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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Tyler Kai joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in August of 2021 as the Associate AD of Leadership Gifts & Capital Projects for the Huskers Athletic Fund. Kai leads the overall major gift program for capital projects and endowments, secures major gift commitments from Huskers supporters, manages the Huskers Athletic Fund major gift officers to reach targeted goals, while also tracking and reporting progress to complete specific goals and projects.

Kai came to Nebraska from Tulane, where he served as the Associate AD for Development. He oversaw the Green Wave Club and Ticket Office, while creating the departmental fundraising and revenue generation strategy and setting annual goals. He also led the department’s fundraising effort by securing significant gift commitments for department priorities, including the Slatten Family Strength Center and Don & Lora Peters Academic Center renovations. Kai joined Tulane in March of 2017 to lead the day-to-day operations of the athletics annual fund including donor relations, stewardship and fundraising initiatives. The Green Wave Club’s membership and donations grew to record highs, under Kai’s leadership. In 2019, Kai led a comprehensive effort to refine Tulane’s priority seating model in Yulman Stadium, Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse and Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

Prior to Tulane, Kai served as the Assistant Director of Campaigns for the University of Tennessee. His primary role was identifying, cultivating and soliciting major gifts to benefit the athletics programs. During his term, the Tennessee Fund reached record years in annual giving, sold out of season tickets at Neyland Stadium and surpassed a three-year campaign goal of $147.5 million.

Tyler earned a bachelor's in event management from Iowa State University and a master's in higher education from Kansas State University. Tyler and his wife, Caitlin, welcomed their first-born son, Harrison, in the fall of 2020. Tyler was born in Pender, Neb., but claims Urbandale, Iowa, at his hometown.

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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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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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