-high grade-point average of 3.17.

Klassy also introduced several beneficial partnerships with various industry leaders. He brought in Brett Ledbetter and What Drives Winning, teamed with Chicago-based 4FRONT on a groundbreaking partnership, entered into an agreement with The Aspire Group to manage ticket sales and service and struck a new five-year accord with adidas, which serves as the official footwear, apparel and accessory brand of the Flames. Klassy also oversaw the rebranding and launch of the Flames Athletic Fund, which helps to support five major UIC Athletics initiatives: scholarships, nutrition, weight room, training room and student leadership.

A native of New Glarus, Wis., Klassy graduated from Wisconsin in 1998 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication arts with an emphasis on public address. He is married to Lindsay Klassy.

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Brenden Stai joined Nebraska Athletics in July of 2018 as a Director of Development. As a member of the Huskers Athletic Fund staff Stai is responsible for fostering relationships with donors in the state of Nebraska and the western part of the United States. Prior to his current role, Stai spent nine years as a private business owner and has had a real estate license since his playing days in the NFL.

A native of Yorba Linda, Calif., Stai has a deep connection with Nebraska as he was recruited to play football by Tom Osborne. Stai started his Husker career in 1990 and left after his senior season in 1994 as a national champion and consensus first-team All-American offensive lineman. Stai was a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1994 and spent five years with the Steelers. He was a member of their 1995 AFC Championship team that went on to play in Super Bowl XXX. Stai produced an eight-year NFL career that included stops in Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Detroit and Washington.

Stai graduated from Nebraska in 1994 with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in business. Brenden and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Christina and Brianna, and one son, Bryce, who is a defensive lineman at Ohio.

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Mattie Fowler was hired in February of 2017 as the Development Operations Director. Fowler was promoted to Senior Director of Development Operations in July of 2018.

In her current role, Fowler leads the day-to-day operations of the annual fund within the athletics department including donor relations, stewardship, fundraising initiatives, premium seating and hospitality, scholarship endowments, and the N Club. She also directs all external marketing and communications strategies for HAF and the N Club.

Fowler is an active member of Women Leaders in College Sports and a 2020 graduate of the Institute for Administrative Advancement. Fowler is also in her seventh year as a TeamMates mentor.

A four-time team captain on Nebraska's softball team, the 2015-16 Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year, and a 2016 first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, Fowler graduated from UNL in May of 2015 with a bachelor's degree in business administration as a finance major and math minor. The Tucson, Ariz., native graduated with her MBA and a specialization in finance in May of 2017.

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Derek Freeman was promoted to Senior Director of Development Analytics & Technology in July of 2018. Freeman is responsible for developing and maintaining data systems to account for donations to the athletic department. He also oversees the allocation and monthly reconciliation of the annual contributions to the athletic department.

A native of Lincoln, Freeman earned a bachelor of science in business administration with an emphasis in management from Nebraska in May 1998. Married to the former Lindsey Soukup, Freeman and his wife have two sons, Brody and Gavin, and one daughter, Blake.

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Jenni Puchalla joined Nebraska Athletics in 2009. She currently serves as the Development & Ticketing Services Manager. In her current role, she works with donors and season ticket holders on a daily basis, while supervising the student-workers in the Development and Ticketing Office.

Originally from Norfolk, Neb., Puchalla earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of Nebraska. She and her husband Russ have two sons.

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Cam Walker joined Nebraska Athletics as a development assistant in June of 2020. Walker will focus on prospect management, data analysis, and donor stewardship for the National Leadership Society and Huskers Athletic Fund.

Walker graduated from Ohio University in December of 2018 with a Bachelor of Sport Management in Business Administration degree. During his undergrad, Walker served as a Marketing Intern for Ohio Athletics as well as a student worker for the Nebraska Athletics Ticketing & Development offices.

Walker is a native of Lincoln, NE & will earn his Masters of Arts in Business with a specialization in Intercollegiate Athletics Administration (MAIAA) from Nebraska’s College of Business in May of 2021.

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Jared Heldt joined Nebraska Athletics as a development assistant in February 2021. Heldt will focus on prospect management, data analysis, and donor stewardship for the National Leadership Society and Huskers Athletic Fund.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Heldt graduated from the University of Utah in April of 2020 with a degree in Business Management. Outside of his studies, Heldt was a member of the Utah Spirit Team as a cheerleader and served as a four-time team captain. In his captain role, he served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and MUSS Board (student section leadership group). In addition, Heldt also worked as a Marketing and Development Intern for Utah Athletics.

Heldt will graduate in December 2021 with his Masters of Arts in Business with a specialization in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration from Nebraska’s College of Business.

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